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The American Built Trike Buggy is
being built by American Paragliding. It is based on the Flexifoil frame
which gives it great strength and a very low center of gravity (CG).
That adds stability. The unit tested had a Fresh Breeze Simonini but
it also mounts a Blackhawk easily. The wheelbase is 42 1/2", length is
48" and the seat bottom is 6 1/2" from the ground. The prop center is 32
1/4" from the ground and the carabiner bottoms are 31 1/2" from the seat
bottom.
Harrness/Class:
High, adjustable, frame hook-in. Classed as a Cart Attachment.
Starting (-): Depends on paramotor used although the one tested
was easy to reach.
Ground Handling & Kiting (6): Getting in this thing is as easy
as it gets. There's no harness, just the kite-buggy seat with a 1950's
era seat belt. Sit down, buckle up and keep your feet on the pegs. Your
butt is a few inches off the ground so it really does feel like a little
go-cart.
Steering was solid and not too sensitive with no adverse reaction to
surface bumps.
It's very stable on the ground but will tip over if
sufficiently provoked. I watched one pilot get a bit carried away and he
nearly went over but just went up on two wheels.
Launch (5): There was no wind to speak of and
launch was easy.
Torque twist was well controlled, nigh negligible, and I discovered an
interesting thing about torque, covered below.
Flight(-): The brakes were in a comfortable position. The
left-right swing was a bit less than some I've felt, probably because
mass is not too far spread out. The bars just happened to be right at
eye level so they did impede my visibility. Shorter or taller pilots
(I'm 5'9") would not probably notice it.
Torque (7): This was well managed because the motor sits and flies
so erect. It would swing about 10 degrees from idle to full power.
Thrust (-): Depends on paramotor. The one tested was more than what
I would need.
Endurance (-): Depends on paramotor. The FB would have probably
been well over two hours. Since you don't need lift the fuel, topping off
is almost no penalty.
Vibration (-): Depends on paramotor. This one was nothing
objectionable.
Sound (-): Depends on paramotor. The Fresh Breeze is the
quietest machine I typically hear.
Safety (7): The pilot is well protected and it is resistant to
rolling over.
Construction (6): The unit seems well built with no
obvious weak points.Reparability (4): Damage resistance is above average
and the steel should be pretty easy to weld.
Transport (7): Flexifoil buggies are made to transport in surfer
dude small cars so it should be pretty good although I didn't see it done.
Overall: This is a fun little hot rod, about as simple as it
gets. For more information, visit
www.AmericanParagliding.com. |
1. Chad Bastian, the designer, finishes a flight as one of his pooches
comes to greet him.
2. Eric Dufour takes the buggy around a cloverleaf.
It will probably work with quite a few paramotors but
has been tested with these two: the Fresh Breeze Simonini and Blackhawk
Rhino.
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