My first flight in a weight-shift-control trike, AKA The most fun I’ve ever had

When was the last time you did something that was so much fun you couldn’t get your jaw up off the floor?  When was the last time you exclaimed “THAT IS THE MOST FUN I’VE EVER HAD!”?  This is precisely what happened in December when I went for my first flight in a weight-shift control trike.

ultralight aerial photos

My husband, being the incredibly smart individual and awesome husband that he is, insisted that I go for a ride.  Since getting his private pilot’s license in 2012, he’s been growing tired of the cost and complication of trying to make general aviation a part of our lives and has been looking for something a little different.  So far, he’d only been on one trike ride but loved it enough that he knew he might want to pursue learning to fly them and possibly getting one of his own.  Before he would go any further, he wanted to make sure I was on board.  If I hated it, I probably wouldn’t offer much support.  If I loved it, we would have a new passion to pursue together.  (Aviation lovers take note, getting your spouse on board is a genius strategy.)

ultralight aerial photos

On a bluebird day in December, I strapped in to Rebel’s Northwing (Rebel is an instructor and all-around trike expert) and took to the skies at 50mph.  I didn’t let myself get scared before going up because I knew I had to go, I wasn’t going to let Mark down.  While I assumed some fear would show up during that first ride it never came.  I was far too enamored to be scared.  I remember my mouth stretching as far and wide as it could open because I was just that blown away by the cool factor of what I was doing.
ultralight aerial photos

ultralight aerial photos

Buzzing our camp site at Lake Havasu State Park:
ultralight aerial photos

ultralight aerial photos

Growing up in an aviation family, I’ve spent countless hours in small airplanes but flying in a trike doesn’t compare.  I’ve heard it best described as “a motorcycle with wings”.   Flying through the sky as high or low as you want, the wind in your hair, the views unobstructed, I’ve never done anything like it.  I returned to the ground after an hour flying around the Arizona desert knowing that Mark & I had found our next passion.
ultralight aerial photos

If I’m going to be in the air, I’m undoubtedly going to take photos.  However, in a fixed wing airplane, the wing and glass would make it difficult for me to create the kind of aerial photographs that I wanted.  Sitting beneath the wing and not having windows to contend with means my career in aerial photography might stand a chance!

ultralight aerial photos

We’re explorers not commuters.  We like to travel slowly.  We avoid interstates for a reason.  Even if we could afford an airplane, the dream of owning one has never felt like the perfect fit.  Having to rent a car and stay in a hotel anytime we flew somewhere sounded more like a burden than an adventure.  During my first trike flight, I knew these were the kind of wings we’d been looking for all along.  They allow for the kind of slow exploration that we’ve come to love.  We’re not trying to get anywhere, we just want to experience the world from another perspective.  The best part is that we can trailer a trike behind our truck allowing us to take it with us anywhere we want to go.  We can camp AND fly;  owning a fixed wing airplane meant one or the other.

ultralight aerial photos

Mark spent much of December training and preparing to purchase our own weight-shift trike.  Now the search is on for our very first aircraft.  Stay tuned as many adventures await us in the world of trikes.

10 Comments

Leave a Reply to garyCancel reply

  • Michelle,
    I am happy for you! 40 years ago I was in your shoes. Now, I’m a Boeing 777 driver, closer to the end than than the beginning. My sincerest desire is for you and Mark to be happy TOGETHER. You two make my day!!! Enjoy the world from a new perspective! -Matt-

  • That looks so cool! That is a really neat way for you and Mark to both be able to enjoy this interest at the same time. Do you have to have a licence to fly one of these? Please keep us posted!

    • You can get a single seat ultralight that weighs under 254 lbs. and fly it without a license. However, taking to the skies with zero instruction is recipe for disaster. If you want to carry a passenger, you get in to the Light Sport category which requires a Sport Pilot license. To obtain your Sport Pilot license, a minimum of 15 hours of flight training with a certified flight instructor and minimum of 5 hours of solo flight time is required before you can take a check-ride.

  • Michele: As one of your most ardent fans and as a lover of flight I have to remind you of the noise factor associated with your new love. I nearly bought one several years ago but couldn’t get around the tremendous noise. Bryce Canyon is a perfect example of a beautiful place ruined by the sound of ultralights cruising above. Granted, I am on the sensitive side as far as noise while camping -generators, 4×4’s etc.- but I think most people enjoying a morning’s hike anywhere will be more than a little annoyed by the sound created by an ultralight at 500 ft.
    Sorry to be a Killjoy, Will

    • Thanks for sharing your point of view Will. We try and take all things in to consideration when approaching a new endeavor such as this. Peace and quiet is important to us also and we plan to be as respectful as possible.

By michele

About

Hi!  We’re Mark & Michele, a couple of modern-day nomads perfecting the art of slow, perpetual travel.  Our tiny home on wheels and slow-paced travel style allows us maximum freedom at minimal expense.  This blog is where we share our travels as well as our insights in to this lifestyle that we absolutely love.  Thanks so much for being here.

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