AirBorne Questions

Question Answer

Can AirBornes be purchased as a kit?

Yes.  The XT series of trikes are now available in kit form.  What you receive is a crated trike just as the dealer receives it.  It has already been tested at the factory and only requires a day to assemble.  You will then register it as an E-LSA and be able to perform you own maintenance and annual inspections (requires the 16 hour inspection course). 

The advantages of purchasing a kit:

  • You don't have to pay a dealer to come to your location to assemble the aircraft (required for S-LSA aircraft).
  • You can do your own maintenance and annual inspections.

Disadvantages:

  • Other than training the owner the aircraft cannot be used for flight training.
  • May not have as high a resale value as an S-LSA since it has been owner rather than professionally maintained.
  • Requires 5 hours of flight testing before it can be flown dual.  This is a particular problem for new pilots requiring flight training.  You will have to pay an instructor to fly off the 5 test hours for you (at your location since that is where the FAA will assign the test area) before he can teach you how to fly the aircraft.

Can I order a different engine other than that specified by AirBorne for a particular model?

No.  AirBorne trikes are certified aircraft.  Each model/wing combination has been certified by the Australian FAA equivalent.  A engine change requires re-certification.

"That's a pain" you say.  Yes in that you don't have quite the flexibility you have with manufacturers of non-certified trikes.  However, with AirBorne you are certain of getting an aircraft that is optimized for the certified wing/pod/engine combinations and has been fully tested (and verified by an independent third party) to insure safety.  With the non-certified manufacturers you have to take their word for the thoroughness of their testing.

Finally, if enough people ask for a particular modification then AirBorne will evaluate the demand versus the cost and if it makes sense, implement the user demanded option.  So if you have an option you'd really like to see on AirBornes let us know.

As an AirBorne Dealer do I have to have a Private Pilot's license to "test" an S-LSA AirBorne trike before delivering it to a customer?

AirBorne S-LSA trikes are flight tested at the factory in Australia IAW CASA (Australian FAA) requirements and in compliance with S-LSA ASTM standards and AirBorne signs a statement to that affect. AirBorne DOES NOT require or authorize its dealers to “flight test” their trikes after assembly here in the States. They do want their dealers to make sure the wings are still in tune after being shipped in the short-pack before turning the keys over to the customer but that is NOT flight testing.

Wing tuning is something every trike sport pilot is supposed to know how to do and is one of the things they are tested on when they take their practical test – it is pilot permitted maintenance. Consequently, neither we nor our customers need to be Private pilots.

Note: Dealers must be authorized in WRITING by AirBorne to re-assemble an S-LSA trike unless they are weight-shift LSA Repairmen with the Maintenance rating or A&Ps.  Depending on your DAR you may also be asked for a letter of authorization (by serial number) to assemble S-LSA trikes from AirBorne when he/she issues the airworthiness certificate.

Can floats be fitted to AirBorne trikes?

Yes but only if they are registered as ELSA.  However, AirBorne is actively pursuing float certification for their trikes so approved floats are coming.