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MANTA RST WING AND BB TRIKE TESTIMONIALS Hello Gibbo,
Had a great day of flying, 4 hours. The move of the
CG back a bit and the advice about T/O and landing worked
wonders. First T/O bar out full throttle the run distance was about the
same as my Maverick, right at 38 -40 MPH nice smooth liftoff. The climb
out was very nice. Hands off cruse is about 55 at 5800 RPM. The bar
pressure is very light in pitch. Just a very small amount of light pull
inward and your speed shoots right up to the mid sixties without
moving the throttle. Roll is also excellent. Where I was flying today is
one of the toughest places for turbulence, especially when it gets as
warm as today. The first third of the runway is in a very closed canyon
area and for ultralights as well as LSA is avoided like a plague when
landing. Your wing went right through that area with just a couple of mild
pumps. I was out at 1:30 in the worst part of the day and still enjoying
the flying. Landing was a pleasure after a few mental/technique
adjustments from flying other wings. This really is a tough area to fly
and even most of the LSA guys knock off by noon, and I was
out flying with the only other aircraft that can handle comfortably that
area at that time of day, a gyrocopter. When I landed and made my way back
to the parking area, the clubhouse porch emptied, all 4, came over and
were wanting to know how I could be out there with the flag standing
straight out. I explained to them that trikes now have a true trike wing.
The BB Trike and Gibbo Wing got a nice review from some hard core fixed
wing guys. One comment came from one guy who never took trikes seriously,
"this is going to revolutionize trikes". The more I fly, it just
keeps getting better. The Manta 12.5 103 Wing and BB 103 447
Sport Trike where the best choice for me.
Be Safe
Fred
Hey Gibbo,
I finally got a good day of soaring here in that little trike. I powered up to six grand and shut her off just at the west edge of our flight park. I worked marginal lift to about nine grand which brought me over next to Portal Peak where the lift turned on nicely. I climbed to 12,500' right over the peak and hung there for about a half hour. I flew back to the field and got there at seven grand, hung out over the barn for a while too. It was GREAT! John 'Ole' Olson Mark,
As an FAA Sport Pilot CFI providing training in an AirBorne
Streak. I wanted to tell you that your Manta 17 amazed me. I have flown a
few single surface wings in my years and I decided a long time ago that
double surface were more my style. I train new pilots in my Streak mainly
because I do not like the way single surface wings handle. The Manta 17 is
the first wing that I have ever flown that flies as well, and in some
cases better that my Streak. The wing does everything that it needs to do
as far as the PTS, but the best part is the amazingly light bar pressure
needed to perform the maneuvers. Inputs are immediate and that gives great
confidence as a new pilot learns to perform "low passes" in preparation to
learning "touch and go's" The RST really shines on landing, as the ground
effect is minimal and allows for precise spot landings without a great
deal of "floating"
The rate of climb with the 582 is awesome, and the only issue I
had was keeping it from climbing when I was giving very small throttle
inputs. That is an issue most of us are happy to work out. Mark you have
done an outstanding job on making a large single surface wing act like a
small double surface wing.
I am thrilled to be able to provide your products through Agape
Windsorts, LLC. Thanks for your contribution to the refinement of the
great sport of triking.
Blessings,
John C. Listi
Owner/Agent
Agape Windsports, LLC.
Houston, Texas
FYI
A few days ago I was invited to the Gibbogear factory field to
checkout the latest product from MANTA AIRCRAFT S.A.
Gibbo has been working on a new wing in the Manta
Ray lineup..the 17M. I arrived early where we had a clear blue sky with a
brisk wind in the forecast. The new wing looks like the others..very nice.
