PowerTrike Evolution

The PowerTrike Evolution is a German ultralight trike, designed and produced by PowerTrike of Mackenbach. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

As of 2014 the design is no longer indicated as available on the company website.

Design and development
The Evolution was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category. It features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit with an integral cockpit fairing, tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in pusher configuration.

The aircraft is made from composites, with its double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth and supported by a composite monopole pylon. Its 10.5 m span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is a twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 50 hp Rotax 582 engine. The main wheel suspension is provided by fibreglass gear legs.

The aircraft has an empty weight of 178 kg and a gross weight of 472.5 kg when equipped with a ballistic parachute, giving a useful load of 295 kg. With full fuel of 40 L the payload is 266 kg.

The aircraft is German DULV certified.

A number of different wings can be fitted to the basic carriage, including the Bautek Pico and the Cosmos Chronos in wing areas of 12 m2 and 14 m2.

Operational history
The Evolution has been flown to World Microlight Championships and also European Microlight Championship honours.