Here we go again with the old mono vs tri debate.
The trigear cannot possibly be as quick as the monowheel - it not only has
greater drag beacuse of the wheels hanging down in the breeze but also has
to be heavier due to structural strenghtening required for the gear (hence
more induced drag also).
Personally, I feel that Ivan Shaw got it absolutely right the first time,
the ergonomics and common sense design of the monowheel is not only more
efficient but also far more aesthetically appealing.
Yes, I know that there is a learning curve getting used to the big tyre
but why spoil a stroke of design genius by hanging wheels on the outside
of it?
James McDiarmid 196 G-BWRO
>-- Original Message --
>Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 09:55:36 -0700 (PDT)
From: Paul Boulet <possible2do@yahoo.com>
>Subject: Mono wheel vs. Tri-Gear debate
>
>
>Hi Guys;
>
>I started out building a mono wheel XS but am now considering buying the
>Tri gear kit and was hoping for comments from the group. As I see it here
>are the pros and cons. In the U.S. the cost of the Tri Gear kit is about
>$2,700 and the speed kit an additional $400 over and above the mono wheel.
> However, you save $800 a year on the hull insurance because tri gears
are
>more forgiving in the landing and you can't land "gear up." Cruise, climb,
>and top speeds seem to be the same. From aesthetics I think the mono wheel
>is uniquely beautiful while the tri gear is just another common plane (like
>Pulsar, Glastar, etc.). Also my lovely wife likes the looks of the mono
>wheel better (even though she says she has no intent of riding in it!).
>The Lakeland, Florida office says build time is the same on Tri Gear as
the
>Mono wheel so no advantages there. There aren't enough sales of used Europas
>to be able to tell if re-sale value on one is higher than the other because
>that would help!
> with my decision too.
>
>One of my dreams is to fly to fairly high altitude Idaho grass forest strips
>to do some camping and fishing. I believe the Tri Gear is a better choice
>because it can get off the ground easier because you don't have the drag
>of the flaps being down like you do on the Mono wheel. I remember a discussion
>last year when someone couldn't get their monowheel off a high altitude
Bishop,
>California airport without partially raising the gear and flaps since density
>altitude that day was fairly high...and all of this was with the turbo
914
>engine.
>
>The only other item I can think of is that on-going maintenance should
be
>less with the Tri Gear since no retractable parts. Please let me know
if
>any of you think I've missed something... I'm really having a hard time
choosing
>and could still be swayed either way. Thanks,
>
>Paul Boulet, A212, Malibu, California
>
>
>---------------------------------
|