What is the definition of an Ultimate Trike, wing, engine combination
Now, I know there is not one good answer for this question. Some of us (like myself) like to fly low and slow, some are totally on the other side of the fence and want to fly extremely fast. If we were to piece-meal a trike...LOL, what would be an all purpose middle of the road trike, wing, engine combination. The reason, I am asking this question is that after watching tons of videos and reading tons of discussions I know I am sure about one thing, for a two place trike (in my opinion only) Bionix is the ultimate wing because of it's range, Airborne Outback Tundra is the ultimate all purpose frame with great backcountry operation capability with a 80 hp 912 (for reliability). That is my ultimate trike, what about you?
Comments
I would agree about the Bionix, it is a great all rounder. The Skypper would be a better trike with that wing as it is lighter than the Tanarg.
I spend quite a lot of time with my Bionix in slow mode as my wife takes pictures from the back, and she needs to hold the camera as still as possible. It is great to be able to get in and out of very short strips too.
Your comment about the Airbourne are fair, but don't forget that the Tanarg trike has a very low centre of gravity and wide/long wheelbase making it a very stable machine in ground handling. Added to that the capablity of landing at a very low speed (Bionix wing) gives it a short landing roll and added safety.
I like the outback but only with a slow wing. Prefer tHe airborne tundra (podded outback) with a high windscreen for faster wings. Never tried a Bionix wing but the latest wing creation from Airborne, the new Arrow wing is awesome. Had a fly a couple of weeks ago and it seems to me to be a quantum leap on their SST or streak 3. Smaller in size to the others but has shorter take of / land, better handling, wider speed range, better in turbulence, it is extremely responsive making it a very advanced, height performance wing that's just great to fly.
on my list for my next upgrade :-)
Ray
Bob,
I looked at the pictures of Skyyper on the web, Air Creation website and it seems some have a little bit more fairing than the others. Am I looking at the wrong trike? Or does Skyyper offers different options. I agree about the stability of Tanarg...I flew with David O(h) and loved his trike.
Tracktop (that's a funny name :) I am going to check that Arrow wing, I didn't know about it. Thanks.
Rizzy
Bob,
I thought the NuviX was built for the Skypper and vice versa. Do many fly a Skypper+BioniX combo?
Tracktop,
Tell us more about the Arrow-- I knew Airborne had to be working on something!! Cool!
When the Bionix was first designed it would only fit the Tanarg and there was no Skypper then. The Nuvix was released as a cheaper version of the Bionix to fit the older trikes, Clipper, GTE etc.
The Skypper came out and one could fit either wing. If you want a budget trike then the Skypper Nuvix with one of the smaller engines (582 or HKS) is the one. Much cheaper than the Tanarg Bionix.
I came across this video of a very short landing (looks like ground roll about the wing's width) on an STOL trike with a huge single surface wing:
See landing at end of video... Looks like fun !
I posted this clip for a similar thread on the same subject. I had hundreds of delightful hours flying the exact trike. This was a factory clip.
It’s a 21 meter Atlas on a Cosmos trike, with a 532.
I lament the lack of available big wings. Amazingly, there is no longer a market for them. I advertised for months for a low-time 21 meter wing (never found one) and recently settled on a low-time strutted 19.
I love big wings. I currently have five trikes and with wing sizes: 29, 21, two 19s, 17, two 16s, 15, 12.5 and a new 12 on the way. I’m a hopeless trike freak that somehow still manages to stay married to the same woman for almost 40 years.
My favorites are the 29 and the 21.
I am planning to make a new sail for the 29, and I really want it to be with radial battens.