UltraFlight Radio - Trike Archives

Trikes

Trikes are a natural growth of hang gliding. Just ad power! Highly portable, stable, and with a variety of options, see just what this sport has to offer.

Jim Carlaccini, Cross Country Pilot
Jim Carlaccini, a pilot who is also a paraplegic and John Long will be taking two LSA aircraft from Florida to California in October and November. The transcontinental trek will help raise awareness that with enough determination the disabled can do all the things the rest of us can do, given the will and good training. We are raising Another purpose of the trip is to raise money for the Sunshine Foundation, part of Make A Wish/Give Kids the world, an organization that provides terminally ill children with a special wish. Float Planes and Amphibs (9/19/06)

Scott Johnson, US Airborne Sport Aviation Center
A listener recently wrote in to talk about his quandary. He is a former glider pilot that is wanting to get back into sport flying. He is not sure about whether to get into Part 103 ultralights or into light sport aircraft. Scott Johnson, who is also experienced in both free air and powered flight talks about the advantages and disadvantages of the two forms of flight. He also talks a little about AirBorne's next big offering. AirBorne America (9/5/06)

Terri Sipantzi, Precision Windsports, Inc
With FAA Certified Flight Instructors for Weight Shift Control Trikes so few and far between and with N-numbered trikes almost as scarce, one might wonder how you can get any training that would lead to a sport pilot rating. Not to worry. You can still get training from an ultralight instructor in an ultralight trainer that will apply towards your rating. However, there are a few things you need to be aware of when using this approach. Of course Terri will tell us what those things are and how they apply to more than just trikes. Airborne America (8/8/06)

Paul Hamilton, Adventure Productions
Paul Hamilton talks about landing the trike. Pilots transitioning from airplane to weight-shift-control seem to have particular problems. Paul shares some tips. Adventure Productions (6/13/06)

Terri Sipantzi, AirBorne America
Terri Sipantzi joins us to talk trikes, or the new nomenclature, "weight shift control" aircraft. We talk about how trikes are making the transition to sport pilot and how to get started in the sport. AirBorne America. (5/30/06)

Julie Potter, Kemmerie's Aviation
Julie Potter has become the first female Light Sport Aircraft Repairman. She just returned from the intensive three week course offered at Rainbow Aviation. She talks about the course, why she attended, and how she will put her new knowledge to work. Kemmerie's Aviation (5/23/06)

Jeff Gilkey, Weight Shift Control (Trike) Pilot
Jeff Gilkey is a weight shift control pilot that has taken the lead in his area to get other pilots squared away as sport pilots and their aircraft certified as light sport aircraft. By bringing in outside instructors to provide the training, testing, and airworthiness inspections he has helped many disciplines of sport pilots in the Albuquerque, New Mexico area while he has helped his own situation. His methods are easy to duplicate for those wanting to get things done in their own regions and Jeff tells how to do it. Jeff's Flight Log. (5/2/06)

Mark Becker, Flying the Fish Productions
Mark Becker and Tjeerd Beens' flew microlight trikes from Cape Town, South Africa to the Fish River Canyon in Nambia. The Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon system in the world. Mark joins us to talk about the adventure. FlyingTheFish.com (4/11/06)

Bill Eggbeer, Trike Pilot
Bill Eggbeer became one of the first Weight Shift Control Sport Pilots last year. He started out by working in the Glider Trike program and transitioned to the Sport Pilot program. We talk about his experience in getting a license to fly trikes. (3/14/06)

Shawn Okun, Float Planes And Amphibs
Last week we learned that Shawn Okun won the United States Ultralight Association Meritorious Service Award. We congratulate Shawn and visit with him about some of the projects he is working on in Sebring. He has Special Light Sport Aircraft trike news, airplane news, and more to share with us. Float Planes & Amphibs (3/7/06)

Kamron Blevins, North Wing Design
Kamron Blevins talks about North Wing's trike and hang glider wings. Kamron has been a member of the Hang Gliding Manufacturer Association and has certified many hang gliders. He talks about his experience designing and testing flex wings and where triking is going. North Wing Design (12/6/05)

Gil McGarity, Ramphos USA
At Sun 'n Fun this year Ramphos was showing off a diesel engine for ultralight and light sport aircraft. Gil gives us the status on that engine and talks about a gasoline engine from the same manufacturer that looks promising as an inexpensive four-stroke alternative to current engines. www.ramphosusa.com (11/29/05)

