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TrikeBuggy Training Syllabus

Landing

Landing
Landing into the wind is a good idea because the head wind will result in slower ground speeds. Slower ground speeds at landing are safer and reduce the speed you land with as you flare. Landing directly into the wind is especially important in a trike, since you cannot move sideways with wheels.

When on final landing approach, if you notice that you are traveling partly sideways to your right over the ground, you should gently steer left to bring your heading into the wind. If you are traveling sideways to the left, you should gently steer right to bring your heading into the wind. Do not land until you are sure you are facing directly into the wind. If necessary, go around again and do another approach.

Throttle Landing
A throttle landing is done by simply easing off the throttle from the fly-by position to allow the trike to descend VERY slowly. If you releasse the throttle completely or all at once, the trike will surge under the wing as they try to equalize again. An almost imperceptable decrease in throttle will allow the trike to gently descend to the ground and give you a smooth landing. Using a touch of toggle pressure to round out the landing (combination of throttle and flare landings) will often result in the best landings.

Flare Landing with Engine Off (deadstick)
To land smoothly without engine power, make sure you kill the motor at a sufficient altitude over the ground so that the aircraft balances out after the thrust has stopped (around 100 feet). Allow the paraglider to fly at trim speed (hands up) so there will be some forward energy in the aircraft to do a good flare landing.

When you are about 10 feet above the ground you should be prepared to land. Keep the front wheel straight for landing with gentle pressure with your legs. When landing (approximately 3 feet above the ground), you will flare the glider by progressively pulling the brakes down under the seat (be careful not to put your hands under the wheels!). Roll into landing while holding the flare, letting the glider slow you down. Do not jam the brakes quickly or the glider may temporarily lift, then drop you.

If you find that as you flare, the glider starts to lift, hold the flare where it is, then proceed and flnish the flare when the descent begins again. If you let off on a partially flared glider, the wing will surge you into the ground quite hard! After a few landings, you will get the feel of the timing needed to produce a good flare landing.

Touch & Go!
Once you have mastered the throttle, and its smooth application both increasing and decreasing power, then you are ready to do repeated touch and go practice. This is very important: While flying, we look ahead and around us at where we are going. When TAXIing, we look at the MIRROR! We will also look up at the runway every second or two, but we must shift our attention back to the wing's balance overhead once we have touched down and are rolling again. This is done by LOOKING AT THE MIRROR! Remember, there is no way to "feel" the glider in a trike, so we must balance it based on our visual input.

Coming to a Stop
After landing, you must immobilize the canopy. Continue your flare and hold the toggles under your seat to let the glider and friction slow you down. The wing should fall behind you. If there is strong wind, it may be best to grab the rear risers and pull them towards you.

Care of the Glider
Once the paraglider is down, stow the brakes in their clips on the risers with lines clear. Get out of the trike and disattach the glider from the trike. Gather the canopy by placing all of the lines in your left hand, just above the risers. Slide down the lines with your right hand, fully extending your arms away from each other. Then bring your hands together, forming a loop of lines. Place this loop of lines in your left hand with the others.

Continue gathering the glider in this way, never letting go of the lines in your left hand. Lift gently as you approach the glider, until you have gathered right to the fabric. Now you can lift the glider, sling it over your shoulder, and walk with it without dragging or stepping on it.

Emergencies
In case the trike rolls over due to imbalanced TAXI run, overcontrolled foot steering or landing bounce - Do not put hands out to try to stop the rollover! Keep your hands and feet tucked in, away from the wheels, trike frame and motor frame and cage. Likely, the trike will protect you from damage, although there may be some damage to the machine or trike. Broken trike parts are better than broken body parts!

Rehearse recognizing parachutal stall (wing goes back and headwind dies off) and correcting (hands up, reduce power).

Rehearse what to do in case of unexpected pendulum (nothing), and how doing nothing will allow it to dampen out on its own. While it is good to practice pendulum correction up high, it has proven beneficial to NOT have the student try correcting it during landing. The dampening action (pulling brake in the direction of swing’s start) is completely counterintuitive to a new pilot.

