Cross-Country Trikers

Cross-Country Trikers

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Equipment for XC Flying in a Trike- Series of emails: Revision

Last updated by XC Triker

Categories: Trike Talk, Equipment, Safety, Cross Country / XC, Big Fast Trikes

What to take / things to consider on XC.

This is a series of emails exchanged with a few friends last summer & fall before some XC trips that were planned.  We did fly the 800 mile (each way trip) to the top of Idaho and back (to visit Rizzy & Ttabs) and had a blast.   We have a ton of footage sitting on our hard drives that has not been converted into a movie yet ...

 

I'll try and upload all the pictures that were in-line with these emails as soon as I can.

Guys,

Sorry I didn't think about getting you guys detailed XC info earlier.  With the latest accident, I started to worry about you guys more and realized I hadn't helped you go over much except the route a little bit-- of course this is your trip and you are PIC, but, maybe some of this will help.  This equipment takes a lot of time to get together, but here is some additional info.  I also pasted the previous email I just sent about tie downs, etc onto this one so that Craig might be able to add some thoughts too.

You may also want some lead fuel treatment-- if you use AVGas.  Carrying this in the trike may be subject to FAA regs.
I use TSP, but others feel Decalin is better-- I think I may get that when I run out.
Obviously carry some 2-stroke oil

One way to carry is in a alcohol flask and a ziplock- 1 oz shot glass often comes with flask.



In heavy winds, you may need to put your base tube on the asphalt in a hurry.  I have some chunks of rubber tire to put under the corners of the base tube to protect it (after you get it tied down securely, it will still want to walk and wobble some, which grinds the corner brackets)


When you need to slam your wing down to the asphalt quickly, just unbolt the bottom of the front tube an pivot it forward with the wing- ie no need to unbolt the top (yet- and your tike can sit safely this way all night).  This PVC 1" "T" will protect it on the asphalt.


In flight info very important--  weather / winds / visibility / TFR's ahead (pop-ups, fire, etc), etc
Runway diagram access also very important-- easy to get lost taxiing on unfamiliar airports-- not just the towered ones.  Many untowered 2 or more runway airports are confusing.  At least at a towered airport you can just ask ground control for progressive taxi instructions to Rwy xx.


I've been using Craig Valentine's old Sony e-reader for additional info on airports I'm going to.  Even more handy when I need to suddenly fly into an unknown / unplanned airport.  A full sized sectional is a MINIMUM you can access during flight.  Make flip sections for your knee board if needed.


kneeboard-- very important- for holding notes about where you're going, what to expect, frequencies, procedures, etc.  Not just for when you're in controlled areas.  You can see I have my note template I fill out for airports before flying (see attached template below).  If you do not have an electronic organizer, make some notes from AirNav and fill them out on these templates-- helps you familiarize with the route also. Some airports have whacky procedures you would just not guess at if your don't read the A/FD beforehand and make some notes.

Fill out one of these for each airport you are going to and your likely alternates.  Staple at the top and put in your knee board.

the funny symbol at the lower right is for larger airports which usually have boxes which state which frequency to contact for flight following in which quadrant near them.  If that doesn't apply, you can still hand draw in the runways and their relative directions and notes.


Some airports are tiny and no info on A/FD, but have somewhat complex procedures-- like Avenal-- a glider port my friend invited me out to.  I made this diagram for my kneeboard so I'd know what was going on when I got out there.  I used a graphics program (skitch) to write on top of the google earth view-- or maybe this is the standard pic you can get from AirNav for most runways).



For my local airports, I carry these diagrams in my bar-mitt-- though you can put them in your kneeboard for your trip of the airports you're going to.  I added the emphasized runway numbers, etc.  It is VERY easy to get all confused about which runway you are calling in to when on approach to an unfamiliar airport.  Believe me.  I took XX into a runway backwards on our last trip to Idaho.  It was a non-event, but still, I had all the info in the world (GPS, Enigma, Sectional, iPhone, e-reader, etc and still got it backwards).  I also use an app called "Wind-Aid" which helps give you a feel for your runway, which way is the favored runway for the winds, and the cross component-- it's very easy to goof up the "math" and pick the un-favored runway when you're tired and in an unfamiliar area.





