Microlight - 2473

Microlight - 2473 Airborne Edge X - 2002 model. 582 Blue head two stroke Rotax engine, oil injected, 65 hp. Cruise about 48 knots (90 kilometers per hour). Weight-shift control trike - while the first generation ultralights were controlled by weight shift, most of the current weight shift ultralights use a hang glider-style wing, below which is suspended a three wheeled carriage which carries the engine and aviators. These aircraft are controlled by pushing against a horizontal control bar in roughly the same way as a hang glider pilot flies. Trikes generally have impressive climb rates and are ideal for rough field operation, but are slower than other types of fixed-wing ultralights. (courtesy of Wikipedia) On the ground at Bridgewater.

A surprise encounter with a Dragonfly

A surprise encounter with a Dragonfly

While filling in a couple of hours in Greymouth  (West coast of New Zealand) before dropping off the hire car and catching the Trans Alpine train to Christchurch, I happened to find myself driving past the airport. This is a theme that seems to repeat itself when I am on holidays.

I spotted something that looked vaguely like a trike base or a stick insect on wheels. 
Had to stop and find out more. Ian was in the process of setting up his Dragonfly, I didn't need to introduce myself, Ian was happy to share his experience with me, trike pilot or not. (Dr Ian DAVIDSON-WATTS, Environmental Services Manager, Grey District Council) 

He said the Dragonfly is very sensitive to any turbulence and he chooses his days carefully. On some occasions having almost setup the Dragonfly, the wind picks up and he just has to give it away.

This is my idea of how a wind sock should look!

Not today though, not a breath of wind. It took Ian about 50 minutes to assemble the wing and prepare his trike for flight. From the outside it seemed quite fiddly and some brute strength was required in a couple of instances. The big advantage is that the base will fold up enough so that it will fit into the back of a medium sized SUV, wing on top and away you go.


While watching Ian I thought I heard the sound of a rotax two stroke engine. Sure enough he was expecting Drew from Hokitika. Drew Howat is a microlight instructor and the airport manager at Hokitika. Drew did the certification flight for Ian's Dragonfly, they believe that it was probably the first Dragonfly in NZ. Drew was flying up to meet Ian and they were then going to fly back to Hokitika together, about 40 kilometers along a very scenic coastal route.

Drew was flying a Pegasus 65 Hp two stroke. He was going to visit some friend from the air as they traveled back down the coast. The Pegasu cruises at nearly 50 knots and the Dragonfly 30 knots, Drew was going to have to do some circle work along the way. 

The day was overcast, about 16 degrees, not a breath of wind. Ian took off directly to the south Drew followed a few minutes later - did a couple of low passes for the camera and was away.
How good it would have been to fire up 2473 and join them in the flight down the coast.

PS
May and June are the best flying months (cool) in this part of NZ (west coast), Drew suggested that it might be a good idea to ship some trikes over and have a fly around his part of NZ. Not as many trikes as a percentage on the registrar as Australia.


At the northern end of the runway at Greymouth is the Grey river valley. And at certain times there is a very vicious wind that flows down the valley and is called “the barber” Many pilots have had a close shave here!

West Coast Microlight Club

c/- Drew Howat, P O Box 135, Hokitika, Westland - Ph (03) 755 7820

Recreational Aircraft Association of NZ

Daniels first flight in T2-2473

Daniels first flight in T2-2473

One of the best flying days in Bendigo for weeks. I managed almost an hour in the morning in beautiful sunshine, not much wind, 4 to 6 knot northerly and a balmy 11 degrees.



The afternoon was overcast and a weather cell approaching from the west looked threatening, but once in the air it was quite apparent that it was not a threat to our flight. We proceeded to fly out to Lake Eppalock after a quick (in a trike?) tour of the city and the first look at the new house from the air.

Had a play with the jet skis and caught up with Julie and the girls (from the air) who were at a girls weekend at a camp (no, not tents) on the shores of the lake. Starting to get a bit cold so headed back to Bendigo via the Fosterville gold mine. Very interesting from the air.

The wind dropped of to nothing by the time we got back to the airport. So nice, I had to go around and tackle another landing in smooth cool air and nil wind, 2473 just settled onto the ground making me look like a pro!

Apart from his long legs having no where to go (and the cold wind), Dan enjoyed his flight.