Chris Zimmerman <<email>> writes:

It is a Northwing Maverick RT with a Rotax 447 and a B-box. It would be over weight if you added a C box, a 503 or electric start. You get a 24 pound credit for the parachute, but it weighs about 24 pounds, so no help there.

It tows as good as or better than our 503 powered N-numbered Tukan club trike. We were getting 350 ft per minute towing a T2C. It took just under six minutes to 2000ft. Stall speed is about 22 mph.

It has a custom made B-box release. That is a 1x2x.5 inch sealed ball bearing in there held with a faired attack tube.

The B box is the less expensive lighter gear box that does not have the convenient hole bored though the middle of the output shaft. That is what makes the release such a challenge.

http://northwing.com/Maverick-legend-trike.htm

I live in an airpark community in Georgetown TX just north of Austin. My lot is five acres and over 1200’ of it parallels the runway. We take off from my lot. This keeps staging and spent carts off the main runway.

The release is a $12 snap shackle from West Marine. It is rated for 1200 lbs. A small rope attaches to the release. It runs inside the Attack tube, then around the corner and though the pipe attached to the landing gear.

The nice thing about the whole set up is price. A new Rotax 447 complete retails for only $3100. Being an ultralight as it is, means you don’t need a private pilot’s license with 100 hours to be a tow pilot. Also the trike doesn’t have to be registered with annuals.

It is obviously not going to tow tandems, but it is good for solo tows. This trike seems to descend rapidly without over speeding, making for fairly fast turn arounds while towing.

It would be nice to see one of the trike manufactures offer a purpose build 103 legal tow trike. I am sure they could tweak the design and get even more towing performance.

Of course, what is so exciting about this trike is that it is Part 103 legal, so that it doesn't have to be N numbered, it doesn't require that the tow pilot be a licensed pilot, and it fits within our FAA exemption for towing hang gliders with a light trike. Perhaps not a great tug for a tandem operation, but for a club operation pulling up club members, it looks good.