This is a "Frequencies" list I put in my other bar mitt for my local area, and when on an XC trip- where I will be flying (for example I made one for Monument Valley)  SOOOO handy and quick to refer to.  Gives Rwy pattern directions by color coding too, and weather (ASOS/ AWOS, etc- very handy to listen in on several nearby airports to get a better feel for the big picture of what is going on ahead, beside you and behind).  (This list has now mostly been superseded on super-long, multi-day XCs, by my Enigma on XC trips-- but for local, this is still faster.  For your trip, I would highly recommend filling one out for your expected airports and alternates (include KSMX & KSBP-- already on there for you).  If no bar-mitt, put this also in your kneeboard (stapled at the top, and with a punch hole in it for a leash too, in case your clip lets go in flight, or you fumble it while flipping pages).
I use 2mm black bungie thread for leashes in the kneeboard (pen & spare pen, all papers, etc)



Spare trike key-- can easily ruin your trip without one.  I left my key in the hotel one day we were flying in Catalina-  If I didn't have the spare I would have had to pay $50 for the 1hr bus to town and back AND probably missed the window for flying.  Fortunately, I had a spare key hidden in the trike.




Good antenna / radio system VERY important.  I LOVE this antenna.  I've tried many different ones.


My chart leash-- see Henry's video of reading a chart at 100mph in the trike and folding directions.  Get current charts and fold them this way for your trip even if you cant use them while flying, you may be able to access them on the ground in a pinch, and good to not have to fold all the way out.
I use an iPhone, the eReader, pre-notes, the sectional, the Enigma & the Garmin GPS-- can't tell you how many times, the info I need is only on ONE of those things-- carry as much accessible info as you can.




See previous emails on items to consider having in your trike.




You can contact Flight Following and use it without having your airspace endorsement.  You can ask them questions like what's the frequency for weather (usually 122.0 for flight watch), what is that storm ahead doing (just in case an unexpected storm pops up- which way is it moving, how fast, lightning?).  Any nearby class D or higher airport can give you the frequency for Flight Following in the area--  XXX Tower, Experimental lightsport X=N1234 15 miles to the South at 2k feet, what is the frequency for FF in this area?  You can land at a Class D or higher if you have to in an emergency--  just tell them what's going on--  XX Tower,  Experimental lightsport Trike N1234 15 miles to the South at 2k feet, squawking VFR (Ken has a transponder) and am experiencing severe turbulence.  I am a sport pilot and do not have a tower endorsement but need emergency landing instructions.  Can you help me?  (make sure you tell them it's an emergency-- do not be shy and risk lives, declare your problem and get help-- there is lots of help out there).  Add can you help me, because then they will give you permission and know that they will likely need to talk you in.  You can say, can you tell me in "plain english" what I need to do to land at your airport. (ie follow the freeway below you, to enter the L downwind for XX)

Here is a checklist I use for flying the Tanarg-- even though it only applies directly to the Tanarg, most of it is applicable to any XC flight.
I print it out in a bound / laminated flip book that hangs on my dash.  You could probably print it out for your knee board.
(Doug asked me last time about "move wallet to front pocket "(that's because it hurts to sit on it for 4 hours))



I also have a short cable lock that I can thread through my helmet and flight suit to lock it in the cockpit so I can walk away from it while going in to town.  A cloth bag or duffle to carry stuff in is very handy too.

Also, not mentioned was what you will tie down to.  Many airports have chains- you clip one end to a pre-tied rope near your leading edge/crossbar junction (you should have this already in place permanently), then you hike the lower part of the chain up with a clip halfway up it to synch it down.  Oceano has these too.  If there are no chains, there are often at least eye hooks in the ground.

In the absence of that, you can get ":The Claw" or similar, or can make one out of angle iron and huge spike nails (the 10" long type)

=======
Guys,

Here was an email I wrote back and forth with XX getting him ready for XC.  Rapid tie downs are very important where you are going.  You don't want to be trying to tie knots in high winds-- winds are the most likely weather issue you'll run into on that route-- there are a million wind-mills there for a reason, it can be very bad and the rotor can be extreme, also the venturi effect.

