IMHO Problem is the media. When a trike crashes it is splashed on all the media channels. (print, TV etc). Armchair pilots then have a field day with I told you so. Similar situation in GA. The number of guys who would not fly in a homebuilt, then when they see the RV they say, but this is not a homebuilt.... IGNORANCE......
I refuse to discuss aircraft types with those who have not at least flown in them. (That why I silent on the egg beaters
). I know a couple big iron jockey/airshow pilots who have 20K+hrs and say they are affraid of ML's, but know nothing about them. I respect that attitude. Not you are mad, simply it not for me, by same token I have no desire to fly 3m above the ground inverted at 200kts...
My old man is another, but he flew Cherokees new out the box in the 60's & will not get into a plane with more than 2000hrs on it. (limits what he can fly somewhat). In their defence they grew up on ali planes & when they last looked at a trike a Windlass was STATE OF THE ART (no respect to windlasses), and that I think is core of the problem.
I had a mate who was into ML's in the early stages in the 80's. He had more prangs on his own than I think there are now a year. Every flight was a test flight. There were no standards and they were pushing the envelope. It reminds me of the story of how the Navy came up with the dive tables. ...
Trikes have evolved far beyond what was originally anticipated by CAA when they drafted the ML reg's. In the early days they were not much more than soooooped hang glider with seats and wheels. Education is the key. In blik circles the same thing happens to guys who fly homebuilts. The perception is that you stuck it together in your back yard with lawnmower parts, prestik and pop rivits.... IGNORANCE is the mother of all F... up's....
The wright flyer was a microlight and homebuilt. That where it all started and many conviniently forget that.. Given the opportunity I am sure that most would not pass the opportunity to fly the Wright Flyer.... Offer them a flip in a GT450
"What that thing... You must be Mall Boet..."
Only solution is continued education. Like it or not the aviation community in SA is too small to exclude any part. The relative cheap entry into ML's & increased performance machines is what is driving this sector. Soon (if not already) ML's (trikes) will dominate the aircraft register vs "conventional" aeries. Similar fashion to NTCA's vs TCA's.... The more expensive flying get's the more will come from PPL's to ML's. It after all being in the air we are all after....
I relish in the knowledge that the BullShitters out there don't have a clue and actually feel sorry for them. Those that can DO - Those that can't talk.... KEEP THE FAITH...
It up to every pilot MPL, GPL, PPL etc to educate his fellow aviators. Hangar talk is where the bridges between different sectors are built. That in Jhb is almost dead. There are very few opportunities in the circles that I move for this cross polination of aviation sectors. My experience with the ML fraturnity has been mostly good and the social side of things is great. Some of the blik frat take themselves far too seriously, while the ML guys sometimes do not take themselves seriously enough...
Guys who did the formo display at EAA will tell you the reaction they had from Uber display pilots, PPL's and gen public was overwelming... That the way forward....
Off soap box....
hat coat door...
