Finally an unbiased comparison! LOL ;-) Trikes are easier to fly! Takeoff and landings are way easier unless there are strong crosswinds and turbulence. Open, unobstructed 360 deg visibility, priceless! The delta wing design is stall resistant. They are safer for slow flying and they look cool!
Nice explanation. Could you do a video of how you would transport a trike on a trailer if you decided to store your trike in your home garage and transport it to your local airport for flying?
Im a private pilot flying conventional 3axis but never been fully satisfied flying, like something missing. Last weekend I took a familiariztion trike flight and I was blown away in every regard. Now that is flying! Just like my flying dreams I occasionally have. Seriously thinking of converting now to trike. Still curious about the open cockpit aerolite though wish I could try one first
Thanks for sharing. If there is anything I can help you with - let me know. I thought about 3-axis, and have some experience, but you are right - trike flying is a lot more fun. Where are you located?
I'm loving your channel. I flew 3-Axis Microlights for a few years logging a few hundred hours. Loved it. I owned a beautiful Skyranger with a Rotax 912s. Fantastic airplane and it was great for touring. Just for fun one time I did a Weightshift Microlight lesson for 1 hour which turned into 2 hours and I was hooked. I then went on to do a conversion course. Weightshift or Flexwing flying blew me away. I sold my 3-Axis Airplane a couple of years later and only fly Weightshift now. Pure flying. I much prefer weightshift flying although I do miss the rudder pedals on finals with a cross wind. In calm weather a weightshift is easier to fly than 3-Axis, in windy or turbulent weather 3-Axis is way easier than flying a Weightshift. I've almost 300 hours logged flying Weightshift Aircraft and I'm still learning. Great Video's and keep them coming.
Great comments there. After getting my WSM trike certificate a few years back now, I started looking at 3-axis options as well as maybe the gyrocopter path. I enjoyed triking too much, hooked, and bought the new QuikR I have today. Can’t get enough! I think it’s a must for trike pilots to gain experience and confidence flying in turbulent conditions for maximum usability. Cheers, CB.
CRAYONBOX FLYING ADVENTURES Absolutely. Flying in wind and turbulent conditions is not a nice experience. Best learning to fly in these conditions is a must if your doing long distance cross country flying. Weather forecasts have a way of changing over large distances. Otherwise you’d never go anywhere. I love your Quik R, at some stage when my 2 boys are a little bigger I’m going to upgrade to a GT 450. But for the moment the Quantum 503 does everything I need in a Trike. No point in having an expensive Hangar Queen.
My first 12 hours were on a quick R and a GT450. Amazing performance. 100mph level flight 2 up easy. Now I’m on a 25 year old Quantum 15. Which is like my 25 year old Volvo 850
Trikes are great, like a motorbike in the sky. I’ve tried 3 axis microlights and gliders but don’t like them, the trike is brilliant. Easy to learn on. Great fun. I think they are safer than 3 axis, and if it’s all gone belly up for some unbelievable reason just bail out with your parachute. Except I’ve yet to see anyone bother with a chute. No instructor has yet told me they ever thought they needed one.
Really excellent analysis and great job on the comparison. Thanks. Being a bit nit-picky about the UK thing: Microlights in the UK may be flexwing, fixed wing (including both 2 and 3-axis), powered parachute, and rotary wing. The main determinants of the microlight designation being weight (max 450-475kg MTOW for 2 seaters), stall speed no greater than 35kts, and a few other factors.
Nice vid. What about trikes vs open cockpit fixed wings like Quicksilver? I don't fly but I like the QS due to it's side by side seating. Any differences between these?
I just watched another video of yours and i just realized your are in Australia, not in the States. So you may not have any idea of any used P&M for sale in the states. I ablsolutley love the look and color of your trike. I am jealous.
Hi Guys. Steadily 😉 When the parts arrive, I think everything will happen very fast! In the mean time, I have random issues to take care of, like designing the new instrument panel, polishing exhausts, etc.
Very informative and very well explained. Good to see you put in the time and effort to do a basic explanatory video of the differences between the two aircraft. I think I knew that you would be a tiny bit swayed towards the trike as the end result. If I was to vote, the trike would win hands down, much more fun! Thanks for sharing!
Great comparison, but you missed a couple of drawbacks of trikes: Spiral dives and whip stalls or "tumbles". Still, trikes ARE fun to fly and are great camera platforms.
