Seagull ESCAPE POD Flies!

By ANN Correspondent John Ballantyne

In 2003 ANN first brought you a report of the Seagull ESCAPE POD. Then it was only a dream of designer Michael Riggs, demonstrated through a non-flying mock-up. Now, Mike and Linda Riggs display two flying examples of the fully enclosed streamlined trike.

The ESCAPE POD is the ultimate, self-launch trike capable of soaring flight. The product is a simple, efficient, comfortable, streamlined pilot enclosure for hang glider wings. Also available is the unpowered POD RACER for winch or aerotow launch.

The pods are small, light, and efficient. Unlike conventional trikes, the pilot is fully enclosed in the streamlined pod that has fully retractable landing gear and internal fuel tank and engine. The pilot flies in a supine position to ensure extreme comfort during flight. Weight of the powered version is about 75 pounds without the wing according to the manufacturer.

Michael Riggs, president of Seagull Aerosports, said, "For the past four years, I have been designing and engineering what I believe to be the ultimate trike for both recreational cruising and soaring. Based on feedback to the prototype, I incorporated design elements pilots requested. I wanted to end up with a product that would provide extreme comfort and safety to weight shift pilots as well as a design unique to the ultralight market."

The trikes are fully composite using foam sandwich construction of PVC and graphite pre-preg materials. The canopy is molded lexan with graphite frames
and the control bar passes through a Neoprene covered slot at the fuselage/canopy joint. For added safety, a Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS) rocket-deployed parachute is mounted on the rear of the main structural bulkhead and fires through a hatch on the side.

"Response to the PODS has been very good, and I am quite enthusiastic about their potential," said Riggs. "Many hang gliding dealers, schools and flight parks are eager to represent them."

Michael Riggs, who returned to the sport aircraft market after 21 years, founded Seagull Aerosports in 1999. Seagull Aerosports develops a simple, yet sophisticated, line of ultralight aircraft built with safety, efficiency, economy, pilot visibility, structural integrity and aesthetics in mind. The company is named Seagull Aerosports after the founder's original hang glider company he ran from 1969 until 1978. That company became one of the largest international manufacturers of hang gliders and accessory equipment.

FMI: www.fly-seagull.com