windlass 503

[kiwilad]

Hi,I'll start from the beginning.I'm from the land of great super 14 players and have just brought a windlass from Australia ( wingnut was the guy I think ) Solowings trikes are not common here. Windlass ( WL 251) 15 sqm aquilla wing, Is there any weak points,What points on the carriage/wing do I pay special attention too.
This forum would have to be the best trike forum I've found anywhere
Cheers Mark

[Cloud Warrior]

G'Day KL

Whereabouts do you live in Oz mate? Or are you still in NZ?

There are quite a few Aquillas flying around Down Under - you just have to know where to look.

Not many weaknesses on the Aquilla as long as you follow the maintenance manual to the letter. Did Wingnut provide you with one when you bought the trike from him? If not I can make a copy of mine for you. The aircraft is not as refined as the Airborne machines but is well built and tough and spares are not an issue over here.

I agree with you wholeheartedly about microlighters being the best forum out there!

Cheers

Sebastian

P.S. We will discuss your statement re standard of rugby players from The Land of the Long White Cloud after the final and the Bulls have won the trophy again.......

[kiwilad]

Hi Cloud Warrior
The crusaiders are just warming up again,must admit they're leaving there run a bit late this year,but I have faith .I'm living in Nz,west coast,still waiting for the trike to arrive from Aus,things a bit slow on your side of the ditch.I think Wingnut was sending everything he has for the trike,just looking for a bit of learnt wisedom

[Wargames]

Welcome to the forum kiwilad.

I fly a windlass. The best trike of all.

Very strong undercarriage. Very light as well. You will enjoy it with the 503. I think my trike has the same config as yours.

Weak points: The guy in the front seat.

Note: To check for hard landings, is that the boom tube under your seat normally bends. Thats what my AP told me.

Enjoy it. Send us some pics of your valley.

Regards,

[kiwilad]

Cheers Wargames
Will take some pictures next time the sun is out.It is a beautiful place to fly here,25km stretch of land between the pacific ocean and a 7500 ft range of snow covered mountains,about 2hrs flying from one side of the island to the other

[Africa]

Hi Kiwilad,

There is a guy in the bay of Plenty that I have dealt with in SA before he left to NZ. His name is Collin Alexander. his email is solowings@xtra.co.nz one of the nicest guys I know. I have over 6000 hours on Windlass and Aquilla trikes and you cannot go wrong. They are simple, stong, forgiving and easy to handle. They are great on all terrain. Its kinda like a Toyota . I worked in the factory for a while and can tell you to keep an eye on the following,
Like an earlier post the lower boom tube you sit on
the engine bracket on the welds, have been known to crack on very old machines.
the seat brackets where the seat colapses needs to be checked. Thats about it. Great little plane. Now, you being in NZ you will be doing alot of rough field landings where all the sheep are so be sure to be carefull... GO SHARKS!!!!!!!!!

[Wargames]

where all the sheep are

And now you have opened a can of wurms

[kiwilad]

Thanks for the info Africa.I was talking to a SA guy at a fly-in here recently,he was flying a real old windlass,he said he had designed and built the first aquilla undercarriage.Maybe the same guy ?
The sheep thing -------------- Its suprising how many people confuse us kiwis with those sheep loving Aussies

[Stephan van Tonder]

Windlass a great little worker. Very few points that give trouble and they have already been mentioned. Seat bracket tends to crack around the tube and engine mounting. Then at very high hours start looking for play on the trailing link arm of the landing gear at the wheel side. The school where I trained has one that has 1800 hours on.

[Morph]

Check out this post for contacts at Solowings and latest news

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10516