FLOATPROJECT
The idea of mounting floats on my trike was born even before I bought the microlight. It's a must since there is quite few fields around here big enough to land safe. When restricted to a small area, I think much of the fun in flying is spoiled. "Sitting on needles" when crossing a fjord, listening after strange sounds in the engine is not the ideal situation.
In my two first seasons with floatflying I used a set of fiberglass floats designed for three-axis microlights. After a few hours I discovered some unstability on water ,both on take-off and landings. The "porpoise" tendences accoured on still water and could be wery dangerous. The floats had also some yaw-unstability in the air. So after some brain-twisting in the winter months I decided to contact J.P. ,the designer of Krucker floats made for trikes. After getting som information via E-mail I decided to give them a try. After two months they arrived (One month for making the pair + one as cargo) I have now fitted them to my trike, and it looks beautiful. And they work well too! The two-step design eliminates all the problems I had with my old floats. Take-off and landings are easy and the trike is very stable both on water and in the air. The drag from the floats is wery low. The air-speed stays at 50mph ,the same as on wheels - fantastic!
I have made this page to help other microlight-pilots who wants to fit floats on their trikes. Here might be some information of interrest. I'm interested in sharing experience and ideas with other pilots around the world. Just drop me a mail!
Here is som images from my first flight. Click on the pictures to have a bigger one.
My new float's first taste of water.
I have made a trailer designed for the floats.
Resting on the beach before the first test.
The Krucker floats are solid and can be
dragged up on a sandy beach
Dual rudders works well. I have made two
extra bars/brackets from the front of the floats
to the hart-section on the main-pool to prevent
the floats from "flapping" at the front.
First time I taxied out I felt that the front of the floats was too low in the water.But when throtteling up the nose rose ,and I was quick up on the step. There is some water splashing around a few seconds at the front before it speeds up ,especcially with an extra passenger.
Once on step the trike feels very stable. I just neutrale the wing and watch the ASI rise. At the right speed I push the bar quick forward, and I'm airborne.
Also in the air the Krucker-floats feel stable. Opposite of other floats
they have most of the volume at the rear wich stabilizes them.
Frode Leikvoll©2004
