description of trip . . .
This was a solo trike trip flying an AEROTRIKE from the US/Mexico border, down the east coast of Mexico to the southernmost Mexican state of Chiapas, to visit the Mayan ruins at Palenque, Yaxchilan and Bonampak. The round-trip flight included 2200 miles and 34 hours of flying.

route of flight . . .
The trike was hauled on a trailer from Indiana down to (and across) the US/Mexico border at Brownsville, Texas. The trike was quickly readied for flight at the Matamoros International Airport, with the flight beginning on February 2, 1998. The route of flight was south along the Gulf of Mexico coast, with stops at La Pesca, Tampico, Tecolutla, Veracruz, Minatitlan, and Villa Hermosa, before flying into the state of Chiapas to the airstrip near the Palenque ruins. From the Palenque airstrip, I flew over the Palenque ruins (only five miles west of the Palenque airstrip), down to the Yaxchilan ruins on the Mexico/Guatemala border (83 miles southeast of Palenque), and to the Bonampak ruins (12 miles southwest of Yaxchilan).

description of aircraft and equipment . . .
The AEROTRIKE-HKS was powered by the HKS 60-hp four-stroke, two-cylinder engine. Navigation was with a Garmin 12XL GPS, and radio communications were with an ICOM-A22 radio (radio and GPS mounted on a kneeboard). This AEROTRIKE was equipped with the optional La Mouette Ghost-12 wing, which allowed cruise speeds from 50 to 75 mph. At the "normal cruise" of 60 to 65 mph, the HKS engine burned about 2.4 gph of fuel. With the AEROTRIKE standard 13-gallon fuel tank capacity, this gave an approximate five-hours endurance, and an additional 5-gallons of fuel was carried in a separate container as "cargo" which provided another two hours of flight capability (after a stop to put the extra gas into the main fuel tank). The new Japanese-manufactured HKS engine installed on this AEROTRIKE was one of the first flying in the U.S. and it proved to be completely reliable on this trip, providing good power, very smooth and quiet operation, and excellent fuel economy.

flying an "ultralight" in Mexico . . .
The AEROTRIKE-HKS used for this trip was flown in the United States as an "ultralight trainer" (operating under a training exemption from the F.A.A.). Under U.S. regulations, it was not allowed to fly across the U.S./Mexico border in an "ultralight" (or anything other than a regular "registered aircraft"). Also, the status of "ultralights" in Mexico (especially flown by foreign citizens) is somewhat uncertain. So, for this trip to be possible, I had to obtain special permission from the Mexican D.G.A.C. (equivalent to our F.A.A.) to haul my trike across the border and undertake my trip in Mexico.

Mexican airports . . .
On many previous occasions, I had flown larger, faster planes in Mexico, and so I was familiar with the route and most of the airports on this trip. At the airports I visited with my trike, I received the same great hospitality that I had always enjoyed when visiting Mexico -- even with my "minimal" Spanish. The airports were secure and well managed, and the airport personnel were very interested in the "ultralight" and exceptionally helpful.

weather during the trip . . .
After a three-day delay in Matamoros due to high winds and storms, once I began my trip I had acceptable weather and was able to fly at least several hours each day of my trip. I started flying at sunrise most days, to take advantage of the calmer early-morning conditions. Still, the Gulf coast of Mexico is often very windy, and winds and turbulence were a problem on several occasions, including a landing in 48 mph winds in Veracruz on the return-leg of my trip. That landing was successful but with such strong winds it wasn't possible to turn sideways to the wind to taxi to the parking area, so airport personnel positioned a huge airport firetruck a few feet in front of the trike to help block the wind and with the help of fellows at the airport, we removed the wing from the trike and got it folded up and into its bag to carry to a hanger for the night. Parking "ultralights" in very windy conditions is usually a big worry, but with a trike it's a simple matter to remove the wing from the trike and lay it completely flat on the ground (parked for the night at Veracruz) (in a smooth, grassy area) where it can be staked down and then safely ride out even the most violent storms. When parking a trike for the night where you can be fairly certain of nothing more than light breezes, you can simply lower the wing so that it rests on the wing's control bar (at Palenque airstrip, side view) (at Palenque, front view) and the wing can easily be tied-down.

more photos (with thumbnails) below Mexico map . . .

    Rob Rollison
    email: info@aerotrek.aero
    visit my web sites at...
        www.airplanegear.com
        www.aerotrek.aero

    another story about this flight is at... www.ultraflight.com/issues/november98/nov98page21.htm

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS . . .
      (click for larger photo)

At Matamoros International Airport, getting set-up for the trip

at a grass airstrip (next to a banana plantation) near Tecolutla, preparing to continue the flight south

at the Veracruz International Airport, stopping for the night

at the Veracruz International Airport, with the wing put down on the grass and tied-down

at Villa Hermosa Airport, a brief stop because of rain

parking at the Palenque airport

at the Palenque airport with the wing lowered so the control bar is on the ground

at the Palenque airport

testing the wingtip camera, with several local folks who were looking at the trike

Palenque ruins

Palenque ruins

Palenque ruins

Palenque ruins

Palenque ruins

Palenque ruins

early morning flight from Palenque to Yaxchilan, starting to fly over fog-covered valley

flying over the Yaxchilan ruins, on the river separating Mexico from Guatemala

approaching the airstrip near the Yaxchilan ruins

the Yaxchilan ruins

meeting a group of archaeologists and biologists working at the Yaxchilan ruins (the fellow second from the right is Ian Graham, who works for the Peabody Museum at Harvard University)

preparing to depart the Yaxchilan airstrip (chicken on the runway)

Bonampak airstrip visible (Guatemala in the far distance to the east)

over the Bonampak ruins (metal roofs have been placed over certain buildings and monuments to protect them from rain)

Bonampak ruins

one of the famous murals at the Bonampak ruins

Bonampak airstrip

on return flight, a brief stop at the grass airstrip (next to a banana plantation) near Tecolutla

northbound, flying over the river at Tampico

while northbound on my last day in Mexico, I made a brief stop at a private airstrip south of La Pesca to refuel and met some local people who drove or rode up after I had landed

Aerotrek Aircraft, Inc. 34 E. Antioch Road, Bloomfield, Indiana 47424 U.S.A. phone: 812-384-4972         email: aerotrek.aero@gmail.com visit our web site at... www.aerotrek.aero visit our web site at... www.airplanegear.com