Modern trikes are less prone to these things these days. My list was purely based on the information provided by the factory. And I have tested my trike with an instructor and it won't spiral, it stays in a turn like it's on rails. As for tumbles - have been told hard to do - but not going there thanks 8-)
Some trikes may be less prone to the spiral dive. But in particular, strutted wings have a bit of a reputation for it. I'm sure you heard of the guy who put his trike in the water off Noosa beach. That was a late model strutted wing and from what I've been told by a knowledgeable observer who saw it happen, the spiral was pilot induced. You've probably seen the video on UA-cam of the trike tumbling. That was also pilot induced by trying to loop the loop in a trike. But when the trike failed to complete the loop, the wing stalled and went into a whip stall with fatal results by the look of the video. If you haven't seen it already, it's a very short video only 17 seconds long, but scary! Stall recovery in a trike is one of the biggest differences I saw between 2 axis and 3 axis flying. In 3 axis, you actively pull the nose down to recover a stall. With a trike, that risks entering a whip stall.
@@FlyingAroundOz As a flight instructor for the past 40 years most of what you say is true, except for your explanation of recovering from a stall in 3 Axis aircraft. In a 3 axis aircraft when you stall you release back pressure and let the nose come back to the horizon with added power and fly out of the stall, at the same time you use the rudder to keep the wings level in stead of the ailerons because use of the ailerons can cause another stall and sometimes cause the aircraft to go into a spin.
Thanks for pointing that out. That's very much dependent on pilot skills. I have flown that trike in gusty 20 knots on take off. Very capable. But then - you wouldn't do that with any trike, or aircraft for that matter. That being said, nobody really enjoys flying any aircraft in turbulence. If you don't have to fly, why would you.
Hi I really like your videos. I am in the market to buy a trike. I really like the P&M and i am wondering if you know of any that may be coming up for sale. I have spoken to Tony the P&M distributor, he doesn't have any currently, Used is what i am looking for. Any suggestions?
CRAYONBOX FLYING ADVENTURES I don’t have much experience on fix wing,I guess there are pros and cons of these air crafts,my instructor said Trike is harder to fly than fixed wing,but once you got a hang of the Trike,it’s not that hard.I fly Airbourne XT 582 with Cruze wing.
I have plenty of room without a passenger - I see your point and have to agree, there are different aircraft for different purposes. I think my main point should have been - don't overlook trikes for a fun flying experience. Each of us will of course have our own personal flying preferences - that's why there are so many types of aircraft of course.
You have inferred that microlights are all flexwings, there are three axis microlight too. Your explanation of CG and all up weight needs correcting. The flexwings weight is not the equivalent to your all up max weight, you have to add a pilot and passenger and fuel to get that. Otherwise good video. G
Thanks. You are correct. In Australia flexwings are called microlights, we don't call them flexwings usually. They are also called trikes. 3axis 2 seater aircraft here are called ultralights. In New Zealand I believe flexwings are called ultralights, and 3axis 2 seaters are microlights. The USA call flexwings trikes as I understand it. Depends where you are. The formal name would be WSM or Weight Shift Microlight. Hope that clears up my inference, and I hope you enjoyed the video and the many others on my channel. Cheers.
This is "an idea" put out by P&M Aviation who manufacture weight shift microlights. Or is it a cleverly concealed advertisement?! Note that there are also 3-axis controlled aircraft that are microlights. "No spin possibility" is incorrect and a dangerous notion to put out. There are many generalisations and inaccuracies in this video. Far too many to go into details here. Any newbies watching this are well adviced to seek information from independent sources. PS. I got my PPL flying C172s. Later discovered trikes and I have been flying them since its early days, long before P&M existed. Trikes and 3-axis aircraft both have advantages and disadvantages. The choice depends on the mission. Horses for courses!
Hi Job. This may very well be a cleverly disguised advertisement, but I have seen and regularly fly this trike, and have been instructed about it's capabilities (see in a previous video) and feel very safe with it. There will always be advantages and disadvantages to anything, it really comes down to the operators preferences and purposes. Of course we must ask those flying any aircraft to seek professional instructor advice before attempting anything they are not familiar with or trained to do. And we should always be mindful that flying definitely has it's inherent dangers and risks. NEVER not operate outside the safety envelope! Thank you for your comments. And yes, Microlights, WSM, WSC in Australia are trikes and flexwings in the UK. UK fixed wing 3-axis microlights are called Ultralights in Australia. I think the USA calls them trikes or microlights there, as well as WSC LSA.
