GDMUNU15-1G
Version 0030
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Pilots should also be aware that as with all aircraft, overloading with baggage/heavy
occupants will increase stalling speed, as well as the usual drawbacks of reduced
performance, maneuverability and structural safety margins.
Behavior in strong wind:
Once grounded and motionless
Park the aircraft perpendicular to the direction of the wind, with its windward wing
lowered and the tip of the leading edge rests on the ground, block the A frame on the
front tube of the trike (using for example the Velcro used for packing the battens of the
sail), block the park brake and put chocks under all three wheels. Take the wing off the
trike and put it flat on the ground windward, if the aircraft is not going to be used
immediately.
Ground-runs
Keep the sail flat into a headwind. Push the control bar against the trike front strut with a
tailwind. This will avoid flipping. With a side wind, be careful to always tilt the wing so
that the windward edge is slightly lower than the rest of the wing.. It may be difficult to
hold the A-frame in its position. Never let the wind lift the wing up.
Take-off and landing
As ground run distances are considerably reduced by strong wind, try to face the wind.
Perform take-off and landing maneuvers at greater speed than you would normally do, in
order to diminish the drift angle and counter the effects of the gradient.
Crosswind Take-off
Start the take-off run with the windward wing very slightly lowered. Hold the aircraft on
the ground by holding the bar slightly back from the neutral position. Keep to the axis of
the runway with the front wheel control without considering efforts on the sail. Allow
airspeed to build to a higher-than-normal value then rotate positively into a shallow climb
attitude. Keep the wings level and allow the trike to yaw into the relative wind. At this
point adjust the drift angle if required to maintain runway centerline, and proceed as
normal.
Crosswind Landing
Crosswind landing limits are largely dictated by the skill of the pilot. Make sure that you
have lots of experience before attempting crosswind landings with components in excess
of 8kt.
General technique should be to fly the approach maintaining the runway centerline by
setting up a steady drift angle. During the final stages of the approach use a higher-than-
normal approach speed to minimize the drift angle. Round out slightly lower than normal
and aim for a short hold off, so that the aircraft lands smoothly, back wheels first with the
control bar at or only slightly forward of the neutral position. The contact between the
back wheels and the ground will then yaw the trike unit towards the runway centerline at
which point the nose wheel can be gently lowered to the ground. Once all wheels are
