Paul:
I thinbk you have missed something - the advantage of the
monowheel is its size - it is a tundra tire. That means when the engine
quits (not 'if') you can put down on more land area than if you carry 3
teeny-weenies for wheels. They will dig in and over you go.
If you were to find a plowed field, you might make repairs and
take off again - not at all possible with the teeny-weenies.
There MUST BE a speed difference since the one tire and 1-1/2kg
retraction gear is not equal to the weight of three extended teeny-weenies.
Also I cannot understand why an aircraft would not takeoff with flap
extended, but would with it retracted - perhaps the field was 14,000 feet
long....
If you select the model from such aesthetics as looks,
popularity, trade-in value, and style then 3 wheels is your thing - same as
every other kiddycar operator -= perhaps the Banbi. But if you want safety,
security and plain efficiency the mono is the thing --- IMHO of course.
Cheers, Ferg Kyle
Europa A064
----- Original Message -----
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 he!
> lp!
> 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
>
>
> ---------------------------------
>
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