Pipistrel Plus Operator's Manual page 40

40
Trike
Weight and balance
Introduction
This chapter provides information on aircraft's weight and balance, which is essential for safe flying
activity.
Autostability
A powered-hangglider is an autostable aircraft. This means that the mass centre of the trike will po-
sition itself under the wing exactly in the centre of gravity of the whole aircraft. Therefore, the mass
distribution on the trike itself is not of vital importance.
However, heavy objects suspended far ahead or far behing the seats may influence the position/la-
teral orientation of the trike in flight. This is most noticable at touch-down, where the front or back
wheels touch the ground respectively.
Passengers
The second (back) seat is located at or close-to mass centre of the trike, therefore the weight of the
passanger does not influence the centre of grafity. For passanger comfort there are foot rests and 4-
point safety belts mounted on the trike.
CAUTION!
become hindered at his elbows. Before take-off, make sure the pilot can operate the triangle wit-
hout obstructions.
Luggage
Should you be flying alone, you may use the back seat as your baggage space. Should there also be
a passanger on board and you still desire to carry luggage (pay attention to the MTOW), you may
attach the luggage to the frame or the trike under the passanger's seat, which would be close to the
mass centre of the trike.
WARNING!
chute rescue system's area of operation.
WARNING!
of 350 kg.
Should you desire do have baggage compartment attached to the frame do so at an authorised ser-
vice centre. Welding onto the frame of the trike is prohibited!
Pay special attention about the packing of the luggage. Do everything to prevent parts of the lug-
gage to fly through the propeller or separate from the luggage bulk in any way. The same goes for
all equipment attached to yourself - sunglasses caught by the airflow may damage the propeller to
much you will be forced to shut down the engine and perform an emergency landing.
CAUTION!
cannot fall off and thereby damage the propeller.
Should a large person be sitting on the passanger seat the pilots workspace may
When mounting luggage onto the trike make sure you do not obstruct the para-
Do not, under any circumstances exceet the maximum take-off weight (MTOW)
Before each take-off verify how the luggage is attached to the trike. Make sure it
pipistrel.si