Microlighters

Hi all, Can anyone help, suggest any good ideas for tying down a trike if you should ever get caught outside with stong wind ?

I'm planning to keep some rope and tent pins, and maybe a small rubber hammer always in backup in one of my side bags.

I've heard of a couple of people landing away from a runnway with hangars due to wind.

Thanx all.

Contact Demon, Thatchman, gaylord or any of the GT450 lads. They are experts at packing the trikes away while doing an overnight fly away. Not sure if the specs of all wings are the same but the GT450 has tie downs built into the wing. From there they straighten the wing and secure the bar against the front pole. (named???) then once the wing is straight, pegs go into the ground and the aircraft secured, and then covered.

not a trike pilot so forgive the lack of technical terminology

Hi Jaco
In the good old Cape Of Storms we carry ropes with us. We tie the wing in a neutral position from the front wheel to the corner of the trapeze bar and then to the rear wheel (both sides). We then have two equal length ropes on each wing that are attached to where the spreader bar and the leading edge tubes join. These we secure into the ground using tent pegs ( L shaped ) a distance appart in line with the length of the trike so they act against each other. These ropes we roll up and leave in the wing.Make sure you attend rope school first and tie it rolled up properly.
In very bad winds we lower the wing into the wind and tie the trike up. This pushes the wing into the ground so put a jacket under the wing tip.
Keep the ropes tight as you don't want to have jerking on them.
On my trike I have made special clips and all I do is simply clip the ropes in place to neutralize the wing and peg it to the ground. Many blokes have different ideas like putting the trike into the wind with the nose of the wing slightly down or the tail into the wind with the nose slightly raised but I have witnessed the wind change direction suddenly so make sure it's tied properly and use good rope.

Hi all

Thanx for all the info. With above pic in mind, it looks like the wing is being tied to the ground in 4 places, and this should be fine, but what about the cart, woun't it move around ?

Strong wind??????? tie a string around the front wheel and fly it like a kite

Aerosan, I suppose kite flying is an only option for people who do not have a flyable aerie ?? Don't fear You can come take mine for a spin .... ( no strings attached )

( Just joking )

I flew a lot in Mozambique (and the beach KZN) and tied down the same as the pics, some nights lowered the wing completely. I carried long wood augers, the type that are used for boring holes in telegraph boles. screwed them in to the sand and then applied sea water to "rust in place". Most nights returned to the same spot but they take some shifting. The best bit is they have holes for a bar to turn. When removed come with a huge chunk of sand !! really cheap from the local farmers mart.

Zulu1

I found all my 'vasmaak goeters' from the following people: http://www.liftlash.co.za/

Instead of using ski rope, I've got some flat webbing, clips & alloy shackles from them. If U don't have the necessary equipment/know-how to fabricate the webbing & connecters yourself, they are rigged to do it for U. This factory is a must for the 4x4 guys to visit. Regards......