The 17M uses the same airframe as the 15.5 with more sail area and a few
design changes that I was anxious to evaluate. The wing has been
extensively flight tested and tuned up and now it was time for a weekend
flyer to try it out. The wing was fitted to an Apollo Delta Jet 582 with
all the bells and whistles. After just a few minutes to get familiar with
the cockpit I was on my way. I flew around for about 30min. and the trike
was a dream to fly. The trim speed was about 53mph and it flew with just a
light touch. I was expecting a bigger/heavier feeling aircraft but the
Apollo is very sporty and the whole package feels smaller than it looks.
The smaller control frame on the Manta Ray is very cool. The 17M fly's
with light control input but it does have a definite trim position and
positive feedback. It is easy to roll into a turn and just as easy to roll
out. A standard rate turn requires some added pitch and a little "opposite
aileron" just like an airplane. The landing was easy even with a crosswind
coming over the hedge line. The Apollo/Manta Ray is a great
package.
Gregg Ludwig
PP-wsc
Hi Mark,
Now that I have your Manta 12.5 wing,I am back to my old style
of flying (used to fly a 3 axis Team Airbike), i.e. yank & bank from 0
to 200 feet agl (call me stupid).
With my old 15 meter single surface wing,within an hour after
sunrise,it was not fun anymore,felt like I was wrestling an alligator
rather than flying a trike.Now I'll fly when even the Cessna's stay on the
ground.
Also,since we only have access to a storage shed at the
airport,I have to set up & tear down every time I fly,but the honest
to goodness 15 minutes it takes is a necessity,not a luxury .
Thanks
Tariq Ebrahim
Naples,Fl
Never mess with the Wind Gods.
But that Manta 12.5 sure can tickle em a bit. Flew all morning and afternoon today, high and low, and never even thought about it. With the Manta-12.5 you can fly all day. Jim Waters Clipper 912/Manta 12.5
Mark,
Wanted to let you know that the new wing leaves me speechless,
the last couple of Florida weekends have been pretty ugly with 15-20 mile
an hour winds, with my old single surface I wouldn't even consider going
out fly ( not to mention if I did I needed to be out by 7 am and would be
done by 9:00 am). With my new Manta I can go any time of the day, setup in
15 minutes, taxi in windy conditions and fly in conditions I never even
considered to fly in. Thanks for quadrupling my flight time.
Moses Ezekiel (Moe)
Manta Ray
Eagle w/Geo g10
P.S. Probably the best testimonial is when I bragged about the
wing to my girlfriend, all she could say was, "great now you won't come
home until the sun is down". She's probably right!
Finally...a Trike Wing that is notably
better. After the Industry's long and painfully slow evolution of Trike
Wings from hang glider designs, there is a departure from conventional and
riddance of the attendant compromises. Different is one thing, better is
another. The GIBBOGEAR MANTA RAY RST 12.5 Trike Wing is
unquestionably…better, it does everything better, starting with
set-up, to ground handling, take-off acceleration, climb,handling, speed
range, low end, stall, landing, and hanger door clearance. Fly one
yourself and see what I mean.
Chuck Burgoon ATP,
MEI, CFI, CFII, BFI, AGI, IGI, SPE
Hey Primo:
Thanks for building the RST, so I could
accomplish my dream flight to Venezuela.
Armando Martinez BFI,
Cross Country Pilot
As a new trike pilot looking for a wing
for my 103 Apex Echo/Rotax 447, my major concern was finding a very
forgiving wing to learn with. Mark convinced me that the MantaRay 15.5
would fit the need, and I haven't been sorry! I had an excellent
top-notch instructor (Norm Bjornstad) but I worried a lot about making the
move from the two-place trainer to the single-place 103 trike with the
MantaRay, especially since I planned to solo in the 103 trike. Norm
flew the MantaRay and we spent a while talking about the differences
between it & the trainer, then he turned me loose. I shouldn't
have worried! The MantaRay flies exactly how I want it to - I never
imagined it would be so easy to land. I'm particularly pleased with
the speed range that I get from it (less than 30 with the bar out to ~65
with the bar all the way in). I still only have a few hours with it,
but looking forward to many more!
Terrel Sandberg Mesa,
AZ
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