trikes and hot weather-how dangerous

[Jon Hewitt]

Hello fellow microlighters

i need to ask a question about flying in hot weather in a microlight(Trike- windlass ) , i am still learning and have only been flying for aproxamately 8 months , i have put on a few hours in the last couple of months , early moring flights and mainly over winter etc .
i live in Komatipoort , as some of you will know average tempretures here in summer are close to 40 degrees ,as i am writing this message it is +- 32/35 degrees 4 oclock in the afternoon, buetifull weather , wind sock is dead still , been like this for the last 4 days , due to work constarints cannot fly in the mornings .

i know things can get bumpy up there , but how bad or dangerous is it to fly in hot wather , but very calm conditions .

need to fly man

going into summer 6.30 am in Komati, it is already at 30 degrees

please advise
cheers
Jon

[KFA]

Hi Jon,
I have flown in Komatipoort for 12 years in my Windlass. I flew on 40 degr days and it is not a problem. Best is to build experience slowly before taking on the big bumps. You will find it bumps more during the cooler hours than mid day. In the transitional hours of the mornings there are lots of temp differences due to the different ground features but as the day heats up, everything is hot and if there is a slight brease 10-15km/hr and it is constant you will find that the flying is actually very enjoyable.

You should contact Jacques Mostert. He is an experienced trike flyer in the Strydomblok area. Lots of my mates there fly.

[Jon Hewitt]

Thanks for the advise stefan


will give it a shot , i believe Jacques bought him self a Aquilla , will give him a call .

cheers
Jon

[Bayliner]

Hallo

So judging from what has been said it is probably better to fly in these types of areas about an hour or two before sunset?

I am based in the Northern Cape at Pofadder and will be flying a Mainair Blade 912. Possibility of being here for the next two years so am thinking of bringing the trike up here.

Any further comments, advice etc.?

Temperatures can reach well into the upper 40's.

Thanks Guys.

[bobthebuilder]

Watch you MAUW.
Hot and heavy don't work well together.

[Blue Max]

Also want to make an remark or two.!
Three weeks ago it was cold here in the Dal at Marble Hall. It was lovely trike flying weather.
Today and yesterday the temperature was between 35 and 38 and in peak summer times it gets to 40+ degrees.
This account for a huge difference in the reaction of the trike.
You might not feel it when you are solo, but the moment you put a passenger in the backseat you are in for a surprise. More so if the pax weighs in the order of 90 kg.
The sudden change in temperature caught me by surprise and I almost had a nasty incident.
It was 16h30 on a hot afternoon and the windsock was hanging down, but it was restless.
One moment on this side of the pole and the next moment on the other side of the pole. I took of with a pax of about 90 kg and found that my trike does not want to climb.
I was giving full power and after getting airborne there was no chance of pulling the bar towards myself to gain momentum, that would have been fatal!
The conclution, as we all know is: be very careful to take a pax up on a hot afternoon.!!!
Amper k@k gemaak.!!