Rehearse reserve use (as installed): "Kill, Look, reach, pull, look, throw." Use dummy reserve if available.

Rehearse steering options in case of brake line or pulley failure: Rear riser turn, weight shift, differential trimmers.

Rehearse what to do in case of spin or riser twist (reduce power, hands up). Reemphasize that this can happen with too much or too quick brake.

Rehearse what to do in case of wing collapse (hands up, then SMOOTHLY control the direction).

Control
We will practice these aspects of glider and motor control:

  • TAXI, TAXI, TAXI!!! Most of our practice will be on this single most important skill. If you have good inflations and can TAXI flawlessly, launching and flying will be the easy part!
  • Rehearse controlling pitch with brakes, emphasizing smooth application and maximum pull position.
  • Rehearse surging with power and go over wing reaction to power changes. Emphasize smooth application.
  • Point out torque effect and explain why to avoid turning against it.
  • Rehearse student reaction to commands (brakes, throttle and kill switch).
  • Brake position/pressures while in flight including maximum safe pull positions.
  • Flare and Landing.

Solo Flight Briefing
Student should know what to do for the entire flight in case radio communications break down. This is intended to be done immediately before the flight.

  • Flight Plan including launch, flight pattern and landing.
  • Establish how the Instructor will call an abort or go.
  • Have student show what the established visual signals are.
  • Have student explain and motion (as able) emergency procedures (Motor failure, Steering failure, Parachutal stall)
  • Have student explain the pattern and landing including when to shut of motor.

Solo Flight
This will be your first solo flight under power. Here is how we would like the sequence to progress:

  • Run up - warm up the engine.
  • Preflight - 123ABCD.
  • Inflation with good control of the wing.
  • TAXI - check your wing every second or two to stay balanced below the glider - do not proceed if not under control.
  • Good launch sequence - smooth application of power, focus on balance and runway.
  • Climb to safe altitude (at least 200’ recommended).
  • Practice shallow turns as directed including at least one 360 degree turn (if able).
  • Throttle into level flight, descent and back into climb.
  • Direct the flight as necessary, call out when to shut off motor, when to flare.

Keeping a Logbook
It is expected that the student will keep a log that records at least the date, location, motor, trike, wing, flights and maneuvers performed for each day of flying. During your training, we expect each student to record their information on our student log sheet, and upon completion of certification, the logbook may be duplicated for the student. We provide a sample log that can be copied for your use. Many pilots use an online service or database (Excel, D-Base) for their logbook. Make a habit of keeping your logbook current, as this will be used as a basis for advancing in the USHPA or USPPA rating system.

TrikeBuggy Training Syllabus Subjects:
Introduction |  Weather |  Equipment |  Setup |  Inflation |  Taxi |  Flight |  Landing |  Legal

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DISCLAIMER: Please read and be sure you thoroughly understand this disclaimer before flying a TrikeBuggy. Trike flying is an extremely demanding sport requiring exceptional levels of attention, judgment, maturity and self discipline. It is unlikely that you will be able to participate in it safely unless you make a conscious and continual commitment to your own safety. PPG and Hang Glider Trike flying is a dangerous sport and may result in injury and death even when practiced by a competent pilot using proper equipment. TrikeBuggies are not covered by product liability insurance, nor have they been designed, manufactured or tested to any federal or state government airworthiness standards or regulations. Do not fly them unless you are willing to assume personally all risks in the sport of Trike flying, and all responsibility for any property damage, injury, or death which may result from your use of this TrikeBuggy. Safe operation of the TrikeBuggy requires a pilot proficiency equivalent to that of a BFI (Basic Flight Instructor), as well as an equivalent level of knowledge and understanding of those wind and weather conditions which may compromise the pilot's safe control of the TrikeBuggy. In particular, be advised that gusty winds or turbulent conditions may interfere with even an expert pilot's ability to safely control the TrikeBuggy, and may cause it to crash. Never take anything for granted in Trike Flying. If you are in doubt about anything, stop and figure it out or contact TrikeBuggy. Also please read our Warning and Caution!

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