Alltrikes

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Do I need a License to fly a trike?

       Yes, no but yes!   In the US, if a trike has two-seats, you will need a license to fly it.

                 Some single seat trikes however are small, & light, enough to qualify under FAR Part 103.

                 Part 103 trikes do not require a license to fly, however, to put it bluntly, only an idiot

                 would try and fly without training (there are several deaths every year by people who think

                maybe they are different than all the other talented people who've died trying).

What type of License do I need?

        In the US, you can obtain either a Private Pilot license, Sport Pilot, or Recreational pilot's license ....

         Private Pilot license:

         Sport Pilot:

         Recreational pilot license:

       In Australia, it is similar, however .....

How long does it take / how many hours?

         In the US, the minimum is  xxhrs  but expect to take between yy & zz hrs over 4-12 months.

         In the OZ, the minimum is  xxhrs  but expect to take between yy & zz hrs over 4-12 months.

         In the UK, the minimum is  xxhrs  but expect to take between yy & zz hrs over 4-13 months.

How much does a typical trike cost?

          You might find a very cheap well used Part 103 trike for $7K US or a super expensive 2 seat trike for over $100K.  On the low end of the scale, you get what you pay for and your LIFE is dependant on that.  Saving a couple bucks on a rust bucket will be of no consolation to you when it snaps mid air.  A well equipped used two-seater is likely to cost $25 to $55K with a lot of factors depending.

          Do NOT buy a trike off of eBay or out of some garage something that's been sitting for years-- there's a reason it was retired that way and no serious triker is flying it-- believe me if it was really the deal you think it is (rather than the death trap it really is) the triker community would have snapped it up.  Usually it has an outdated and dangerous wing, or other components.  An aircraft engine has to be basically flawless-- this is not a lawn mower, if it does not run 99.999% of the time, you'll be in trouble.

         DO have your instructor help you with your decision.  Fly your instructor's trike for a while, then fly another intructor's trike-  think about the differences and how the fit you and the style of flying you think you'll do--  that style will likely be different than you thought it was by the time you finish training.

        There is no ONE best trike.  Is there one best motorcycle?  Is a Goldwing "better" than a KLR-650?  Is it "better" if it costs more than others?  No, but there is a site where you can get that vibe---  this is not that site  ; )

How Fast does a Trike go?

          (Yellow ones go slightly slower)

How High can a Trike go?

        (not as high in Australia because since they are upside down, there is not as much room below them)

How far can a Trike fly?

       Upwind or Downwind?

How long can a Trike stay up?

            Until it runs out of fuel !!! --  30 minutes to 4+ hours.  However, there are trikes that can SOAR, using no fuel at all.  There are even Electric trikes being introduced.  These later two categories are often part 103 light trikes.   In most cases longer than your bladder.

You mentioned there are different types of trikes like "Goldwing motorcycles and KLR 650's."  What are the basic categories of Trike Types?

Carriage:

           Stick

           Cruiser

           Single Seat

           Two-Seat

           5- Seat- with sleeping quarters:  Only in your dreams

           Part 103

Motor:

           Electric / Soaring

            2-Stroke

            4-Stroke

Wing:

       Single Surface

       Double Surface

       King-posted

       Strutted "Topless"

Which is best?  None-- they ALL have strengths and areas where they operate better than other types.  How well does a Goldwing motorcycle do on even a tiny bit of sand?