Saying Weight Shift Microlights rather than Microlights would be a correct. Calling trikes a Microlight when there is 3-axis control Microlights/Ultralights will be confusing to newbies. Folding the wing for storage used to be a salient feature of trikes. Though it still is with most single seater trikes. But with 2-seaters of today, most people keep them fully rigged in a hanger. Many fixed wing microlights/ultralights such as the Kolb range have wings that can be easily folded, minimising space required in the hanger. Also makes it easier for transport. Many more inaccuracies and generalisations in the video. It will take far too much of my time to correct them. Please, for the sake of safety, remove the assertion "No spin possibility" If you still hold that notion ask Larry Mednick or Paul Hamilton. There are also excellent videos by them on the topic.
@@vracan I prefer the pusher configuration (either 3-axis or trikes) because it offers maximum visibility. For help and advice, you are welcome to join the Facebook group Microlight and Ultralight Aircraft facebook.com/groups/436449473535787
I've not seen such a clear explanation of the pros and cons between flexwing and 3 axis plane. Thanks Keith
I might be just biased and enjoy the simplicity, fun factor, and open cockpit experience. Both have their pros and cons really, like anything.
Flexwing microlights are also known as ......
Motorbikes of the Sky!! - Great description
Finally an unbiased comparison! LOL ;-) Trikes are easier to fly! Takeoff and landings are way easier unless there are strong crosswinds and turbulence. Open, unobstructed 360 deg visibility, priceless! The delta wing design is stall resistant. They are safer for slow flying and they look cool!
Nice explanation. Could you do a video of how you would transport a trike on a trailer if you decided to store your trike in your home garage and transport it to your local airport for flying?
Im a private pilot flying conventional 3axis but never been fully satisfied flying, like something missing. Last weekend I took a familiariztion trike flight and I was blown away in every regard. Now that is flying! Just like my flying dreams I occasionally have. Seriously thinking of converting now to trike. Still curious about the open cockpit aerolite though wish I could try one first
Thanks for sharing. If there is anything I can help you with - let me know. I thought about 3-axis, and have some experience, but you are right - trike flying is a lot more fun. Where are you located?
@@CrayonboxAviationAdventures Im in montreal canada. Have you tried open-cockpit type 3-axis like rans or aerolite?
Yes I have flown drifter once and gyrocopter too.
@@CrayonboxAviationAdventures why do you prefer the trike over the drifter since they are both open cockpit??
Excellent information
You can also add on an optional parachute.
I'm loving your channel. I flew 3-Axis Microlights for a few years logging a few hundred hours. Loved it. I owned a beautiful Skyranger with a Rotax 912s. Fantastic airplane and it was great for touring. Just for fun one time I did a Weightshift Microlight lesson for 1 hour which turned into 2 hours and I was hooked. I then went on to do a conversion course. Weightshift or Flexwing flying blew me away. I sold my 3-Axis Airplane a couple of years later and only fly Weightshift now. Pure flying. I much prefer weightshift flying although I do miss the rudder pedals on finals with a cross wind. In calm weather a weightshift is easier to fly than 3-Axis, in windy or turbulent weather 3-Axis is way easier than flying a Weightshift. I've almost 300 hours logged flying Weightshift Aircraft and I'm still learning. Great Video's and keep them coming.
Great comments there. After getting my WSM trike certificate a few years back now, I started looking at 3-axis options as well as maybe the gyrocopter path. I enjoyed triking too much, hooked, and bought the new QuikR I have today. Can’t get enough! I think it’s a must for trike pilots to gain experience and confidence flying in turbulent conditions for maximum usability.
Cheers, CB.
CRAYONBOX FLYING ADVENTURES Absolutely. Flying in wind and turbulent conditions is not a nice experience. Best learning to fly in these conditions is a must if your doing long distance cross country flying. Weather forecasts have a way of changing over large distances. Otherwise you’d never go anywhere. I love your Quik R, at some stage when my 2 boys are a little bigger I’m going to upgrade to a GT 450. But for the moment the Quantum 503 does everything I need in a Trike. No point in having an expensive Hangar Queen.
Main problem is wind and turbulent air like paramotors most flying is done early in the morning on calm wind days.
My first 12 hours were on a quick R and a GT450. Amazing performance. 100mph level flight 2 up easy. Now I’m on a 25 year old Quantum 15. Which is like my 25 year old Volvo 850
I fly a 20 year old Quantum 503. Love it.