Karey Love, Fun Flight of Minnesota
Karey Love flies year around in Minnesota. He has developed some things that really make flying a lot more fun in the cold, snowy climates. He tells us all about his radiator louvers and skis. www.poweredchutes.com (11/29/05)

Brian & Carol Carpenter, Rainbow Aviation
Brian and Carol Carpenter are getting ready accomplish yet another aviation first. They are offering the very first 16 hour owner inspection course for trikes. They join us to talk about the course, how it was developed, and who should be interested in taking it. Rainbow Aviation (10/25/05)

Shawn Okun, Float Planes and Amphibs
Jim Carlaccini
Shawn Okun has been working on a project for Jim Carlaccini, who wants to fly a trike but is paralyzed from the waist down. Jim is the now the proud owner of an Airborne XT912, fully optioned and set up for foot-free flight. Shawn and Jim both join us to talk about how this project is going and how you can see it yourself at the US Sport Aviation Expo. Float Planes And Amphibs (10/18/05)

Dan Grunloh, US Microlight Champion, Combined L1 Class
Dan Grunloh is also back from France. He talks about his adventures in Levroux and his impressions of the competition. Dan was one of the first to arrive in France and one of the last to leave because of the extra effort to move a trike from the USA to Europe and back. skypup.net/dangrunloh/ (9/6/05)

Scott Johnson, US Airborne Sport Aviation Center
Airborne Trikes recently made Scott and Terri Johnson the new importers west of the Mississippi. At the same time they made Terri & Beth Sipantzi the eastern importers. Scott talks about what that means to Airborne customers in the US and tells us about his three month road trip to promote the full Airborne line of Sport Aviation Aircraft. U.S. Airborne Sport Aviation Center (8/30/05)

Dan Grunloh, US Microlight Champion, Combined L1 Class
Dan Grunloh is getting ready to make the big trip to Levroux, France to help represent the United States trike community in the 2005 World Microlight Championship. Dan talks with us about his preparations for the trip and the competition which is coming up very soon. skypup.net/dangrunloh/ (7/5/05)

Dan Johnson, ByDanJohnson.com
Dan Johnson is back from the ASTM meetings in Reno and he reports on the news, including big news for trikes. We talk about aircraft that are now being produced as Special Light Sport Aircraft (S-LSA) and what that means to the industry. ByDanJohnson.com (5/24/05)

Bob Ellefson, Aircraft Supermarket Inc./Golden Circle Airt
The T-Bird has seen a lot of improvements lately. Floats are now offered along with other great features. We talk with Bob Ellefson from Golden Circle Air. Aircraft Supermarket Inc. (5/17/05)

Bill Lishman, Operation Migration
Bill Lishman joins us to talk about his work in helping endangered birds reistablish migration routes with ultralight aircraft. Starting in 1986 by using his Easy Riser to fly with Canada geese, Bill now flies with endangered species like Sandhill cranes and Whooping cranes. Bill's autobiography, Father Goose, was made into the feature film Fly Away Home. We also talk about the upcoming Tullahoma Festival of Wings where Bill will be appearing. Bill Lishman's web Site (5/17/05)

John Ballantyne, Trike Instructor and Designated Sport Pilot Examiner
Terri Sipantzi, New Sport Pilot Trike Certified Flight Instructor
Terri Sipantzi became the first 'Civilian' CFI-Weight-Shift Instructor Authorized by a non-FAA Employee. He and John Ballantyne, his DPE, talk to us about what the practical test was like from both sides of the clipboard. E-mail John (4/26/05)

Eric Johnson, Sport Pilot DPE-Weight Shift Control
Eric Johnson is one of the two Designated Sport Pilot Examiners for Weight Shift Control graduating from the first Sebring, Florida class. Eric tells us about his take on the class, Sport Pilot, and what trike pilots need to know to get their Sport Pilot licenses. wscexaminer@hotmail.com (2/1/05)

Richard Meredith-Hardy, 1990 World Microlight Champion
British Microlight pilot Richard Meredith-Hardy and Italian hang-glider pilot Angelo D’Arrigo towed a Hang-glider with a Microlight to very close to 30,000 feet over Everest on May 24, 2004. Richard then went on to fly over the summit of Everest. Richard talks about the trip and how you can own a very critical piece of equipment used in the adventure. The ALPHA emergency parachute 1050 actually used on the Over Everest flight is up for auction on Ebay. The proceeds will go to Children Home Helena Prieto, a home for abandoned children in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (12/21/04)

