Trike Article

[Arnulf]

Hi,

in edition 14, May 2006 of the Aviation and Safety Magazine is a write up on the Airborne XT912 The performance figures look quite impressive. Who owns such a trike, or has flown one?

Regards,
Arnulf

[Wart]

There is one flying out of Cato; I can get the contact details if you want?

[Arnulf]

Thanks, that would be great.

Regards,
Arnulf

[Big-D]

Arnulf - You speaketh the truth - That is an impressive trike.

Mark Porter in Knysna has one - He is a member of this forum "airbornex" I think. He is also the agent for airborne

Cheers

David

[Big-D]

PS: I got a video clip from Dieselfan where they fly the XT912 over Hawai and cut the engin at 2000ft agl and glide her all the way down - Pretty cool stuff

Cheers

[Arnulf]

Hi Big D,

You are right, Mark Porter is the agent for Airborne. Should I one day in the distant future be in the market for a trike, I would certainly speak to all the guys marketing trikes. It would be nice though, to have opinions of other owners, in order to analyze the marketing . The agents generally try to talk a hole into your head.
The number of trikes operating in the country would also be a factor in deciding which one to buy.

I must say, I am impressed by the info on their website. Not so much the marketing , but the amount of info, downloads for bulletins etc. etc.

Regards,
Arnulf

[Cloud Warrior]

Most of the trikes around here are Airbornes. I am very impressed with the engineering on them. You can see that they have used good quality materials and the attention to detail is excellent. They look tough and strong and I love the tundra wheels that are available as an option - must make beach landings a breeze. At one stage I thought that I had made a big error by not selling my mistress in SA and buying a new mistress in Oz. I am sure the Chief would have let me buy new as well - bugger! Probably regret that until my dying day!

Still - there are one or two things that I would steal from Solowings and Aerotrike to make the Airborne trikes better though!

My favourite trike is still the Aerotrike Cobra - I love that fairing!

P.S. One advantage that Airborne has is that they use hot chicks to advertise their wares - SA manufacturers take note!

[IFLYHI]

CW Wrote:

P.S. One advantage that Airborne has is that they use hot chicks to advertise their wares - SA manufacturers take note!

There's a trike what trike

[joel]

Hi Guy's,

I have tried the XT912 near Paris. It certainly is a very good trike.
Mine had a 13sq meter wing. I believe it was the streak 3.
Very good handling and strong built.
If you are looking for a new machine with 912 you must certainly try it.
I asked a few questions directly to the factory in Oz and every time they came back immediately. That can not be said from other manufacturers.
The main reason that I didn't buy it is because it's not certified in Belgium yet. Second reason is that in my club they distribute Air Creation and the service is great.
So the choice went to a Tanarg 912 Ixess.
Go and try it!

Joel

[Arnulf]

Hi,

thanks for the input. One of the strong selling points of the Aquilla is the kink in the pylon. I believe it adds significant comfort for the passenger. What I could see from the pics, the Airborne has a straight pylon. In the marketing lot of emphasis is placed on how comfortable the trike is. Is that relevant for both seats, or only the front seat? Any comments?

Regards,
Arnulf

[joel]

I have only been in the front seat. Don't know about the passangers seat.
Must be similar to the Pegasus Quik or GT450 where I did sit in the back seat. There was more room than in my old AC GTE. But i'm only 170cm tall and weight is around 73 kg. It will make a big difference if the passanger is taller and heavier.
No trike beats the Tanarg for comfort. First time I took off with a passanger I thought he stepped out. I couldn't see his feet next to me and didn't "feel" him at all. But the Tanarg is longer than the XT912 and heavier as well.
You certainly have to fly the XT and see for yourself. I found it a big improvement over my A/C GTE.
Joel

[Mc Guyver]

[quote="Cloud Warrior"]Most of the trikes around here are Airbornes. I am very impressed with the engineering on them. You can see that they have used good quality materials and the attention to detail is excellent. They look tough and strong and I love the tundra wheels that are available as an option - must make beach landings a breeze. At one stage I thought that I had made a big error by not selling my mistress in SA and buying a new mistress in Oz. I am sure the Chief would have let me buy new as well - bugger! Probably regret that until my dying day!

Still - there are one or two things that I would steal from Solowings and Aerotrike to make the Airborne trikes better though!

Hi to all back home in sunny SA
I have had an XT 912 with a streak wing for just over a month :D :D
it certainly is an amazing craft.
I flew the plane home from the factory but was not all that excited about its handling. The ground speed seemed to be very slow and without a GPS was not to sure.
Rob Hibberd from the factory asked me to call when I landed at my home airfield.
On calling him, he was pleased to hear that I was back safely.
Minutes after I took off someone landed and gave the winds @ 30 Kts.
I then realised why I was not that excited the trike handles like an absolute dream even in rough weather(which we have no shortage of ) with a cruising speed of around 60Kts. Controls are nice and light both in pitch and roll.Landings: I come in at around 63- 65 Kts and you feel as if you can take your hands off the controls. In the cruise, you can fly hands off and control a lot of direction by yor front wheel
I found this a problem to start with as I have the bad habit of flying with my front wheel turned to the left. Seats are extremely comfortable being somewhat wider than the Aquilla and Aerotrke (I have owned both)
Comfort in the rear seat is most important for training (there is enough clearance for your head with regards to the main pylon.)
Fuel consumption (not training ) two up 9 lt / Hr.
I climb out at around 900ft / min without a high nose attitude (you start wondering if the instruments are correct )
I have found as soon as any problem arises with an Airborne product, they immediately issue a safety bulletin (I have not seen that happen in a hurry back home!)
I have been through the factory many times and the equipment used and quality control is excellent!

Disadvantage Airborne do not fit an instructor throttle for the back seat they have a friction throttle on the seat frame. this works fine for a good airfield, but when training from an "advanced" airfield (trees all around, narrow runway,90ft gradient, one way in and one way out)the instructor throttle is essential The factory won't fit one( makes the trike uncertified ) so we are working on fitting one ourselves.
I do not like the seatbelts. If not done up tightly they tend to loosen.
Warm up 912 takes ten minutes to get to min. operating temp(we can't blame Airborne for this)
I find the control bar a little high and it feels closer than it should be to the pilot. Maybe I am just used to the Aerotrike and Aquilla.
A Log Book is not issued with the aircraft showing test flight etc. The owners usually purchase a "BP" log book from the news agent at around $4 = R20(you don't get then for free at the garage) This makes altering a log book very simple!
The prop that they use is a local one. I definitely prefer the Aero Prop that Aiden supplies.
Well it certainly is a brilliant trike to fly :D :D