It's probably too late to order form AC spruce, but these are great.  Ace hardware quick straps may help some, but are rated about 1/10th the load as these are (seriously-- look at the rating on typical hardware store ones-- remember it may seem strong on the ground, but your wing is capable of yanking 1000 lbs up in the air at over 1000+ feet per minute-- and that's in calm air).  If you don't have time to order from  AC spruce get some cheap hardware ones AND some rope-- then replace them later-- you can have them mailed to my house for your return trip.  I'm sorry, I shoulda worked with you guys more a week or so ago.
Have these on top of your pack where you can grab them  easily while sitting in your seat struggling to hold the bar against the wind-- you may have one shot to get out to a wing tip and tie it down-- tying knots will not do at all-  you need quick clips and a synch.  I once was pinned down and got my simple ropes out, managed to work my way out to one wing and tie some knots-  I tied them a little to short, and couldn't now reach the other wing (too high up), now couldn't untie ropes with wing struggling to tighten them).

Remember you can park across "T" shaped tie downs to get a better angle into the wind-  perfect alignment into the wind helps the most.  Try and taxi close behind something to reduce the wind, another plane, HANGAR or anything.  




Begin forwarded message:


Thanks,

Let me know when / if Jim is going.
Does your android Asus Transformer Tablet run windows?  I need a small tablet that can connect to the internet and run Citrix to connect with the mainframe of the company I work with to enable me to work remotely.  iPad (being basically a giant iPhone / iOS) can't do that.  If your tablet could, that might make it perfect for me to take on the trike.  Otherwise, I'm looking at a Macbook Air?  But it won't work as a kneeboard device.
    How much was the tablet + accessories (power, mount, ?gps antenna?, memory, etc)
    Is there a subscription / update fee for the charts / A/FD
    Does it provide real-time weather?

You can see into the filter element of the Racor also--  at first I didn't think you could, but all filtered particles fall down into the large bowl for inspection and you can look up through the bowl into the filter element itself.  It's worth a look at this system--  quite a bit of peace of mind, especially if you'll be filling form various sources with potential for contamination / water on a long XC, and/or flying over questionable terrain.

If you have a hard wired PTT on your dash, you are probably good (I do).  But I still carry a spare PTT for the bar as it's gonna fail sooner than later anyway, so buying it now as a spare for XC trips doesn't really waste any money.

RE: route, what I often do (was easier when Runway finder was running) is look at a google satellite view of where I'm going and find interesting features to fly over (craters, lakes, etc,  then compare that with the sectionals, and back and forth until I have a route that looks fun, interesting and safe.  We can start doing that now.



On , 2012, , xx wrote:

Hey,

Thank you for the message and the great photos.  Please see responses in blue below:

On  2012 at  PM, yy wrote:
Hi,

It was good to hear from you yesterday, thanks for the call.