John Ballantyne, Trike Instructor
Last week it was announced on the UltraFlight Radio Show that DPE candidates that were accepted into the program and ranked high enough in points to go to the first Sport Pilot DPE school to be held January 17, 2005 in Sebring, Florida, would have to pass one more hurdle. That hurdle was taking and passing the new Sport Pilot CFI or DPE test as appropriate by December 17th, only ten days later. As an existing Certified Flight Instructor, John Ballantyne was asked to take the "weight shift control" version of the Sport Pilot DPE test. John quickly gathered his materials, studied, took, and passed the test. He joins us to talk about test taking strategies that newcomers to FAA tests want to consider. jballantyne1@earthlink.net (12/14/04)

Kevin Byrne from SportplaneVM.com and Matt Liknaitzky from Aerotrike
Kevin Byrne recently got the chance to go flying and filming with Matt Liknaitzky over LA in a glider trike. Listen in as they talk about this extraordinary experience and how you can share in the flight through a DVD. SportplaneVM.com and Aerotrike. (12/14/04)

Bud Gish
Bud tells us about EAA's Tribute to Ultralight Pioneers, a new exhibit in the works at the EAA AirVenture Museum, highlighting the three decades-old ultralight movement that burst on the scene and grew up around EAA Oshkosh. The exhibit will feature eight ultralights from the EAA collection, suspended from the museum's Restoration Center ceiling. They include the early Kiceniuk Icarus V from 1973; the Solar Riser (solar powered Easy Riser); an American Aerolights Double Eagle II; and an Antares MH 39 Flex Wing that belonged to the late Mike Jacober. Find out how pilots are making this tribute to Mike Jacober happen. EAA Article. (11/16/04)

Dan Grunloh, US Microlight Champion, Combined L1 Class
Flying his trike, Dan Grunloh was the recent winner of the combined Fixed Wing and Trike class at the 8th US National Microlight Championship. We get a chance to catch up with him and find out what kind of preparation a National Champion does. skypup.net/dangrunloh/ (11/9/04)

Olivier Aubert, Trike Expeditions
Olivier Aubert and Mike Blyth have completed their African Coast to Coast Expedition. Olivier takes a break from compiling and organizing the 50 one-hour tapes of digital video taken to talk with us about the trip. www.trike-expeditions.com/CoasttoCoast/coasttocoast.html (8/17/04)

John Ballantyne, Trike Instructor
The trike movement has developed differently in the United States compared to other ultralights. In many other segments of ultralighting, the US produces a lot of the top line equipment. But in triking, the sport has developed in other countries faster and Americans import a lot of their equipment. John Ballantyne talks about the history of triking in the US. jballantyne1@earthlink.net (7/13/04)

Mike Blyth, 1992 Microlight World Champion
Mike Blyth and Olivier Aubert take on flying adventures regularly. Their "South to South" expedition took them from Buenos Aires, Argentina, up South America, Central America, North America, over the North Atlantic to Europe and then down through Europe and Africa to Cape Town, South Africa. All on trikes. Mike talks about the trip and the DVD documenting it. www.trike-expeditions.com/ (6/15/04)

Richard Meredith-Hardy, 1990 World Microlight Champion
British Microlight pilot Richard Meredith-Hardy and Italian hang-glider pilot Angelo D’Arrigo are preparing to tow a Hang-glider with a Microlight to 30,000ft over Everest in May 2004. Crazy? Can this be possible? Two people think it is perfectly possible, and intend to try it very soon. There's a lot more to it than just a bit of towing too, this project is but one of a series of expeditions all over the World to investigate the migratory habits of birds of prey. Richard tells us about it! www.flymicro.com/everest/index.cfm (4/6/04)

Bever Borne, Air-Tech, Inc.
Bever joins us to talk about flying ultralights on floats. He has customers that fly all kinds of ultralights off of float systems. Learn some of the differences and challenges when flying off of floats! www.air-techinc.com (3/16/04)

Bill Fortney, Author of America from 500 Feet
Bill Fortney both flies trikes and is a professional photographer. He combined those skills to produce one of the best photographic art books to celebrate our kind of low level flight. Bill joins us to talk about aerial photography. You can learn more about his book at www.ultraflight.com/merchandise/books500Feet.asp. (2/17/04)

