PowerTrike Light

{{Short description|German ultralight trike}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use British English|date=January 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Light | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Ultralight trike]] and [[powered parachute]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[Germany]] | manufacturer = [[PowerTrike]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = Production completed (2014) | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''PowerTrike Light''' is a German [[ultralight trike]] and [[powered parachute]], designed and produced by [[PowerTrike]] of [[Mackenbach]]. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.<ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 219. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref>

The same basic [[airframe]] is used to mount either a [[hang glider]] or [[paraglider]] wing and is known as the Light-Delta and Light-Para, respectively, in those configurations.<ref name="WDLA11" />

As of 2014 the design is no longer indicated as available on the company website.<ref name="Products">{{cite web|url = http://www.powertrike.de/products.html|title = Products|accessdate = 21 November 2014|last = powertrike.de|date = n.d.}}</ref>

==Design and development== The aircraft was designed as an easy to pack [[nanotrike]] to comply with the [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] [[microlight]] category and the US [[FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles]] rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. It features a [[Flying wires|cable-braced]] hang glider-style [[high-wing]], weight-shift controls, a single-seat open cockpit without a [[cockpit fairing]], [[tricycle landing gear]] and a single engine in [[pusher configuration]].<ref name="WDLA11" />

The aircraft is made from bolted-together [[aluminum]] tubing, with its double surface wing covered in [[Dacron]] sailcloth. Its {{convert|9.7|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span [[Bautek Pico L]] wing is supported by a single tube-type [[kingpost]] and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is the single cylinder, air-cooled, [[two-stroke]], {{convert|28|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Hirth F33]] engine or the [[Briggs & Stratton]] twin cylinder, air-cooled, [[four-stroke]] {{convert|30|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} engine. With the Briggs & Stratton engine and Pico L wing the aircraft has an empty weight of {{convert|120|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|220|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|100|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|20|L}} the payload is {{convert|86|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="WDLA11" />

A number of different wings can be fitted to the basic carriage, including the standard {{convert|17.2|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} area [[Bautek Bico]] and the {{convert|12.2|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} area Bautek Pico L, which is only used with the higher output Briggs & Stratton powerplant. Any hang glider wing with a sufficient gross weight capacity can also be used. The aircraft can easily be disassembled and folded to fit inside an automobile, with the wing carried on a roof rack.<ref name="WDLA11" />

==Operational history== The PowerTrike Light has proven popular with hang glider pilots transitioning to powered flying because they can use their existing hang glider wing mounted on the Light.<ref name="WDLA11" />

==Variants== ;Light-Delta :Version with hang glider wing<ref name="WDLA11" /> ;Light-Para :Version with paraglider wing<ref name="WDLA11" />

==Specifications (Light with Bautek Pico L wing) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Bayerl<ref name="WDLA11" /> |prime units?=met  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m=9.7 |span ft= |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm=12.2 |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg=120 |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=220 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |fuel capacity={{convert|20|L}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Briggs & Stratton]] |eng1 type=two cylinder, air-cooled, [[four stroke]] engine |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=30

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=120 |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh=90 |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh=45 |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms=3.2 |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2=22.7 |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.powertrike.de/ Official website] {{PowerTrike aircraft}}

[[Category:2000s German sport aircraft]] [[Category:2000s German ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]] [[Category:Ultralight trikes]] [[Category:Powered parachutes]]