Aquilla vs GT450

[AndyG]

Does anyone remember VOV - Windlass number one. She was hangared at Light Flight for a while by a mate of mine. He threw a Rotax 532 on her and she used to climb like a homesick angel. I did quite a bit of flying on her and I can have the honour of saying I flew on number 1. I think it is a great testimony to Aiden and Solowings about the great products he has built over the years.

John I still think your trike is a honey!

[Wargames]

Agree with Windlass comments

And talking about that, who want to fly at 80mph?? Mind you, when I was flying last month in a headwind of 30mph, and with ground speed of 20mph , I wished for something faster

[extra300s]

Agree with Windlass comments

And talking about that, who want to fly at 80mph?? Mind you, when I was flying last month in a headwind of 30mph, and with ground speed of 20mph , I wished for something faster

If you flew the other way you would of gotten to 80MPH aswell...

[James Bentley]

Ah! ZS-VOV, now that brings back some memories...

My first trike flight and few hours of instruction was on Windlass No. 1 at Howick many years ago. It was also the holder of an altitude record for trikes for many years, I am not sure of the height but I had heard it was in the order of 20,000 odd feet. Power at the time was a single ignition 503!!

[AndyG]

Howzit James,

I remember the altitude record and it was about 22500 feet if I remember correctly. Was it Mike Blythe that did it?

I stand to be corrected on both points.

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Current solo world record alt for trike solo is

Altitude : 9 720 m

Date of flight: 18/09/1994
Pilot: Serge ZIN (France)
Course/place: Saint-Auban (France)

Microlight:
Norgil

[Low Level]

John ... it's never too late to get out of your GT450 ... advertise it here, somebody is sure to pick it up ...

Too late ........... can't advertise here. He must catch someone that hasn't read this thread.

[James Bentley]

Hi Leftseat

Yes, you are quite correct about the altitude and pilot. I have been told that VOV was still climbing but the cold was too much for Mike to continue.

I am not sure whether the flight was an attempt at the record for trikes, but certainly a great achivement for one locally designed and developed.

I sold a 532 engine to some guys at Cato which I understand found its way onto a trike, could be the same one. It came off my Thunderbird which I upgraded to a 912. Somehow it just seemed to fly better with the 532. Who owns VPS today?


James

[Thatchman]

Ok I am sold.

I will swop the left spat on my GT for one of these Aquilla's

[Gyronaut]

noel, you impressed me enormously with your airmanship

WOW! What an awesome compliment to get from an accomplished fellow airman!

Congratulations Noel! We should all strive towards hearing that at least once during our flying careers.

Len

[AndyG]

Demon,

You are a scholar and a gentleman(maybe) but what a nice compliment.Noel is a great oke. But I saw a comment that the Aquilla was bar in and that is not comfortable flying for a long time

[grostek]

Well done Noel,

Better luck next time Demon.

I suspect Noel will now receive regular challenges from other GT450 pilots.

Fly safe and have fun.

Kind regards,

Gunter Rostek.

[AndyG]

Ah! ZS-VOV, now that brings back some memories...

My first trike flight and few hours of instruction was on Windlass No. 1 at Howick many years ago. It was also the holder of an altitude record for trikes for many years, I am not sure of the height but I had heard it was in the order of 20,000 odd feet. Power at the time was a single ignition 503!!

[AndyG]

James,

The 532 came off a fixed wing Mizer that was stored at Light Flight for a while. The plane was in shocking condition and I certainly would not have put my bum in the seat.
However the motor seemed all right and we put her on VOV and I test flew her after the fitting. It performed well and complimeted the trike well.
VOV had just been bought and she had throttle on the left as well as brake as a well known man in Underberg used to fly her. I flew her just after she came from Underberg and it was an "Experience"

Cheers,

[Tumbleweed]

I'm starting a 'credit' conversation soon.