I just returned from one of the most exciting vacations of my life. I went to a gyrocopter fly-in at Wauchula, Florida. I flew similar machines to my own and had a ball. There are miles of orange groves and swamps to fly over. I was getting down in the marshes and seeing all kinds of wild boar heading for cover. Alligators were spotted sunning themselves. Even the whomp whomp whomp of my rotor blades doing some hard turns around them didnt bother them They cant hear but can sense vibrations. While there I had the honor of flying with one of the best gyrocopter pilots in the nation. His name is Jim Logan and is the guy in the right side of the first picture. I am on the left. This guy is a retired helicopter pilot from the NYPD and has seen and done it all.
I could hardly stand the excitement of flying over all that wild country. Thought I would share a few pictures.
Replies
Cool Stan.
Can you fly non-stop to Florida? Maybe you have mentioned your range before, I never caught it though.
You go alone? How long a flight is it?
Sounds like you had a ball, good for you.
Doug
Doug: I didnt state very clearly that I did not fly my gyro down to Florida. I flew commercial down to Tampa. I could have flown my RAF down ...but I had machines down there that I could fly...and it can be a logistical nightmare flying cross country with the weather...etc. I wanted to save on my machine. I could have hauled it down....but I would rather fly down and spend much more time in Florida.
It will fly 225 miles before refueling. So..I would have had several fuel stops.
Stan
You should have stayed for this weekend , for the sun-n-fun flyin in central florida. I may go there sometime this week (a friend wants to go ). He went to the Mc Dill AFB air show last weekend and just told me all about it. Sounded like a great time. It's been cancelled for the past 2(?) years due to security concerns. Look like you found a view of florida a bit different from mine (tampa bay) area.
Hey Stan, you still planning on attending Air Rendezvous this weekend? If so, are you bringing the gyro?
I'm shooting for Saturday. I think Boss is thinking of attending, but I don't know which day.
Stan, if you're flying in, check the schedule.
http://www.springfield-il.com/airshow/index.php
The Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, Springfield, will be waivered closed for air show activities as follows:
From 12:30 to 2:30 and 3:00 to 5:00
From 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
From 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
jt8
Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits. -- Mark Twain
Edited 4/27/2005 2:11 pm ET by JohnT8
John: I am in the middle of switching radios. I have to have a good radio to get into the controlled airport. That and the hours the airport is closed isnt going to be helping my flight planning.
I wont be able to make it...
Stan
They DO let you drive a car to these things too ;) Boss had about 100 things going on this weekend, so he isn't going to make it either. I'm still going to try to make it if it isn't raining too bad on Saturday. I hate to miss Blue Angels when they're in town.
jt8
Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits. -- Mark Twain
Always neat to hear someone mention gyrocopters. My grandfather built gyrocopters at Bensen Aircraft. This is the Spirit of Kitty Hawk that is at the Air and Space Museum.
omnimax: I flew a Bensen with a 90 horse mac back in 1985. It was a fun machine to fly.
Stan
Didn't see a single gyro all day.
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=57737.1
jt8
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.-- Mark Twain
Stan, If God had meant for you to fly, He would have put a whirley-gig on your head!! All seriosness, aside, it looks like fun. Is that blue aircraft a kit? Can I get one at my local store? Please let me know!! Chuck
Chuck: It is a kit. You can search RAF2000 and you will find their site.
Stan
very cool.
thanks for the pics.
Miss flying more each time U post ... gotta fix that someday!
Jeff
Jeff: Heres a way to get started flying again. I have a single place for sale. I dont need two gyrocopters. Glad you like my pictures. I just may post some more tonight.
Stan
That does look fun ...
I never had the big urge to go big.
A utility rated C152 is loads of fun!
I want to get back to it ... this time make it thru the instrument rating ...
just 'cause ...
but focus mainly on aerobatics.
might have once had a nameless instructor that showed me the true abilities of a utility rated 152 .. or not. Depends who's reading this ...
there's a local flight school here with a good rep for their full aerobatic training.
What's a rig like that one your selling go for? Nothing but a seat and a motor looks like a good ride too.
Jeff
Stan, did you make that one? Looks like anyone can make one?
Hi Stan,
I like your pictures looks like a lot of fun! I have included a few pics from my latest flying adventures. Its called Powered paragliding and is a lot of fun also.
Not as fast as you guys but its great for low and slow manuvers!
Have fun,
Mike
Mike: Hey ....thats cool. Anything that breaks us free from the terre firma...
Wow never saw that kind... how does that go straight and make turns?? To me the picture is like, if you lift the table fan off the table and try to hold the very top, it starts to have a mind of its own by wanting to go wild. How is that different?
Blue: A gyrocopter has got to be the most misunderstood aircraft ever devised. Winds up to 40 mph wont stop them. Thermals are hardly felt. If the engine quits...the rotor is not powered and will just land like a crow 0-10 mph. It is steered by tilting the rotor disc. Works off gyroscopic precession. You can fly hands and feet off.
Stan
Hey Stan-I flew, like 20 years ago, mostly Pipers. I have my instrunment and quit right before finishing my commercial. I've been looking at your posts over the last few months and this Gyrocopter thing really interests me. A while back I was looking at sea Ultra-lights that are flown out of the Chesapeake Bay.What are the restrictions concerning the second seat in your gyro-copter? I thought 2nd seat experimental aircraft were for flight instruction only? The Ultra-Lights I was looking at in Havre de Grace were offering introductory flight lessons. I came to find out that was the only way they could get away with taking a passenger. Basically it is a sightseeing adventure, but cannot not be advertised as such.Bottom line, if I were to get into this gyro-copter thing, can I take friends and family up?Thanx!
jocobeView Image
Jocobe; First of all...I must congratulate you for having an instrument rating. I can only imagine what effort and discipline you went throught to obtain that. My hats off to you.
I have a private pilot single engine land license. My two place gyrocopter is flown under experimental. I can legally take passengers....but nothing for hire. Gyrocopters have to be the most misunderstood piece of equipment around.
Stan
Thanx Stan. I was in my 20's then...now I'm 48. I've been thinking alot recently about getting back into it in some fashion.What's your advice on 'understanding' the gyrocopter? Where is the best place to start?Thanx!
jocobeView Image
Jocobe: Please go to http://www.rotaryforum.com. It is my favorite place about gyrocopters. I spend most of my internet time there.
Stan
There are two steering toggles going to each trailing edge of the wing, pulling down on the toggle pulls down the trailing edge which slows that side of the wing down, the other side is flying faster so it turns around the slower side. just the same as a fixed wing aircraft! Sometimes it does seem like a table fan on your back, because of the torc of the prop you have to ease off the throttle at certain times cause it wants to rotate you around. the farther apart the risers are the less tendency for that to happen.
I am very interested in this gyro copter especially the ability to fly in winds. Paragliding is mostly a low wind sport and is quite bumpy in mid day thermals which can be good if your high (You can shut the motor off and thermal up) but is tough close to the ground. Heres a link to the Powered paragliding Assoc. web site for anybody interested.
Fly safe,
Mike
http://www.usppa.org/