Rust on Aerotrike Scouts?

[Biggles]

Hi all

Looking a buying a trike and keen on a scout, but someone mentioned they rust as they have a steel frame, i find it hard to believe (the rust, not that they have a steel frame)... Any scout owners that have found rust on thier frames, especially down at the coast?

[RudiGreyling]

My scout is almost 7 years old, not at the coast and is still fine.

The steel undercarraige makes it very strong and sturdy for rough landings and off field landings.

The scout is a perfect first plane, cheap, and strong while you build experience doing a couple of 'bad' landings. OR if you plan to go into rough terrain often and do off field landings.

That said My scout has been to the lowveld and drakensberg xcountry trips. I love my scout, but then I'm baised...

Check with Rainbow Aircraft ((011) 817 2298) they might have treated the steal before assembly. Report Back I'd also like to know...

Regards
Rudi

[Arnulf]

Hi bush_geo

All old fabric aeries have steel frames, and there are plenty of them still around. All aluminium aeries suffer from corrosion if not treated properly. On aluminium trikes lots of the fasteners and hardware are out of steel. Contact between auminium and steel will result in galvanic corrosion. So it is not a question whether it is steel or auminium, but rather whether it has the proper corrosion treatment. Preventative maintenance also includes corrosion prevention. The advantage with rust on steel, as opposed to aluminium corrosion, is you see it better. I know of one trike owner that got a serious fright when he disassembled his trike and saw all the aluminium corrosion.

Your decision on buying a trike should not be based whether it has a steel or ally frame, but rather how well it has been looked after.

Also consider, rusted steel parts are generally easier and cheaper to replace than corroded aluminium parts.

Regards,
Arnulf

[PMarshall]

Our Scout is 7 Years old has done quite a few beach landings and lives at the cost and the only corrosion of any significance is on the alluminium parts of the wing. There is a very good value scout up for sale on the for sale page-buy it....

[Biggles]

Thanks guys... that settles that!! And as you say everything depends on how an aerie has been looked after.

I thought as much, I checked with Rainbow and they have never had reports of corrosion on the scouts.