I am s-l-o-w-l-y manufacturing this helicopter. The big hang up is that it takes at least a year and a half to receive the 4 shipments. I am waiting on the wiring and instruments, swashplate, rotorhead, and rotorblades which will be my 3rd shipment. The 4th and final shipment will be the kerosene burning turbine engine.
I have the tail rotor done…and all the controls adjusted to specs. The transmission is in…the fuel tanks are in and full of water watching for any leaks. So far…bone dry! There are 10 bolts that go thru the tanks…and thats the source of my apprehension. I took extreme care seeing the o-rings were seating against properly prepped surfaces on the insided of my tanks…and it looks like I was successful.
The fun part coming up is the wiring…because I love to “do it” without shorts!
Stan
Edited 5/17/2009 9:19 am ET by StanFoster
Replies
Very cool.
Why does it take so long in between shipments?
Why does it take so long in between shipments?
The kit manufacturer's shop is in Lower Slobovia, one month by yak from Upper Slobovia which, in turn, is a month and a half from Outer Mongolia.
They send all the pretty parts first, to keep the payments coming. The mechanical parts will be along......"soon....very soon", sez the sales department.
At the moment they're trying to decipher the shop manual that they downloaded from somewhere on the web for the turbine they plan to build.
Edited 5/17/2009 11:43 am by Hudson Valley Carpenter
At the moment they're trying to decipher the shop manual that they downloaded from somewhere on the web for the turbine they plan to build
Stan, when you get it all put together, do me a favor and hover for a while about a foot off the ground.
thanks.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Stan, when you get it all put together, do me a favor and hover for a while about a foot off the ground.
All kidding aside, you can rest assured that part of the recommended initial tests for any helicopter, particularly homebuilts, is exactly that.
Stan, I'm curious about licensing for the model your building. What's required to pilot a turbine powered homebuilt helicopter?
I owned a homebuilt bi-plane for five years. At the time I bought it, the tailwheel endorsement wasn't required so my PPSEL, earned in a tri-cycle gear plane was enough. Since then I've been granted that endorsement in another tailwheel airplane.
So between all the available licenses, ratings and endorsements which ones fit your helicopter? Have you begun training? How's it going?
Edited 5/17/2009 8:19 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter
Calvin- I have a PPSEL rating....no helicopter rating is required to fly this helicopter. However....the factory insists that you solo in an R22 helicopter....that is supposedly the hardest helicopter to fly. I soloed and am awaiting my checkride to get my full helicopter rating. I am having problems finding an examiner that doesnt weigh more than 185 pounds...as the R22 demands that the pilot and passenger must not weigh over 400 pounds. I should have had my license months ago...but I have to wait till late in July now.
I absolutely love flying the R22...and everyone that has flown this Helicycle says I will love it even more.
Stan
I am having problems finding an examiner that doesnt weigh more than 185 pounds...
You might call your local FSDO and ask them if they know of anyone or have someone of staff who'll give you a check ride.
I took my PP exam with an FAA officer. He was probably a bit tougher on me than the local good-guy instructor/examiner but if he was, the extra scrutiny was about things that deserved the attention.
Thats who I am going through. I had an examiner that weighs 185 pounds...but I have to wait till the end of July to use him...as he has an FAA restiction placed on him.
Stan
Do they still withhold parts from you until they do a final build inspection and then they do the test flight?Seems like they're trying to do a good job of protecting the production line.
nice egg-beater
Awesome, Stan!
When you complete this aircraft, will you be able to roll it straight into the 'hanger', or do you fold back the rotors or something?
The fun part coming up is the wiring...because I love to "do it" without shorts!
Does that mean you do it nekid?
Sorry. Couldn't resist.
Cool helicoptor.
Not a 2-seater? Solo is fun, but sharing can be cool too.
He likes to do it without shorts AND alone.
Gorgeous work, Stan.
Forrest
But in a helo you need one hand on the collective and the other on the stick. That's where the passenger comes in handy. Maybe he does yoga?
Stan, what a magnificent machine! Very few guys on this board(including me) have no idea of the complexities of your project. This makes building a custom home look like child's play.
Please keep us updated with pics...thanks. stinky
Stan, for your o-rings get some Parker O-lube. It'll make o-rings a lot easier to work with and last longer. During the assembly it lets the adjacent parts slide without tearing the o-ring and in use it helps keep the o-ring from drying out.
I used it on every o-ring that installed at the airline.