[We received this note from Mike Jacober in Alaska]

Dear Flying Friends,
We at Aeros would like to draw all pilots' attention to the necessity to observe all paragraphs of the pre-flight inspection of the trike wings in order to ensure higher safety of flights. One of the lines of the mandatory control is the availability and correct placement of the nose cone on the wing.

Flying without the nose cone can lead to a tragedy, as air flow getting inside the wing changes characteristics of aerodynamic profile, which results in changing the wing's flight performance as a whole, namely:

• Trim speed of the wing increases significantly.
• Stall speed is increased respectively.
• Pitch and roll response of the wing and stability in spiral become worse.

All these changes in the wing's behavior can be dangerous for pilots with any level of expertise, especially in the conditions of the limited takeoff area, when there is no possibility of immediate landing.

We'd also like to remind to pilots possessing wings with the leading edge made of the film-coated material (e.g. trilam, matrix) that flying the wing with moisture on the leading edge (in rain, fog, etc.) or with crystals of snow or ice (this concerns the wings with dacron leading edge as well) can be dangerous for their life. The wing's performance changes are similar to those described above (When the nose cone is missing), but the significant decrease of the wing bearing capacity is additionally observed.

If, [when] getting ready for a flight, you discover that the leading edge of your wing is covered with water drops or ice crystals, do not fly until you wipe the leading edge dry. If you have been caught by rain or snow while flying, get yourself ready to the change in the wing's performance, try to leave the raining or snowing area by the shortest possible way, and (if the change of the wing's performance does not allow further flying), try to find a suitable place for the safe landing.

These cautions are common for trike wings of all types.

Be careful while getting ready for the flight.

FLY SAFE!  --Your Aeros Team

FMI: www.arcticsparrowaircraft.com