Trio-Twister 103
# Trio-Twister 103

The Trio-Twister 103 is a German powered parachute that was designed by Siegfried Stolle and produced by Trio-Twister of Eichwalde. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The aircraft was introduced in 2003 and production ended when the company went out of business in 2005.

## Design and development

The Trio-Twister 103 was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category and the U.S. FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, hence its designation. It carries a German DULV certification. It features a 30 $m^2$ (320 sq ft) parachute-style wing, single-place accommodation, tricycle landing gear and one 28 hp (21 kW) single cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled Hirth F-33 aircraft engine mounted in pusher configuration.

The aircraft carriage is a simple frame design with a central canopy attachment, built from bolted aluminium tubing. In flight steering is accomplished via foot pedals that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has nosewheel steering. The main landing gear incorporates spring rod suspension. The design employs a tilting seat to allow the pilot to see up and backwards to ensure that canopy inflates correctly.

The aircraft has an empty weight of 80 kg (176 lb) and a gross weight of 160 kg (353 lb), giving a useful load of 80 kg (176 lb). With full fuel of 10 litres (2.2 imp gal; 2.6 US gal) the payload for pilot and baggage is 73 kg (161 lb).

## Specifications (Trio-Twister 103)

Data from Bertrand

General characteristics

* Crew: one
* Wingspan: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
* Wing area: 30 $m^2$ (320 sq ft)
* Aspect ratio: 3.33:1
* Empty weight: 80 kg (176 lb)
* Gross weight: 160 kg (353 lb)
* Fuel capacity: 10 litres (2.2 imp gal; 2.6 US gal)
* Powerplant: 1 × Hirth F-33 single cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled aircraft engine, 21 kW (28 hp)
* Propellers: 2-bladed wooden, fixed pitch

Performance

* Maximum speed: 50 km/h (31 mph, 27 kn)
* Wing loading: 5.3 $kg/m^2$ (1.1 lb/sq ft)
