Trikepilot Social

Hi All,
A new trike CFI was created this morning for the state of Maryland based at Chesapeake Sport Pilot FBO, Bob Snyder. Bob is also an airplane CFI.
He will be one of the CFI's training Department of Justice (US-DOJ) sponsored police officers to fly trikes in the Revo that US-DOJ bought from us
Abid
http://www.tampabayaerosport.com
http://www.evolutiontrikes.com

We just received some more footage of the Astra 103 in flight:

Its official.
The NYC Flight Standards Office advised Barry Maggio today that the matter is officially put to rest and that he did not do anything wrong.

The park police did not know the new rules regarding altitudes for trikes that took effect on April 2, 2010. This rule allows trikes to fly like helicopters essentially something airplanes cannot do. Park police confirmed to FAA that Barry never flew over any land and indeed was over water always which means he possibly could not be 150 feet from Statue of Liberty. Park police has been made aware of the new rules now.

AOPA and EAA should correct there mistakes of blaming the pilot before investigation was resolved. Unprofessional show from those organizations.
Abid
http://www.evolutiontrikes.com
Home of the Revo

Our sources in the field have sent us these never-before-seen shots of the new 103 Legal single-seat trike from Astra. We don't have all the details, but understand that this flying version has a Rotax 503, single-surface wing, and bears some lineage from the classic "Chaser" design. More to come...

Taking Mexico Flying - Installment Three (pages 23-39)

I
I had put a advert on afors website looking for a new quantum.... 

"Cash waiting a Quantum 912"

 I had sold my trusted quantum 582 a full 13hours and 16 mins ago so was already starting to go cold turkey..lol so set myself a target =48hrs to buy a quantum 912, after scanning Internet & afors trying to secure a deal amounted to nothing, then out of the blue dropped in the golden email, so Just like to say big thanks to Vikki for getting in touch, and pointing me in the right direction for my new quantum (her dads;-) even though it has nearly broke my bank!!

After driving over 400 miles in scorching sun, drinking 7 cans of pop, 3 bars of chocolate,nearly running out of fuel, and a new tom tom (as you do ;-) I finally got the deal I was looking for.. although now skint, but happy, I slipped my empty wallet into my pocket and headed north with a 5kt wind on the tailgate of my 4x4, as I will have to return to fly it back in the next week or so when the "new" permit is in hand, so it will be a wait, but I will at least be able to sleep in the knowledge that I have a plane at last after all those long hours ;-)

Hats off to Afors for putting this great service up, that has enabled me to buy a plane though the site without it ever being listed! So well done guys...great Job! 

UPDATE...................... 27th MAY 2010

The weather was perfect with light winds, clear skies and with bank transfer done 2 days earlier, we were all set to go get my new ship, so with my kit all packed with my helmet,icom radio and my brand new garmin 496 sat-nav (for back-up ;-)

With all flight planning done my trusted friend Steve was ready at the drop of a hat to fly me over to "Pound Green airfield" near kidderminster - N52°24.23 W002°21.25 the flight was to to take around 2 hours and expected 2.5 hours return in my quantum 912. everything done just one final phone call to mr x (edited by me) (the seller and airfield owner) to say we were on our way as if wind sock is not flying we couldn't land as they would have horses on the strip!.... then what a blow, he tells me that although the bank transfer took place 2 days ago, his bank is still waiting for the "cash" to clear?? this meant I couldn't collect it today!.. ...gutted I phoned my bank "the Halifax" who say that his bank Barclays "hold" cash transfers over £250 to go through "clearing" for money laundering reasons... yeah load of b*****s they just want to make interest at my expense!

So much to my frustration and disappointment the trip was called off, driving home wasn't easy looking at all that blue skies and fair weather clouds drifting in the light south westerly. thinking to myself. I could of had her here in four and a half hours ;-( and forecast said weather was heading for low pressure and rain ... so now for the waiting game ;-(

 Update............. June 20010 On the 2rd of June 2010

Phone rang, it was Edwin, he says alls good now, so with all cash sellers account, the time had finally arrived for me to go pick up my new ship ;-)

Next day Steve and I sat down and did all the flight planning over a few coffee's in the club house at eddsfield on the Yorkshire coast (stunning airfield), then the time had come to finally go, I again grabbed my Nike bag with all my flexwing kit in and got airborne...at last! after a couple of hours in Steve's 3-axes microlight with mostly smooth air with exception to a couple of thermals that were enough to give you a kick up the arse, we finally landed on 34 after a go around on 16 due to a intermittent tailwind and shortish runway - very smooth landing Steve!

