Kev

Competition photos The only way to fly. Kev

How about a picture of our new toy? Quik ...... seriously! Kev

Any update on what the cause was? Kev

The following is an article that I have prepared (but not yet submitted), for the HGFA magazine, Soaring, and felt that it may be of interest to RAA members. I don’t think I have ever seen a Microlight, other than in the factory, which has not been modified at all. Let’s face it, even if you buy a top of the range model, with all the bells and whistles, you will generally still need to fit a comms system and then a VHF radio and so on. A Major Modification is any mod to a structural component or integral part of an aircraft i.e. any part which would affect the safe operation of the aircraft, and as such must be approved by the manufacturer. Any other modification would be classed as a Minor Mod and may be made by the owner. Details of ANY modification made should always be entered in the aircraft logbook. So, let us assume that you wish to install a VHF handheld radio into your trike. How hard can it be? All you need to do is find a space to put it, stick it there with Velcro or tyraps and plug it in, right? Not quite. There are one or two other factors that you should be considering. After all, you are fitting an electrical device to an aircraft, not a car, and therefore, other factors apply. For example, if fitting the radio to the instrument panel with Velcro, some sort of secondary restraint, in the form of a lanyard or strap, should be fitted, in case the Velcro should fail during turbulence or a hard landing. I know of two separate instances, where an expensive GPS has been lost ‘over the side’ of a trike, due to insecure attachment. Fortunately, on neither occasion did it go through the prop! If the installation involves the fitting of any electrical switches, then those switches should be mounted in the correct sense i.e. DOWN for OFF (This is a general aircraft standard, hence the term ‘Shut Down’). They should also be labelled appropriately. There are also considerations regarding the antenna, comms box and power supply. Okay, this is all well and good, but this sort of information is not that easily available to the average trike flyer. Well, in Britain, it is. They have a severely regulated system and when they do any mod to their Microlight, that aircraft is then grounded until it has been checked and signed off by an inspector. In order to facilitate this process, they maintain a list of Technical Information Leaflets which include Standard Minor Modifications. These include the installation of radio/intercom, transponder, strobe lights, camera, GPS and auxiliary power socket – just about everything you could wish to fit to a trike, and yes, panniers as well. I would urge everybody who is contemplating modifying their Microlight (in the UK, Ultralights are known as 3-axis Microlights), to visit the BMAA (British Microlight Aircraft Association) website and check out these Technical Information Leaflets. Whether or not you choose to comply with them, and to what extent, is up to you, but at least you will be making an informed choice. Go to: http://www.bmaa.org Select Tech Talk, then Technical Information Leaflets (TILs) or Standard Minor Modifications from the list of documents. Safe Flying. Kev

Confirm John's reply. HGFA Manual states aircraft maintenance must be iaw manufacturer's Maintenance Schedule. It also states, where W/M is used for training, any maintenance requiring component removal/replacement must be conducted by A/C manufacturer or their accredited service agent. Hope this helps. Kev

Dave, A small point seems to have been missed by everybody here. Changing the wheels to a different type would constitute a Major Modification, which must be authorised by the manufacturer. You haven't actually said whether Airborne have endorsed the Mod, just that it is not certified. Without their authorisation, the Mod would be deemed illegal, which would presumably render your trike illegal and any insurance that you have, would almost certainly be null & void. I would contact Airborne if I were you, for their views, before going any further. Best of luck Kev

Ditto to Crezzi's comment, especially regarding the bettsometer test. The renewal paperwork includes a fairly detailed description of what you should be checking, and with your mechanical knowledge, I would guess that you were sufficiently competent to carry out the task yourself. However, it is worth considering a second pair of eyes - always useful, even if 'unqualified'. Regards, Kev.

John, Hi, I actually did my initial training in Portugal with Gerry Breen (he's world famous in the UK), but it was to UK rules, before I knew that we were coming over to Aus. Regards, Kev

Rob, Thanks for the clarification, and I concur fully. Just because my explanation is clear to me, that doesn't mean that it is clear to anybody else. Thanks also for the endorsement. I was beginning to think that I was the only one who thinks and flies the way that I do. I look forward to hearing more on this subject. Regards, Kev.

Lance We have flown quite a few times around Nobby's and up the beach - it's a great place to fly. Unfortunately we fly out of a mate's private strip and are unable to have visitors there. The landowner has concerns about liability issues (a sign of the times). Where is Lightning Ridge? (we're looking for a place of our own to fly out of). Regards Kev

Hi, A brief history. My ab initio training was with a Pomme instructor - since then, two Aussie instructors, but it is the initial training that has stuck. I currently have 280 ish hrs, all on trikes - Pegasus XL, Quantum 912 & Airborne edge 582. Also Rotax servicing qualified. The following is as per my Pomme instruction. Take off technique: General - bar neutral - at stall speed, bar forward & lift off. Short take off - bar neutral to nose down (reduces drag, accelerates faster) - at stall speed, bar forward & lift off. Rough surface take off - bar fully forward (starts lifting, hence reducing weight on trike, particularly the nosegear, which is the weakest link) - and hold until take off. Take off profile: Bar in immediately on lift off. 0-100' Safe Low Level Climb Speed (1.5 times the stall speed min.) Max power. This is to maintain kinetic energy & low angle of climb to ensure safe recovery from EFATO. 100'-300' Best Climb Speed (or Best Angle of Climb if clearing terrain) Max power. Enough height to recover from EFATO, but not completely out of the woods. 300' onwards Cruise Climb (95% power & BCS). I know the Rotax book allows 5 mins at max power, but that doesn't mean that you have to use it, and minimum time at max reduces the stress on the engine. Landing: Normal - power to idle, glide approach (from 500', 1.5 times the stall speed plus half the wind speed - kinetic energy again to see you through any wind gradient and/or gusting), flare and scrub off speed just above ground level. Crosswind - As above or powered approach and landing, depending on level of crosswind component. Increasing your touchdown speed in a crosswind will reduce your drift angle and subsequently reduce the whiplash effect on the hangbolt and wing assembly. Also make sure that your nosewheel is pointing down the runway before touching down. Gusting/rotor/thermic - Lower level constant power approach. Be ready for go-round (always). The above works for me. Safe flying Kev

Chris I have found that the best thing for removing bird sh*t from anything is Zi-400 (a commercial a/c washing agent). Spray on neat, leave for 5/10 mins & wash off. Advertised in Pacific Flyer, by ECO 2000 www.eco2000.com.au Regards Kev

Thanks Chris When we get our new Quik 912s (expected early July) we'll come and visit and have a look around the area. Regards Kev

Finding a suitable property is the problem which is why we may look further afield. We have been to Old Bar - nice to visit but don't think I'd want to live there. Eagleton is near Raymond Terrace, by the river. Regards Kev

Where can we live and fly our Trike? We are after moving to an area where we can live, and fly during the week in our Trike? Does anyone know of an area that would be suitable? We would miss the excellent scenery from here (Newcastle, NSW) being close to the beaches and are looking for somewhere with the same variety i.e. close to coastal as well as good inland flights. There must be somewhere out there that is not under restricted airspace but that have facilities for living near, or on an airstrip, where you can put up a hangar to keep your Trike as well as enough room to service it and others?