Trident TR-1 Trigull

{{Infobox aircraft begin

| name=TR-1 Trigull

| image=Trident TR-1 Trigull prototype C-FTRI.jpg

| caption=The first prototype Trigull, C-FTRI

}}{{Infobox aircraft type

| type=Amphibious aircraft

| national origin=Canada

| manufacturer=Trident Aircraft

| designer=

| first flight=5 August 1973

| introduced=

| retired=

| status=Prototypes only flown

| primary user=

| more users=

| produced=

| number built=3

| developed from= Republic RC-3 Seabee

| variants with their own articles=

}}

The Trident TR-1 Trigull is a Canadian amphibious aircraft that was developed by Trident Aircraft of Burnaby, British Columbia and later Sidney, British Columbia. The aircraft was intended to be supplied as a complete ready-to-fly certified aircraft. The company encountered financial difficulties and only three prototypes were ever built.Plane and Pilot: 1978 Aircraft Directory, page 77. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977. {{ISBN|0-918312-00-0}}{{cite web|url = http://aerofiles.com/_ti.html|title = Trident|accessdate = 1 July 2012|last = Aerofiles|date = 2 June 2009}}

Design and development

The Trigull was designed as an improved and updated Republic RC-3 Seabee. It features a cantilever high-wing, a four to six seat enclosed cabin, retractable tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.{{cite web|url =http://www.seabee.info/trigull.htm|title = The Trigull Story|accessdate = 1 July 2012|last = Saevdal|first =Steinar|date = 13 October 2010}}

The aircraft is made from aluminum sheet with the forward cabin made from fibreglass. Its {{convert|41.8|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing employs a NACA 23015 R-4 airfoil, has an area of {{convert|245.2|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} and flaps. Standard engines available were initially intended to be the Continental Tiara 6-285 {{convert|285|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} and Tiara 6-320 {{convert|320|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} four-stroke powerplants. Later the {{convert|300|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming IO-540-M1A5D and turbocharged {{convert|340|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD were used.{{Cite web|url = http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|title = The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |accessdate = 1 July 2012|last = Lednicer |first = David |author-link = |year = 2010}}{{cite web|url =http://www.seabee.info/trigull/trigull_specs.htm|title = Trident Trigull Specifications|accessdate = 1 July 2012|last = Saevdal|first =Steinar|date = 10 October 2010}}

The design incorporates some innovative features, including wing tip floats that retract into the wing tips and provide additional wing area and lift, a nose wheel that retracts into the nose to act as a bumper for mooring on water, and drooping ailerons.

The Trigull was specifically designed to compete with the Republic RC-3 Seabee, Lake Buccaneer and the SIAI-Marchetti FN.333 Riviera.

Trident Aircraft was founded in February 1970 to develop the TR-1. The aircraft first flight was on 5 August 1973, with the second prototype first flying on 2 July 1976. The TR-1 Trigull 285 model's Canadian Transport Canada aircraft certification was completed on 28 October 1976 with US Federal Aviation Administration certification following on 16 December 1976. Series production was to commence in the early 1980s, and orders were received for 43 aircraft, plus 23 options. The project received technical assistance from both Canadair and Grumman Aerospace Corporation. Despite financial assistance from the federal government's Ministry of Industry, Trade and Commerce and the provincial government's British Columbia Development Corporation, the company ran out of capital and ceased operations in 1980.{{cite web|url = http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/saf-sec-sur/2/nico-celn/c_d.aspx?lang=eng&aprv_num=A-119&ISU_NUM=3&START_DATE=2006-02-06&AUTH_DESC=&DESC=&FRGN_NUM=&aprv_type=TA&PARTS_NUM=&id_num=1149|title = NAPA Issued Certificates Online: Certificate Detail|accessdate = 1 July 2012|last = Transport Canada|author-link = Transport Canada|date = 7 September 2011}}{{Cite web|url = http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/9A04D5AB3E28FD778525673E00699CCF?OpenDocument|title = Type Certificate Data Sheet No. A19AE |accessdate = 1 July 2012|last = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date=May 1987}}

