After receiving all his training in his own N-numbered two-seat Airborne Edge trike, Pete Deleault of Bow, New Hampshire, received a private pilot certificate on October 28th flying the same trike. A trike is a hang glider-type of wing supporting a wheeled carriage for one or two people and an engine. Trikes may be operated in the U.S. under rules for ultralights (FAR Part 103) or Experimental Aircraft (FAR Parts 61 & 91).

Pete successfully completed FAA written and practical tests given by FAA examiner Galen Fisher who came out to Pete's home base in Concord, New Hampshire airport all the way from California. The accomplishment was most unique because Pete got all his training and was tested in his own two-seat Airborne Edge. He never had to fly in another type of aircraft to meet the qualifications for his private pilot-glider certificate.

Often FAA requires applicants to fly traditional aircraft before qualifying for an FAA airman certificate. A classic example is FAA-recognized ultral ight flight instructors who are required to train and be tested in airplanes (i.e. Cessna and Piper) to obtain an FAA certificate to then operate the same plane they flew as ultralight instructors.

USUA members are expressing continuing interest in gaining private pilot privileges as long as they can be trained and tested in their own aircraft—whether in a trike, airplane or powered parachute. The advent of a method for trikes through the glider certificate program has sparked a small but growing group of trike enthusiasts who have earned their private, commercial and flight instructor (CFI) certificates.

Pete can now:

• Fly his two-seater trike solo and give rides to family, friends and anyone he chooses,
• Operate any certificated trike regardless of weight, speed capability and fuel capacity,
• Fly from and into tower controlled airports any time he wants to; and,
• Fly cross-country flights any time he chooses and to any U.S. destination he wants.
• Fly at night.

If FAA enacted Sport Pilot, Pete could have that certificate by simply asking. Then his Sport Pilot flight privileges could expand to three-axis and powered parachute flying via simple logbook endorsements.

There are no exemptions or unusual FAA procedures are used: Pete has a full-fledged FAA Private Pilot certificate in the glider category which is not subject to any organizational programs or fees.

Pete's CFI was USUA Founder John Ballantyne, the first person in history to earn initial commercial and flight instructor certificates in a trike. John had traveled to southern California in the spring of 2000 to work with trike pioneer and glider CFI Jon Thornburgh who prepared John to take his exams. Galen Fisher, a local FAA Designated Pilot Examiner Glider, was the first FAA examiner to give the flight tests in a trike. Since then, Galen has given pilot exams in other FAA regions. One other examiner is based in Anchorage, Alaska.

"Ultralighters now have a viable way to fly their two-seat trikes for recreation," said USUA President Scott Severen. "Congratulations to Pete for his accomplishment and establishing private pilot-trike on the East Coast."

Significant points about Pete's Private Pilot Certificate:

• Third individual to obtain an initial FAA Private Pilot certificate entirely by flying trikes (including the flight test).
  
• First new private pilot to be taught by an FAA Flight Instructor (CFI) who, himself, had obtained the instructor certificate by flying trikes.
  
• First trike pilot to earn a private pilot certificate in a trike on the eastern side of the United States.

USUA would like to hear from those who have earned an initial FAA pilot certificate exclusively flying two-place ultralight-like aircraft. This is in contrast to the common FAA requirement to fly traditional aircraft before qualifying.

Additional information about obtaining an FAA private pilot certificate in a trike is available on the USUA website at Rules & Regs Glider/Trike.