Vern’s shot at 90 MPG

Builders;

Something just for fun, to show that the skills you develop building your pane will find their way into many other facets of your life. Vern Sevenson, my side kick, well known for this: Fun with Agkistrodon Piscivorus and Vern’s Aero-Trike, is back at it with another land based 3 wheel project, this time a single seater aimed at maximum MPG. In Florida this is a legal modification of a 1998 Honda helix Cn250 scooter, and it requires no inspection, no insurance, and no emissions testing. Yes, there is still creative freedom here.

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Before anyone predicts that this will not work; I rode the helix to carefully measured 72 mph top speed, and ask anyone who had one, they get astoundingly good milage. The trike pictured has a fraction of the original drag, and it weighs less than 300 pounds as shown. Vern and I have both driven it around the airpark and it has pretty good acceleration and good handling. It has already done 60 mph effortlessly.

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Three wheels, two in front; steel tube fuselage, all 4130 mostly salvaged from old stuff; Aluminum body work for as much as possible; Canopy is fly mart special for an RV-4; It hinges upward to get in, but also slides forward for ventilation; instruments and controls taken from scooter. Vern’s Aero trike (half Geo,half Lancair 320) is in the background, it now has 30,000 miles on it.

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Back bodywork comes off in seconds with pins; drive line is stock Honda Cn250, down to the relocated gas tank. Seat is removed in pictures, but it is form fitted and very reclined. trike is less than 36″ tall.

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Side panel back on; tail lights are around few new pieces, all else is recycled. Has a push start bar just for looks. Still has scooters center stand.

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The look of it all closed up; missing compound curve side panel still to be made on English wheel.

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Front quarter view. The starting point for the nose is a CB-750 fairing from the 1980s.  Front wheels are 13″ space saver spares, faired in with pizza trays. Front suspension is a widened Suzuki for wheeler. Spindles modified in a lathe to take Geo rear brakes. Willwood master cylinder. Steering is rack and pinion off a lawn mower. Radiator is located in a chin scoop, a vent ducts heat inside for cold weather.Flat section of glass is for tiny windshield wiper to work on.

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Vern has been building things his whole life, and he prides his scrounging abilities. He has less than $1,000 in this project and 4/5s of it was buying the scooter. The real thing on display is his creative mind, and a skill set developed by building airplanes for 30 years.

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wewjr.

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