Another "Something new" - The SWIFT

[John Young]

Bumped into this at the Gateway Centre.

I am in no way involved and so feel free to use “Hanger Talk”.

Saw some things that I liked and saw some that I didn’t.

You be your own judge.

Regards
John ZU-CIB

[John Young]

Some more

[John Young]

Some more.

[John Young]

Contact details.

Regards
John ZU-CIB

[skybound®]

Very unusual bow spit design. I am not an engineer, but surely something that has been curved like that is now a weak point? Anyone out there with an engineering background to comment?

I like the brake system - looks neat.

[skyvan]

I'm always concerned when a company uses a yahoo/hotmail email address. Surely a company, especially nowadays, should have their own email domain.

[Cloud Warrior]

Initially I thought the hangpoint was just a bent piece of steel but from the front it looks like it is machined?

Only probelm I can see with having the main boom and curved bowsprit all in one is that you have to replace everything if you have a hard landing whereas you would only have to replace the "bent" piece if they were seperate?

On the whole aircraft looks a bit "agricultural" for my taste. But then maybe I am getting too used to the excellent engineering on the Airborne trikes I see over here.

P.S. I fly an Aquilla

[Morph]

I can see the Debbin influence with the larney sports pedals and all

[Tailspin]

And what is the price for this beast ??

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Price for interests sake? As a non triker it just looks like same old same old. I firmly believe that adding a pod to any new designs will hugely enhance the attraction to the less adventurous and attract new blood into the market. There is always option to remove it, but many do not like to see the ground below between their feet

[Miskiet]

Seeing the ground is the whole point!! :D

On a more serious note - I don't think our market is big enough for too many new trike manufacturers. How many new trikes do the existing companies sell? I'd guess about two or three a month in total (ie not enough to make a living out of it).

We need one very good, world class trike that we can export all over the world (with a SA engine!). This way we'll get the volumes up and I can buy something that will outfly a GT450 on less fuel for R100k We already have the instruments & comms (MGL & Airmagic), best wings (Jenya) and a pretty good undercarriage in the aquilla (Maybe add fancy bodywork and smaller wheels and get the CSIR/DENEL to do some windtunnel tests)

Unfortuantely TIA (This is Africa) - We'd rather legislate aviation into extinction than start a new industry.....

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Seeing the ground is reason i think many get "bang". My wife is not keen on ML's but flew happily in FaST and let all the kids go in it & KWK (They are little). When I asked why she said these are "real aeroplanes" and not "garden chairs". Perceptions are a huge factor and I think that is the perception out there. Similar to a "bare bike". Some love it, but they are in the majority and in the Evil Knievel category as far as Joe Public goes...

Not everyone can afford a GT450, but pimp a windlass and I am sure perceptions will change. I am not talking about the wind in your hair, bugs bounding off your teeth die hard trikers (of which I am sure the majority of the forum are), but those folks who are keen to fly but are hesitant more due to a lack on uderstanding and are swayed by perceptions. (You all know the reaction you get from the uniformed when you mention you fly a trike).

Many can not afford 3 axis, but the idea of strapping yourself to a couple tubes of ali seems to scare most. (What is after all the difference in construction materials between a trike and a Cheetah?) Perception however is that a Cheetah (only used as eg...) is a REAL aeroplane and a trike is not. Why? Because it has no cockpit.

By way of example compare the following...


When asked i i could fly them my wife said I could fly the one on the right, but under no circumstances the one on the left.... Same trike?

[RV4ker (RIP)]

PS
I'll take 3 of the GT450 "eaters" at R100K

[DieselFan]

Agree 100% RV4ker!

I had a set of peddles like that on my ol Kadett 88 GTE...

Another trike manufacturer to the untrained eye it's an Aquilla copy.

Unless it's MUCH cheaper or performs like a modern performance wing (+80mph easy) I can't see any reason for it.

My 2c.

[Arnulf]

If you want to break into the trike market as a new entrant, you can't sell the old sh%t. You must keep up with the trends overseas, and try to improve on that. I think you should start off with a 4 stroker, rear wheel disk brakes, topless wing, and yes, a nice cool looking pod, that can be removed if required. The local market is saturated with basic entry model trikes.

Regards,
Arnulf