I'm even more looking forward to this trip.  In order to figure things out better, I was wondering about a few things:
    1) Have you contacted your pilot friend, and will he be going also?  (sorry I'm bad with names)  -  Friend's name is xx
    2)  What kind of collapsible fuel tank do you have?  I'm increasingly interested in not using any AvGas if possible.  (a photo of my collapsible 5 gallon Turtle Pac is below).  I use a lead scavenger whenever I fill with Av Gas, but the longer I go, the more AvGas I use, & I'm coming up with ways of not doing so. -
        I recently bought a gas scooter that I'm thinking of putting in the back seat in order to get into town for hotel and gas. Love the scooter idea - very creative!!
    3) We talked about your bump tolerance.  How bout winds?  Are you OK landing in gusty situations?  I have landed with wind gusts up to about 17 mph - not a lot of experience but have no problem going around until I am comfortable with touching down.  Up to what winds?  Winds up the runway of 15 to 20 mph are no problem.  Cross wind (one time) of 12 to 15 mph is about the most I have encountered so far. (this is where I stopped before talking to you by phone this evening)
    4) Is your trike XC ready?  Do you have good tie downs?  I have tie downs and also just purchased "The Claw." (extra tie-down system such as "The Claw" for off airport tie downs?)  We have some quick tightening aircraft tie downs  straps we keep very close by for landing-- if you land in winds, there's no time for tying knots.  I would assume you have a good GPS.  I have a Garmin 500 that I got in February of this year but found something I like better.  I have an android Asus Transformer Tablet and discovered, program called Naviator (http://www.naviatorapp.com/) it is terrific.  You may want to check it out. Do you have a system for reading charts in your trike?  Yes, I use the one you and Henry demonstrated on his movie - also the way to fold the chart to give it the most efficient use.  How bout an iPhone or way to get weather ahead? I have an Android smart phone I use to check weather.
    5) Reliable strong radio.  I have an in-dash "Flightline FL-760 Transceiver " that works great.  I have the capability of flip-flopping between two frequencies but not monitoring two channels at once.  Backup PTT / Backup radio? No backup radio or PTT.  Monitor two channels at once?
    6) Transponder.  Strobes?   I have both.  Yes, I have both as well.  They make us more seen in the middle of nowhere and able to use an extra half hour of light at the end of a day.  Transponder good for flight following and crossing any Class C/B (we can do with mine and a few radio calls).
    7) Small spare parts kit, spare ignition key (hidden in trike).  No, I don't have one but will plan to get one made and hide on the trike.  GREAT idea!!
    7) Is there any hangar space in XX for me for 10 days between Arlington and Idaho?  Will check on this and let you know what I find out.

Of the above equipment, it's all optional, but theses are must haves:
         1) GPS-  I'm sure you have one, everyone does these days.  We could get separated on any XC flight.
        2) Method for getting weather ahead (or behind).  In addition to radio, I use iPhone.
        3) Kneeboard-  I use the Orga-Kneezer (it's metal so it doesn't flop around so much in winds).  Most off the shelf knee boards need to be modified with several leashes to keep everything from flying out.  Inside my knee board, I used to use these sheets I'd fill out for each airport, but now I use a sony eReader (may eventually move to iPad).  






If you don't have a kneeboard already, get one and test fly it-- often stuff likes to flap around and you have to come up with a fix for that until it works well.

        4) Reliable radio.  Extra PTT (one of weakest links in system- usually fails on big trip).  (Two channel monitoring VERY useful-- such as MGL V-10)
        5) Spare parts / spare key

Here's some stuff I wrote back when I was trying to figure out the best ways to fly in groups:


Do you use skyvector?  Have you created routes on it?  Yes, I did my first solo XC flight plan using Skyvector.  It works great, but now use Naviator.
    http://skyvector.com


My iphone hookup-- in Ram mount-  also ability to play music VERY nice on 800 mile trip:  I do not currently have this capability but hope to in the near future.


Chart leashes-  I cant remember if Clipper has big enough dash to do that-- otherwise, fold maps into your bar mitt, or knee board.  make color copies from SkyVector, etc:  





Good fuel system (filtration)-- more and more trikes are using my idea of installing a Racor:
See Racor installation on AllTrikes
    The filter in total is the 120A,    it is labeled a Racor 120As   if it comes with the S spin on filter
    I'm using the R12S spin on filter ( the 2 micron one)  (R12P is 30 microns, R12S is 10 microns).
I have the clear glass fuel filter.  It allows me to view the filter to see if there is any debris.  I do not remember the brand name.






The Sony eReader I have.  Not perfect iPad would be better if readable in the sun), but functions as a good A/FD.




Turtle Pac 5 Gallon collapsable can-- I have not used this yert on XC.  What type do you have?

(NOTE:  I have now used the Turtle Pac on several trips-- VERY handy, possibly life saving)


Scooter--  I' going to try and get this to go along this time.  ??  ;)

(Still haven't got it mounted in the trike yet, but .....  eventually, I;ll use it to go to town to get MoGas, get food, hotel, etc)

Thank you again XCT for all the valuable information.  It is VERY much appreciated.  I will be in touch when I get information about hangar availability in xx.


Cheers,