How many ACTIVE Trike Pilots in SA?

[gliderman]

I was wondering:
Recently I saw an ad for a Windlass Trike which looked in good shape, judging by the Photo, for R22k.
I have a student license, am slowly learning to fly when the time allows and own an old single ignition Windlass Trike.
Is trike flying slowly dwindling? Are folks tending to go the three axis route?
How many Trikes are still actively flown?
Is there potential for Trike flying growth?

[Loco]

Hi I think the economy & rising fuel prices are hurting trike pilot's badly

& this affects trike prices as well (supply outweighing demand)

I wish I was in the market now for a trike right now 'cause I could have bought my trike for 1/2 of what I spent on her

It's certainly a buyer's market at the moment

But I guess those that have a true passion for trike flying will make a plan to get/stay in the air, beg/steal/borrow...

Good luck with getting your license!

Cheers
Ant

[Loco]

Is trike flying slowly dwindling? Are folks tending to go the three axis route?

It does happen but one of the guys (Robbie) that fly trikes with us did the opposite as well...

[Bundy]

How many Trikes are still actively flown?

Hi Gliderman,

Well to "actively" fly a trike you need an "active" licence. The last stat's I saw were part of the Misasa Annual Manual that was published late last year.

From RAASA: (Sep 2013)

Active NPL Licences:

WCM (trike) = 932
CCM = 386
LSA = 705
GYRO = 283

As you can see, currently the trikers are in the majority. With the strength though of the LSA industry, these stats will change over the next few years as there are many who are making the move to LSA from both trikes/ccm's as well as TCA's! The cost of owning and operating a TCA (Cessna/mooney/piper etc) is helping the NTCA industry a great deal.

Is there room for growth in the WCM world....yes, but the economy is giving our discipline a severe beating. The ATO's are vital. If the schools survive, so will the sport. A viable cheaper engine alternative would also help a great deal to bring more cost effective options into the market.Probably 99% of all trikes sold are second hand.... which tells you that the current crop has simply become too expensive in its current format. To increase the "register" we need to get the cost down somehow. Not an easy issue to resolve.

Triking is still by far (in my opinion) the cheapest way to fly in a "traditional sense"......massive bargains available, as Loco says....we bought our aircraft at double what they are selling for now!

[in the sticks]

As far as I an concerned trike flying is one of the purest forms of flight and is the cheapest.I have been the 3 axis route and found it rather boring.Real pilots fly Trikes

[Loco]

As far as I an concerned trike flying is one of the purest forms of flight and is the cheapest.I have been the 3 axis route and found it rather boring.Real pilots fly Trikes

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