Alltrikes

I had an amazing opportunity to fly the Rev the day before we left for OshKosh! Truthfully, I had never flown a single surface wing and the lightest trike I ever flew before was an Airborne Outback with a SST. So pretty much nothing light, let alone ultralight. I had no idea what to expect.

The plan was to just takeoff, fly to the end of the runway, land and then let our friend, Wes go for his first flight. Larry told me to “just takeoff and land like you do in the Revo, it’s exactly the same.”

What?!... With no 100 hp, no body and no front strut … HOW is that the same… Yikes! Well, I did what he said. I started my “normal” takeoff and you know that feeling you have when the aircraft gets light just before liftoff … I had barely started to think about it when the Rev just JUMPED off the runway.

The surprise, shock, exhilaration and pure joy that all coursed through at that exact moment was apparently heard by all on the ground by my cry of glee!! Never had I thought in my years of flying multiple aircraft including aerobatics that I would ever feel something as freeing and exciting as this. If a heavy trike is akin to a bird – this was like a butterfly! The wing, 15 m single surface, was so light and easy to maneuver in roll. No front strut – WOW!!! I could see my toes! I was going so slowly and gently all I wanted to do was dangle my feet and drag my tires through the grass.  

Oh No!! End of the runway and time to land. What do I do now?! There’s no front strut to go to get a full flare….. Ok, we can do this… engine idle, start round out to 6” above runway, keep pushing out, lean forward, keep pushing out, keep pushing out…. ahhh, the gentle touch of the back tires. Yeah!! I did it! There was no way I was getting out and letting Wes fly yet!! You can all me selfish but… I took off again! This time went to  200’ and rolled left, then right, then left again all the way down the runway and unfortunately had to land. This time I begrudgingly got out.

While I flew the “Zilla” Revo 2400 miles solo all the way to OshKosh and back I thought about that experience. Now the Rev has a Simonini Mini 3 engine and E Prop combination that is even flies better with dual caliper brake for stopping power. I, personally, am excited that it has a hand throttle so I will be able to dangle my feet and hopefully not stub my toe.

This is a short video of our first flight in the Rev. Try not to chuckle to much at my excitement :-).