I grabbed my bag and headed for the hanger, last time I was here a couple of weeks ago I came by road and it took me most of the day with lots of road and stress, still that's in the past now and it was time to get my new ship out.... I pulled all my gear from my bag helmet and gloves etc. to make space for the wingbag, paperwork etc.. once in I strapped it in the rear, it wasn't so heavy but would act as some-what of a ballast, wasn't sure if I needed it though as I haven't used ballast since training nearly two years ago, still I hadn't flown a 912 since then either so couldn't hurt.. I was just wanting to fly my new kite, so got suited n booted and couldn't wait... Now the Bad News... I grabbed my new garmin 496 that I got as back-up to my flight plans and suddenly noticed that the bracket that was there had gone, I asked Edwin what happened , he just said one of the flyer's up there wanted it...huh?? I'm thinking what the "BEEP", this wasn't good at all , he and his wife were trying to tie-wrap my new nav to everywhere including the middle of the bar....lol yes the bar!!, I said forget it, I will put it in my map bag, which I did quickly so it didn't go through any more abuse, his wife said " what do you want to pay 1100 quid for sat-nav for?? thats up to me isn't it??..Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse...,

I remember thinking to myself hey I will get another sat-nav bracket fitted when I get back. I clipped my icom radio on the centre panel and was pleasantly surprised that the Velcro actually matched up and stuck really well, things were looking better now, but suddenly noticed that I couldn't see any wires to connect the radio to, I though I was seeing things, or not as it were, I rubbed my hands all over the floor in the pod just to confirm that my eyes hadn;t deceived me, but they just confirmed it.. they had indeed gone! I finally pulled away the Velcro along the seat and look inside and could only see long silver frame and a black square of Velcro were the interface once sat!... yep it to had been removed!! so now I had no sat nav and no radio and with all the controlled airspace I had to avoid on my return, things all of a sudden were not looking so good!

Steve and I instantly made up a plan B, which was I follow his 3 axes back, we set this plan into action and I took off first.. wow I had forgotten what a great climb rate these baby's had, came out of circuit and headed north east on first leg, Steve soon caught me up as his toy cruised way faster, I tried to keep up, but was no way, it was way to thermic and it finally disappeared into the mid-day haze... so with no radio, no power supply for the sat-nav and Steve's 3 axes now gone, I knew I had to go it alone from here, I could hardly make out the sat-nav through the map case as it was so dim and reading the map wasn't easy at all because of the haze, I was just thinking what a rotten trick for someone to remove the interface and sat-nav bracket knowing that some one was coming to fly it for over 2 hours back to their airfield! I thought if couldn't get a ground to map fix soon I would have to head more east and run up the coastline but after straying off course a few miles I was able to follow my compass (at least that worked)

Then suddenly out of the mist appeard a very welcome sight, it was  my home airfield oh boy, was I happy to see that, I finally had finaly arrived back at eddsfield on the east coast after a long 2 hours and 45 mins, it was mostly misty murky and very choppy,  and with arms aching like poppie with out spinnage, I came in to land all was looking good, then just when I was about 6ft from landing a side gust tilted the plane by 15% I managed to level it out but was running out of strip and any longer would mean no margin for error, so even knackered desided on the only real option, boot it! so the go-around was followed by a gentel glide and a touch down that was worth waiting for and gave me such a feel good factor ;-)

 Its time to put my new plane to bed and enjoy it another day. now I have to find and fit myself another interface and sat-nav bracket, I suppose the main thing is that the engine seems faultless and that things could of been much worse, I think that my trust in fellow microlighters has taken a big knock here, and I will never transfer cash again as the only instant thing here is instant profit for the receiving bank, the other is only buy the things that you can actually see when you know you can take it away, right there and then, I bartered Mr x (edited by me) down a few hundred which was agreed, but by the time I had returned to collect it thing got stripped, now even from a safety point of view this was not good, not good at all!

 What I can say is that Mr. x (also edited by me), his wife and daughter are really very nice people, which makes it almost unbelievable that something so petty and yet very significant could of taken place because of a possible resentment of being bargained down?? or sheer petty minded?? money grabbing?? who knows but either way it totally spoiled what was a good deal all around and the only thing he could say was " I have been a little naughty"? 

Lesson learned from this...

 Only trust yourself, (or your wing man)
Take nothing for granted, (apart from death)
Get that flight planning done, really done!
Always plan for the unexpected! (waking up)

UPDATE....10 June 2010

So to conclude this saga, I will just say that everyone concerned aparntly thought that they were entitled to remove items that were not fitted to the quantum as standard as when it left the factory and thus felt that they were totaly within their right to remove the said items, so it is in the interest of sainity and a peacefull life that I will now put this to rest completely, safe in the knowlage that everyone did what they had to do and the quantum is now as it was when it flew out the factory?

I will just put this down as a simple mis-understanding, so in light of new found information, I must now bear the costs. Interface replacement and Sat nav Bracket!
 Best wishes to all at pound Green Airfield UK-
we all make mistakes takes bit of humble pie to admit it- it is nothing in life's biger picture!

