I am going to jump from trike (hand glider with engine). Does anyone have an experience in doing it?

[plankton 0]

This weekend I am going to jump from trike. Trike is like hand glider but with engine and two seats for pilot and passenger.
http://www.aeros.com.ua/products/trikes/aeros2.htm

Does anybody have experience to jump from trike? Is it save for pilot when I leave the trike?
Shall I switch off or on my Cypers?
We will go up to 800 meters. I will jump with my skydive rig with Pilot 150 main.
Thanks for your help.

[michaelflying 0]

Has been done before watch your hands near prop why? not turn cypres on? stil a skydive.

Have a good one let me know how it goes.

www.skydivekzn.co.za

[trigger 0]

Not personally!However,whilst at Vichy[espace boogie France] this year a friend of mine took the oppertunity to do just that.
From what i observed and from what he told me,is you sit side saddle on the passenger seat of the microlight,the pilot takes it to altitude,kills the engine and you jump
Hope that's of some use!

.CHOP WOOD COLLECT WATER.

[billvon 2,989]

>why not turn cypres on? stil a skydive.

Because a misfire while in the seat could put the reserve through the prop, possibly leading to loss of aircraft, pilot and skydiver.

[larry 0]

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Is it save for pilot when I leave the trike?

A pilot at my old DZ was killed while flying an ultra light under similar circumstances. He did not have a passenger for the two seater, so he strapped plastic milk jugs filled with sand in the seat next to him (they were otherwise used to hold rigs in place while packing). Something happened and the jugs broke loose and fell away, the weight shift caused him to lose control.

Not sure if this will apply to your situation. Just suggesting care be taken.

“Now click your heels together 3 times so you can return to Kansas to live in poverty with your teetotaling, dirt farming aunt and uncle!” paraphrased Prof. Farnsworth

[waltappel 1]

I have jumped from an ultralite, but the seating was a side-by-side arrangement and there was no fairing--only a frame. I did a backflip off of the nose wheel because the pilot thought it would look pretty cool.

Looking at the picture of the ultralite you are considering jumping from, it doesn't look safe to jump from. The bars originating at the apex of the frame work and extending to the pilots side are obviously part of the control mechanism, so you would not be able to hold onto that--in fact you should not even touch it on climbout. That leaves the bar extending from the apex to the rear of the passenger as the only good option for a good handhold for the climbout. I can't tell what the clearance between the bar and the prop is in the picture, but it looks like it might be 1 to 2 feet and since the design is a pusher prop, that would mean it is pulling air from the bar toward the prop. With no screen forward of the prop, that would be way too close for me.

Another concern is the lateral distance between the bar and the landing gear. Would you be able to grab onto the bar and step out onto the forward landing gear strut without letting go of the bar? If so, could you do so without touching the control bars at the pilot's side?

If you can consistently rehearse the climbout while the ultralight is on the ground and the pilot is seated and you are in full gear without encountering any problems, you *might* be able to make the jump safely. My guess is that you won't be able to find a smooth climbout technique, though.

All that being said, if this ultralight is not suitable for jumping, I hope you can find one that is.

Walt

BTW, I think the FAA frowns very heavily on jumping from ultralights.

[PhillyKev 0]

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BTW, I think the FAA frowns very heavily on jumping from ultralights.

I don't think their jurisdiction extends to the Ukraine.

[plankton 0]

We did it! Three times. Me, my brother and a friend.
As soon as I get some pictures I will attache them here with some report. Thank you everybody for your concern. Although it is probably not my safest jump we enjoy it very much both skydivers and pilot.

[Tonto 1]

Congratulations.

My tips (a little late)

Sit sideways. Stop the engine (or don't put your hand through the prop - we lost bits of a jumper that way a couple of years back) Make sure you're clear of wires, arch hard - as you'll be very sub terminal for a while. Very similat in feel to a helicopter dive.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[Vlad 0]

I've got a lot of jumps of trikes. In fact, I own one myself and fly it pretty often.
First of all, you will be sitting in the back, sideways. You can go pretty high in a trike - 6-7000 feet is not a problem. Ask the pilot to turn the engine off on the jumprun. I have jumped with the prop spinning no problem, but I'd preferred not to. To exit, put your foot on the wheel, and simply dive down. Do not forget to make a forward flip, and wave the pilot goodbuy. That is the most fun part :-)
Jumping from trikes is very safe and easy. Do not believe anyone who tells you otherwise.

P.S. Alexei, mozhesh mne napisat' na kozlodoev2001@yahoo.com

[Tonto 1]

Are you telling me not to beleive myself that I know someone who put his hand through the prop on exit?

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[kyros1 0]

So did you jump?

How was it?

[freakydiver 0]

I don't know that I would personally categorize a trike jump as "very safe and easy" compared to other delivery methods available.

IMHO - extreme care should be taken when jumping ultralights of any type.

-- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

[Vlad 0]

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Are you telling me not to beleive myself that I know someone who put his hand through the prop on exit?

No, Tonto. I'm telling, that given the same respect as for any other type of jump, skydiving from ultralight is just as safe. It is very important that pilot turns the engine off.

[billvon 2,989]

>No, Tonto. I'm telling, that given the same respect as for any other
> type of jump, skydiving from ultralight is just as safe. It is very
> important that pilot turns the engine off.

I'd have to disagree with that. A premature opening can kill both of you; that's not the case on an Otter. I'm sure it can be done relatively safely, but your margin for error is that much less.

It's like describing tandems. They can be done _relatively_ safely, but the attitude that "it's just as safe as any other skydive!" has killed several TM's.

[Vlad 0]

Billvon, premature reserve openings have also destroyed Cessnas in the past. They are a danger in any small aircraft. I agree, that ultralights have a higher risk. But premature opening should not happen if the jumper gives the proper care to his gear, and sits tight in the aircraft.

[spectreflyer 0]

Plank,
I jump from a trike all the time. There is nothing to it (if you have a good pilot) that is! Some things to remember.
1. Do a complete check of your gear before going up.
Things coming loose or getting out with a spinning prop behind you can have nasty consequences.
2. Keep your hand on your pilot chute handle on the way up (keep it secure).
3. A trike glides very well. Get the the altitude you wish to jump and have the pilot kill the engine. Jumping from a trike is almost like making a base jump. The trike will feel as if it is not moving, because it is moving so slow. When you jump it feels like you jumped from a fixed object.
4. Make sure you are clear of all the wires and landing gear when you leap off.
P.S., It's addictive!

[Designer 0]

Way Cool.Hey,WIRES MAN!Watch out for anything that may snag you climbing out to launch position.Then let go!