Replies

1. 
   StanFoster | Jun 06, 2004 03:53pm | #1

   whoops ....wrong exit....this is the pits......gravel pit that is. :)

2. 
   butch | Jun 06, 2004 04:27pm | #2

   Stan, you may have already explained this, if so I didn't see  it( that would surprise me),

   What is the purpose of the red yarn,string on your windshield? I'm sure it has

   something to do with wind direction, but to me, It would seem that it would

   constantly be affected by the rotating blades  above. Inquiring minds want to know

1. 
   Gunner | Jun 06, 2004 05:31pm | #3

   I want to know why there are no diamonds on the string.Who Dares Wins.

2. 
   bake | Jun 06, 2004 07:00pm | #4

   Probably a yaw string and it looks like it's working perfectly ;)

3. 
   StanFoster | Jun 06, 2004 07:05pm | #5

   Butch:   That is a yaw string.   It show the relative airflow past the cabin.  It flies optimum when the strings are pointed straigt back assuring then that the drag is at a minimum..the airflow through the prop is perpendicular...and the airflow over the rudder is balanced.

   You pretend the end of the yarn that is tied is a head of a snake.  You step on the head of the snake with the apropriate rudder pedal.  Example....if the yarn is going to the right...that means the head is on the left...step on that head with left rudder until the string is coming straight back.

   Inside the cabin..it is impossible to tell this with the doors on.  With the doors off...you can feel the turbulance coming through one door more than the other and can fly that way.  But the string is fool proof and accurate.

   What discourages me is that even flying these things since 1985...the string flies better if I take my feet off the rudders.

   Oh well.....

   Stan

1. 
   butch | Jun 06, 2004 11:28pm | #6

   Thanks

3. 
   Luka | Jun 07, 2004 05:19am | #7

   Stan,

   Could you explain all of the guages and switches on your dash ?

   Who cares, wins.

1. 
   StanFoster | Jun 07, 2004 05:46am | #8

   Luke:  I would be glad to.   The two square gauges are the engine tach on the left..and the rotor tach on the right. The rotor is not powered and this gauge is used  mainly during the take off run as the rotor starts to get to flight rpm.

   The rectangle instrument is the GPS for navigation.  I bought it at Wal-mart and designed my instrument panel around it.  A GPS is freakin awesome to use. I just have to enter the longitude and latitude and it will display my exact heading...true groundspeed...destination distance and time left enroute.

   The round instruments are the fuel gauge..you can see the green light on it....there is an oil pressure gauge..water temp gauge...fuel pressure gauge...I have dual fuel pumps for redundancy and I can flip each one on and check the pressure output of each pump.

   There is the amp gauge..hour meter...airspeed indicator....altimeter...compass..those red yaw strings on the outside.

   The row of switches visible...there are others not seen...are...strobe light..landing lights...navigation lights..dome light..heater fan...

   I wired each switch to have its own pop out circuit breaker right next to it. 

   Switches not seen in the picture...dual ignition switches..master swithc...dual fuel pump switches.

   Other controls not seen...throttle...rudder cyclic control...carb heat...pre-rotator...this initially powers the rotor on the ground only....brakes....rotor brake...gust lock...carb heat...intercom switches....radio switches...

   Here are some views looking back to the tail while flying.