Ron Gonzi, The Ultralight Store.
Ron Gonzi has been involved in ultralights since the late 1970's when Ultralights were just starting to get popular. Ron opened a business where he made aftermarket sails for the then popular Ultralights, primarily Eipper Quicksilver's and a few others. Ron is still making aftermarket sail sets for a variety of Ultralight aircraft and has a business called "The Ultralight Store" now located in Hemet California. Learn about the making of dacron sail sets, and the things necessary to know how to take care of these and when to dispose of then in order to remain safe. (2/3/04)

John Ballantyne
Ever wonder what makes a good trike? John Ballantyne joins us to discuss the elements that go into good trike designs. This segment's emphasis was on the cart. jballantyne1@earthlink.net (1/20/04)

John Ballantyne
Are you considering transitioning from a fixed wing ultralight to a trike? If so there are definitely some differences. John Ballantyne flies both types of aircraft and trains trike pilots. He will share his insights on the transition process. Learn how taxing a trike is backwards from a fixed wing; how the bar in and out is backwards from a yoke or stick; and how even steering left and right is different. Most importantly, learn how to keep yourself safe in learning a new aircraft. (11/4/03)

Dan Grunloh, 2003 United States Microlight Team Member
Dan Grunloh was one half of the United States Trike team attending the World Microlight Championships this summer. He shares with us some of the things he saw and his experiences competing. USMicrolightTeam.org (9/30/03)

Dean Batman, Ultralight Trainer (retired)
Dean Batman has accomplished something that you rarely see. He has helped integrate an ultralight fly-in with a major airshow. He gives us the details here. geocities.com/indyflyers2/airshow.html (9/16/03)

Dave Hempy, 2003 United States Microlight Team Member
Dave Hempy is back from the United Kingdom and joins us to report on the US team's showing at the 2003 World Microlight Championships. USMicrolightTeam.org (9/9/03)

John Ballantyne
There is an alternative when it comes to flying a two-place trike that has nothing to do with expemptions to Part 103 or Sport Pilot. The alternative is in place and it is called the glider-trike program. John Ballantyne gives us an update on that front. (8/19/03)

Bever Borne, Air-Tech, Inc.
The closer you fly to water, the more you have to concern yourself with corrosion. Learn how corrosion can can hurt your ultralight and some steps you can take to prevent corrosion. A must listen for those of you with floats! www.air-techinc.com (7/8/03)

Bohdi Kroll, San Francisco Hang Gliding Center
With one of the few Hang Gliding Centers near a big city, Bohdi Kroll has a lot to offer. His operation offers both hang gliding and "Aquagliding" in San Francisco. www.sfhanggliding.com/ (6/17/03)

Bud Gish, Rob Stapleton, & Rick Huggett, Ultralight Flyer's of Alaska
Part One of Remembering Mike Jacober. We just lost a great man in the world of ultralighting and aviation in a tragic flying accident. Bud Gish, Rob Stapleton, & Rick Huggett help us reflect on some of Mike's accomplishments. www.arcticsparrow.com (6/10/03)

Bud Gish, Rob Stapleton, & Rick Huggett, Ultralight Flyer's of Alaska
Part Two of Remembering Mike Jacober. We just lost a great man in the world of ultralighting and aviation in a tragic aviation accident. Bud Gish, Rob Stapleton, & Rick Huggett help us reflect on some of Mike's accomplishments. www.arcticsparrow.com (6/10/03)

To hear the last interview Mike Jacober did with UltraFlight Radio click here.

TC Blyth, TC's Trikes
TC began by flying hang gliders in the '70's. Now he is introducing lots of people to the sport of triking. Learn about that and a new collaboration with Northwing. www.tctrike.com (5/20/03)

Brad Waters, Arrowquest Aviation
Arrowquest Aviation designs, manufactures and sells Flexwing Ultralights. These trikes are versatile and ruggedly built flying machines. Brad tells us about his offering from Canada. http://www.arrowquest.ca/ (5/6/03)

Gil McGarity, Ramphos USA
Ramphos won 'Best Type, Trike' at the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In. This amphibious trike has a lot of neat features and Gil will tell us about them. www.ramphosusa.com (4/29/03)

Tim Tobin, Wolfair
A good part of the trike action at Sun 'n Fun wasn't even at Paradise City. Learn about the trike activities hosted by Wolfair at the South Lakeland Airpark. http://wolfair.expage.com/ (4/22/03)

Bever Borne, Air-Tech
Another off-site Sun 'n Fun activity is the Seaplane Splash-In at Lake Parker. Bever reports in with some of the ultralight activity from there. http://www.seaplanes.org/home/events/LakeParker.htm
http://www.air-techinc.com/ (4/22/03)

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