Although intended for series production, only three prototypes were ever built by Trident. Two were registered and flown, CF-TRI (later C-FTRI) and C-GATE, while the third was an engineering test airframe.{{Cite web|url = https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/CCARCS-RIACC/RchSimpRes.aspx?cn=%7c%7c&mn=TRIGULLTR1%7c&sn=%7c%7c&on=%7c%7c&m=%7c%7c&rfr=RchSimp.aspx|title = Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Quick Search Result for Trident Trigull TR-1|accessdate = 27 February 2023|last = Transport Canada|author-link = Transport Canada|date = 28 April 202}}

The type certificate has been held by Viking Air of Sidney, British Columbia since 2006. Viking Air also owns the two remaining prototype aircraft. In 2003 Viking Air indicated an interest in producing the Trigull as a turbine-powered amphibian, with a price at that time estimated at US$400,000, but since then no further news has been released.{{cite web|url =http://www.seabee.info/trigull.htm|title = The Trident Trigull Amphibian|accessdate = 1 July 2012|last = Saevdal|first =Steinar|date = 13 October 2010}}{{cite news|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/leadnews/184113-1.html|title = Bush Plane Legends Come Back|accessdate = 1 July 2012|last = Niles|first = Russ|date = 30 March 2003| work = AVweb}}

Variants

;TR-1 Trigull 285

:Model with the Continental Tiara 6-285 {{convert|285|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} engine and four seats. Type certified in Canada on 28 October 1976 and in the United States on 16 December 1976.

;TR-1 Trigull 320

:Model with the Continental Tiara 6-320 {{convert|320|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} engine and six seats.

Specifications (Trigull 285)

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Plane and Pilot.

|prime units?=imp

|genhide=

|crew=one

|capacity=three passengers

|length m=

|length ft=29

|length in=4

|length note=

|span m=

|span ft=41

|span in=9

|span note=with tip floats up

|height m=

|height ft=12

|height in=6

|height note=on land

|wing area sqm=

|wing area sqft=245.2

|wing area note=with tip floats up

|aspect ratio=7.11:1 with tip floats up

|airfoil=NACA 23015R-4 (modified)

|empty weight kg=

|empty weight lb=2400

|empty weight note=

|gross weight kg=

|gross weight lb=3800

|gross weight note=

|fuel capacity={{convert|103|u.s.gal}}

|more general=

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=Continental Tiara 6-285

|eng1 type=six cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine

|eng1 kw=

|eng1 hp=285

|prop blade number=3

|prop name=Hartzell Propeller

|prop dia m=

|prop dia ft=7

|prop dia in=

|prop dia note= reversible pitch

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=

|max speed mph=157

|max speed kts=

|max speed note=

|cruise speed kmh=

|cruise speed mph=148

|cruise speed kts=

|cruise speed note=

|stall speed kmh=

|stall speed mph=52

|stall speed kts=

|stall speed note=

|never exceed speed kmh=

|never exceed speed mph=211

|never exceed speed kts=

|never exceed speed note=

|range km=

|range miles=520

|range nmi=

|range note=

|endurance=

|ceiling m=

|ceiling ft=16000

|ceiling note=

|g limits=

|roll rate=

|glide ratio=

|climb rate ms=

|climb rate ftmin=1000

|climb rate note=

|time to altitude=

|sink rate ms=

|sink rate ftmin=

|sink rate note=

|lift to drag=

|wing loading kg/m2=

|wing loading lb/sqft=15.5

|wing loading note=

|power/mass=

|thrust/weight=

|more performance=

|avionics=

}}

References

External links

[http://www.seabee.info/trigull/trigull_production.htm Photos of the two Trigull prototypes flown]

Category:Amphibious aircraft

Category:1970s Canadian civil utility aircraft

Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft

Category:High-wing aircraft

TR-1

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1973

Category:Flying boats