New to the forum and help wanted!

[andreb]

Hi Everyone

I am new to the flying game and am about 8 hours away from getting my wings. Thanks to much patience from hans and Mervyn at Microland. Thanks Ray for getting me hooked! I love the flying and the freedom. Meeting all the great guys and gals around is also a bargain.

I am in the proces of getting a plane and many people are telling me to get an Aquilla or Raptor, due to parts availability. Others are saying that parts on most planes can be flown in in a few days. Their suggestion is to go for something that is safe and can fly a bit faster that the 45mhp of an Aquilla or Raptor. The more I listen , the more cofused I get. I aim to do a lot of flying with some mates at Microland and want to be able to keep up in terms of speed. It also seems that many people are saying that Aquillas and Raptors are the worst in terms of handling in windy and hot conditions. Apparently some of the overseas trikes can easily fly in windy conditions and all day long?

So how many hours is reasonable on a wing, airframe and engine? I dont mind spending money, but I want safety and reliability first. Not negotiable.

If any of you guys can assist with recommendations and comments, I woudl appreciate it. If you know of a good plane going, let me know. Must have usual stuff, including good wing, low hours on motor (less than 300). Preferably something that can fly a bit faster. Just not a 503 please and preferably autolube. I can spend up to R140k, but that includes a balistic chute.

Hope to bump into you guys at some of the airfields and great meeting some of you recently. Great fraternity to be involved in.

thanks

Andre

[Chunky]

Come speak to the guys at Panorama...

There are a few Air creation clippers just sitting gathering dust. I believe one got sold a month back with less than 200 hours for about 90k.

You cant buy a trike with that reputation for that pice anywhere. Most of these clippers are never flown. Owners seemed to have lost interest.

If I had the choice between a local trike or a clipper, the clipper it is.

[andreb]

Thanks Chunky. Do you have any contacts there? I have Henk's number - he is selling a Gemini.
Andre

[Chunky]

Hi Andre

Hi plane is also a bargain. I know he needs to get rid of it as he has a new quik 450.

Best person to speak to is Mike Cathro, he will know all the clipper owners. I would guess if you made them a reasonable offer they would sell those planes.

[Bacchus]

Buy what you like. I also had to listen to all this and all that, but in the end its all about personal preference.
All these trikes, Air creation, aquilla, aerotrike, airborne, raptor........all of them are airworthy, went through a lot of tests etc etc. Same thing with the wings.
As far as i am concerned, you decide between a 582 or 503, type of wing ( some are fast, some are slower , but they are all good ), instruments and hours on the plane.
Buy what you like and dont listen to too much advice. Advice is always good, but the minute you get confused, follow you're own head.

The aerotrike guys will swear by their trikes, the aquilla okes by theirs etc...
Buy a yellow one

[andreb]

Thanks for the words Bacchus. Had a long chat to a good friend Ray Harley, who has been flying for many years. He says pretty much the same. I can really go bananas and buy new Pegasus, etc, but being new I would prefer to start reasonable and work my way up.
Hope to meet you guys sometime.

Andre

[Dre'man]

Go as big as you can afford, there are alot of guys wanting to upgrade and battling to sell.

[Redeye]

Look hard at the after sales suport on imported trikes- I have owned Cosmos.AirCreations and Main air blade- I wont coment on the 1st two
but the after sales back up from Big G on Main Air is 1st class-