Damien Minnock ..they’re nice and forgiving. After this corona thing goes I’m going sub70.
The beauty of 60 mph flying is that it is cheap and you can still go places. Enjoy sub 70, safe flying.
flexwings the funnest and coolest :)
Trikes are great, like a motorbike in the sky. I’ve tried 3 axis microlights and gliders but don’t like them, the trike is brilliant. Easy to learn on. Great fun. I think they are safer than 3 axis, and if it’s all gone belly up for some unbelievable reason just bail out with your parachute. Except I’ve yet to see anyone bother with a chute. No instructor has yet told me they ever thought they needed one.
Great comments there. Thank you. Have to be very unlucky to need a chute.
Really excellent analysis and great job on the comparison. Thanks. Being a bit nit-picky about the UK thing: Microlights in the UK may be flexwing, fixed wing (including both 2 and 3-axis), powered parachute, and rotary wing. The main determinants of the microlight designation being weight (max 450-475kg MTOW for 2 seaters), stall speed no greater than 35kts, and a few other factors.
Nice vid. What about trikes vs open cockpit fixed wings like Quicksilver? I don't fly but I like the QS due to it's side by side seating. Any differences between these?
how long have you been flying and how long before you made the jump to buy your own aircraft?
I just watched another video of yours and i just realized your are in Australia, not in the States. So you may not have any idea of any used P&M for sale in the states. I ablsolutley love the look and color of your trike. I am jealous.
FPV FLYBY 68 the accent is a big clue .
How is sparkles coming along?
Hi Guys. Steadily 😉 When the parts arrive, I think everything will happen very fast! In the mean time, I have random issues to take care of, like designing the new instrument panel, polishing exhausts, etc.
Very informative and very well explained. Good to see you put in the time and effort to do a basic explanatory video of the differences between the two aircraft. I think I knew that you would be a tiny bit swayed towards the trike as the end result. If I was to vote, the trike would win hands down, much more fun! Thanks for sharing!
Yes and next time we will learn how to fly one...
Great comparison, but you missed a couple of drawbacks of trikes: Spiral dives and whip stalls or "tumbles". Still, trikes ARE fun to fly and are great camera platforms.
Modern trikes are less prone to these things these days. My list was purely based on the information provided by the factory. And I have tested my trike with an instructor and it won't spiral, it stays in a turn like it's on rails. As for tumbles - have been told hard to do - but not going there thanks 8-)
Some trikes may be less prone to the spiral dive. But in particular, strutted wings have a bit of a reputation for it. I'm sure you heard of the guy who put his trike in the water off Noosa beach. That was a late model strutted wing and from what I've been told by a knowledgeable observer who saw it happen, the spiral was pilot induced.
You've probably seen the video on UA-cam of the trike tumbling. That was also pilot induced by trying to loop the loop in a trike. But when the trike failed to complete the loop, the wing stalled and went into a whip stall with fatal results by the look of the video. If you haven't seen it already, it's a very short video only 17 seconds long, but scary!
Stall recovery in a trike is one of the biggest differences I saw between 2 axis and 3 axis flying. In 3 axis, you actively pull the nose down to recover a stall. With a trike, that risks entering a whip stall.
@@FlyingAroundOz As a flight instructor for the past 40 years most of what you say is true, except for your explanation of recovering from a stall in 3 Axis aircraft. In a 3 axis aircraft when you stall you release back pressure and let the nose come back to the horizon with added power and fly out of the stall, at the same time you use the rudder to keep the wings level in stead of the ailerons because use of the ailerons can cause another stall and sometimes cause the aircraft to go into a spin.
I noticed he didn't say anything about which one handles wind and thermals better. Huh.
Thanks for pointing that out. That's very much dependent on pilot skills. I have flown that trike in gusty 20 knots on take off. Very capable. But then - you wouldn't do that with any trike, or aircraft for that matter. That being said, nobody really enjoys flying any aircraft in turbulence. If you don't have to fly, why would you.
Sold me on the flexi
she's a pretty lady alright (your trike of course!)
Hi I really like your videos. I am in the market to buy a trike. I really like the P&M and i am wondering if you know of any that may be coming up for sale. I have spoken to Tony the P&M distributor, he doesn't have any currently, Used is what i am looking for. Any suggestions?
