Trikepilot Social

Hi guys. New to the forum. I am looking to get weight shift rated. I am curretly a PP. I have not flow in about 2 years though. I was curious if you could fill me in on Tukan trikes. Are they a good design? What are some things I should look out for when buying one? The gentleman that I will be training with has a Tukan trike that he might want to sell as he will no longer be able to instruct in it after 2010. I trust him a lot and he is the only guy I know that flies trikes in my area (Colorado) he is a very nice guy. I just wanted to bounce it off you guys and get some thoughts. The trike has a 80HP GEO/Suzuki conversion on it with a Northwing wing on it, radio, intercomm, etc...that is about all I know.

I think in about a year I will be looking for a good trike in the $25K range. I would like to have 4 stroke power and hopefully have at least 80hp. Is this possible? If I do not buy his trike do you think I will have to settle for a used 582 powered trike at that price point? I really like the fact that his has a 80HP engine.

What are you guys opinions?

Hey there Cece! I built and flew the very first Tukan trikes ever manufactured with John Kemmeries at Pleasant Valley Airport near Phoenix, AZ. I might add that I was the unskilled labor in that endeavor since I am not much of a fabricator, the real work was dome by Bill Comstock, Greg Silva and John himself. But I did learn a great deal about fabricating back in those days- around 1992 it was. Of course, John soon began offering the Tukan in plans and one thing I learned is that many people tossed out the first page, which was the design of the jig that was necessary to drill the holes, and so the trike was just a cheap knockoff. Since we only built about 25 Tukans at PVA there are probably far more that were homebuilt. I am betting that most of those did not benefit from the jig. In fact, I imagine that in many cases it was "You hole the tube, I'll drill the hole."
One way you can be fairly certain the trike you're looking at is really a Tukan is the gold-brushed tubing. That was all we ever used. Another thing I've noticed with the knock-offs is that they are creak-monsters. Grab hold of the mast above the seat rails and lean on it. You will hear a LOT of creaking.
The original Tukans were designed with the 52 horsepower Rotax 503 in mind, and any more horsies might be rather marginal in terms of motormount. I would be hesitant to step on the gas knowing I have 80 HP back there unless the motormounts and the motormount strut have been somehow beefed-up. Imagine that Suzuki trying to climb up in the front seat with you!
By the way, you can find an account of my travels with my Tukan Trikezilla in my thrilling novels at www.TalesFromTheWildBlueYonder.com
WahOOO!
John Olson
Albuquerque

John thanks for the resposne. Sounds like you have a lot of experience in and around those things!! Yeah he has beffed that puppy up...he actually calls it his Super Tukan!! I am planning on flying in it when I get home.

On a side note. Perhaps I should start another thread?? Would it be easy to convert a current Airborne XT 582 to a 912 when the engine was done? Looks like a 582 is going to be what is in my price range for now. I figured once the engine is run out I could upgrade it to a 912. Although one might argure I should just spend the money up front and get the 912...I imagine it will be cheaper in the long run over trying to afro engineer a 912 into a trike that originally came with a 582. There is a really nice XT 582 on Barnstormers that looks in perfect condition for $24K....

One other thought that I had was it would probably be good to get a trike that someone is willing to insure the hull. I would hate to spend that kind of money and have a mishap and be out $25K or whatever I pay....I would imagine that a "brand name" trike will be easier to insure...if I can even get hull insurance for one!!

Thanks for all the info guys.

Cheers

Hi Cecil,

I don`t know too much about Tukan Trikes, but I do know that some guy is selling a Pegasus Trike on Barnstormers that has a 80 hp 912, a Micro Air 760 radio and 2 Lynx helmets and headsets.  He says it has 206 hours total time and he is asking $23,500. That sounds like it is in your price range....

Dale~
Thanks for the lead. Unfortunately right now I am in Afghanistan so I am not going to be ready to buy until late next year sometime. That sounds like a good price though! Wow!

Is there a post on the forums with a list of trike manufacturers?

Also, how hard are these things to insure? I have 100hrs as a PPL, but I will just be starting out in WSC.

Thanks!

Air creation, Airborne, Northwing, Gibbo, Apollo, Evolution (Revo), Pegasus

Hi Sesil,

If you want a trike with GEO, look http://www.airtrikes.net/eagle.shtml This trike was designed especially for Suzuki-GEO, 50+ were built by Air Trikes and my clients. Well tested. Can be built from plans, or with any help, registered as Experimental Amateur Built. Most of my trikes are built with GEO engines. You can get a new trike with 100HP GEO starting from 20.000$

Vassili

Vassili,
Do you live in the US? Is there way I can see one of the Tourist Trikes and get a ride in one? I have looked through the website and have a few questions I will email to you. They look sharp and very reasonably priced.