I have always belived that if a deal is struck "there and then" and "sold as seen" and price agreed. then the seller has no rights to then remove items onless otherwise agreed,

But acording to the daughter of the seller in a email, stated that he was within his right to remove all items from the plane that were added since it left the factory!
 
furthermore, I was also told to be thankful that the seller had thrown- in a "free pair of Bar Mits"

The very expencive "free" bar mits will be sent back to pound green airfield via recorded Delivery (insured) on the 14/06/2010

16/06/2010
Finaly got New interface completly fitted and working

-UP-Date 17/6/2010-------------------------------

email request sent asking for half cost of replacing interface and sat-nav bracket..
OFFER DECLINED!!

................To Fellow Avaitors............
 When it come to Aviation, honesty and trust are paramount if someone can remove items that can be seen - is it possible that something else unseen has also gone astray?

This is not all about financial but the principals of fair trade and Honor among fellow Flyer's - trust is what we live for and why we live.
 
Furthermore.. If this Blog saves just ONE flyer of going through this, then it has all been worth it, as I had to fly just under 3hrs back without radio and sat-nav and negotiate through sevral matz zones & other highly sensitive areas that my missing equiptment could of helped me with!! 

I still belive that the flyers of the world are a fantistic bunch of people with the sprit and love of life that is not found anywhere else, safe flying guys!

Adrian (the eddsfield hermit;-)

http://www.eastyorkshire.co.uk/eddsfield/  email flyingfox1@sky.com

Taking Mexico Flying - Installment Two (pages 14-22)

I’m a young, motivated and Driven individual with the passion for going further in my life

I’m a struggling male in South Africa and I can’t get funds to get my studies finished

I have 2 kids Tyler my son(23 Months) and Ava my Daughter (8 Months) and a loving supporting Wife, Colette.

 

Every dad has a dream of giving his children the best in life. I am very good in geography love aerodynamics

And have a passion for long distance driving I enjoy the wide open space and for this passions I would love to

Become one of the world’s best Pilots. I have sourced different schools and have found the school that has the best

Track record and has very high standards in the industry.

 

I don’t want to fail my children, currently I’m working for a garden service that my father owns earning a salary of R6000 p/m.

This in our tough economical times allows me to buy food, petrol, medical aid and after that I have no funds to put away for further

Improvement in my life. I live for free in my dad’s home and don’t have to pay for water or lights so that is helpful but no father should

Resort to taking advantage. He should provide for his family in every aspect. And currently I can’t.

 

And it feels like déjà vu I was accepted to one of South Africa’s elite schools called Drakensbug Boys Choir some years back and now as then I can achieve my goal, only thing keeping me away from trying is my financial status. I would if getting the chance be a phenomenal success my father wrote this Inspiring line: success is just a word. achieving it, a lifestyle. I am successful. I just lack the funds to get started. I have taken the liberty to make a face book page on everything that involves the flight studies. I have also told all the people that I would keep them up to date with photos, test results and progress on the studies. My dad scraped every sent he had to help me get started and has supplied me with R65 000:00 for my SPL{Student Pilots licence}  and PPL licence{Personal Pilots Licence}.

 

I require help with my CPL { Commercial pilot’s licence} u require a CPL to advance onto the stage where u can fly for a income but I would like to also Finnish the course with my pilot instructor rating which enables me to work full time to help potential pilots in getting their licences. A Dream that seems so far out of my reach yet so real I can taste it.

 

Please assist me in this quest and I would forever be in your debt. Giving me a chance to become great, and be part of creating a great life.

 

I’m not asking to fund my entire course but any donations will help

 

Many thanks

Ruaan Byleveld

 

My Personal Web Page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=121458937893952#!/?ref=home

Web site about my studies:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=121458937893952#!/pages/My-Private-Study-Fund/121458937893952

Web site about donations page:     http://www.jetsetgardens.co.za/index_Donors.htm

John "Ole" Olson has just released his third book into our hands, and has entrusted us to release it "old school" serial-installment style. That's right... FREE... as in "no charge". Just like those old "Flash Gordon" Black and White Serial Movies we all saw as kids at camp, this one is coming out ten pages at a time.

The book is called "Taking Mexico Flying", so get ready folks, it's a great read! (One installment per week... maybe more if you ask nicely! ;-)

Taking Mexico Flying - Installment One

Well, I never thought I'd have to do this... but I'm turning on the "admin approval required" to join option on Trikepilot Social. Why? Mainly because there is a group of scammers and spammers that basically cause me to have to spend more time "deleting" them on this current platform we use, than it would take to "deny" them from ever getting an account.

We are in the process of getting our new (third time the charm?) home ready for you on our new platform, where this will not be required. But in the meantime, it's simply too much clicking around for me to "fix" what they do, than it would be to stop it from happening.

This is probably of no relevance to any of you existing members, other than to say... you will no longer be receving messages asking you if you want a new girlfriend... sorry ;-(

Safe Flying!
Spence