There are lots of 3 axis microlight available. Try renaming the vid Flex Wing v Fixed Wing
MrAlwaysBlue will add flexwing. Thanks.
I’m a student pilot of Trike. Trike is more fun for sure.
Hi Peter. Have you flown fixed wing? What are your experiences?
CRAYONBOX FLYING ADVENTURES I don’t have much experience on fix wing,I guess there are pros and cons of these air crafts,my instructor said Trike is harder to fly than fixed wing,but once you got a hang of the Trike,it’s not that hard.I fly Airbourne XT 582 with Cruze wing.
Trikes are certainly rewarding to fly. I actually dont get a buzz from the cockpit of a plane, I guess I prefer the flying motorcycle experience.
Its a weightshift in the UK
Cheers. I'll add that to the title 👌😆🇳🇿
But convinently left out the cargo/luggage capacity out, no?🤣
Well I guess you can take your toothbrush with you.
I have plenty of room without a passenger - I see your point and have to agree, there are different aircraft for different purposes. I think my main point should have been - don't overlook trikes for a fun flying experience. Each of us will of course have our own personal flying preferences - that's why there are so many types of aircraft of course.
You have inferred that microlights are all flexwings, there are three axis microlight too. Your explanation of CG and all up weight needs correcting. The flexwings weight is not the equivalent to your all up max weight, you have to add a pilot and passenger and fuel to get that. Otherwise good video. G
Thanks. You are correct. In Australia flexwings are called microlights, we don't call them flexwings usually. They are also called trikes. 3axis 2 seater aircraft here are called ultralights. In New Zealand I believe flexwings are called ultralights, and 3axis 2 seaters are microlights. The USA call flexwings trikes as I understand it. Depends where you are. The formal name would be WSM or Weight Shift Microlight. Hope that clears up my inference, and I hope you enjoyed the video and the many others on my channel. Cheers.
This is "an idea" put out by P&M Aviation who manufacture weight shift microlights.
Or is it a cleverly concealed advertisement?!
Note that there are also 3-axis controlled aircraft that are microlights.
"No spin possibility" is incorrect and a dangerous notion to put out.
There are many generalisations and inaccuracies in this video.
Far too many to go into details here.
Any newbies watching this are well adviced to seek information from independent sources.
PS.
I got my PPL flying C172s. Later discovered trikes and I have been flying them since its early days, long before P&M existed.
Trikes and 3-axis aircraft both have advantages and disadvantages.
The choice depends on the mission. Horses for courses!
Hi Job. This may very well be a cleverly disguised advertisement, but I have seen and regularly fly this trike, and have been instructed about it's capabilities (see in a previous video) and feel very safe with it. There will always be advantages and disadvantages to anything, it really comes down to the operators preferences and purposes. Of course we must ask those flying any aircraft to seek professional instructor advice before attempting anything they are not familiar with or trained to do. And we should always be mindful that flying definitely has it's inherent dangers and risks. NEVER not operate outside the safety envelope! Thank you for your comments. And yes, Microlights, WSM, WSC in Australia are trikes and flexwings in the UK. UK fixed wing 3-axis microlights are called Ultralights in Australia. I think the USA calls them trikes or microlights there, as well as WSC LSA.
Saying Weight Shift Microlights rather than Microlights would be a correct.
Calling trikes a Microlight when there is 3-axis control Microlights/Ultralights will be confusing to newbies.
Folding the wing for storage used to be a salient feature of trikes.
Though it still is with most single seater trikes.
But with 2-seaters of today, most people keep them fully rigged in a hanger.
Many fixed wing microlights/ultralights such as the Kolb range have wings that can be easily folded, minimising space required in the hanger. Also makes it easier for transport.
Many more inaccuracies and generalisations in the video.
It will take far too much of my time to correct them.
Please, for the sake of safety, remove the assertion "No spin possibility"
If you still hold that notion ask Larry Mednick or Paul Hamilton.
There are also excellent videos by them on the topic.
do you prefer open cockpit 3axis like aerolite or do you prefer trikes? and why please since I am trying to decide between the 2
@@vracan I prefer the pusher configuration (either 3-axis or trikes) because it offers maximum visibility.
For help and advice, you are welcome to join the Facebook group
Microlight and Ultralight Aircraft
facebook.com/groups/436449473535787
@@BlueMax333 ok but 2-axis(trike) or 3-axis open cockpit?
youre insane
Such annoying back music
Yeah sorry about that.