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My gyrocopter is sold

StanFoster | Posted in Photo Gallery on September 30, 2007 02:40am

I sold my beloved gyrocopter….I stumbled upon an opportunity to build another type of rotorcraft.  I will be starting on it in November.  It will be a helicopter powered by a turbine engine. 

I will be able to commute to the jobsites much more often now.  It will be a long drawn out project as the turbine wont arrive until next September.  I should easily have the helicopter built by then.

 

 

Stan

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Replies

  1. User avater
    McDesign | Sep 30, 2007 02:54am | #1

    Whoa!  Cool!

    You going to keeep us sated with pix?

    Inquiring minds want to know.

    Forrest

  2. User avater
    McDesign | Sep 30, 2007 02:55am | #2

    Wait - I had a better idea - couldn't you use the gyro as an "air trailer" you drag behind the helicopter, carrying a completed stair?

    Forrest - glad to help

    1. User avater
      Sphere | Sep 30, 2007 03:13am | #3

      You are killing me...LMAO..air trailer...guffaw.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

      "If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"

      1. User avater
        Luka | Sep 30, 2007 03:46am | #4

        Yeah ! What a maroon.Everyone knows it's better suited for being a skyhook.;o)

        Yeh... That'll work.

        1. User avater
          Sphere | Sep 30, 2007 03:50am | #5

          I dunno..a little camo cloth and with that pair of rotors showing, he could be a Huey on Halloween next yr.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

          "If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"

  3. Hudson Valley Carpenter | Sep 30, 2007 04:04am | #6

    Hey Stan,  How about a Huey to haul your stairs?  An old friend of mine recently bought this one for resale.  Interested?

    1. RalphWicklund | Sep 30, 2007 05:19am | #8

      Stan,

      There will be a few of these well-maintained egg beaters on the market soon. My college room mate is one of those responsible for keeping them in the air and trouble free.

      View Image

      Edited 9/29/2007 10:20 pm ET by RalphWicklund

    2. FastEddie | Sep 30, 2007 05:20pm | #11

      That's not a Huey, that's a Korean-war era copter."Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

      "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

      1. User avater
        McDesign | Sep 30, 2007 05:24pm | #12

        <That's not a Huey>

        So which, then - Louie or Dewey?

        Forrest

      2. john7g | Sep 30, 2007 05:42pm | #13

        isnt' that what they called a Choctaw?

        All: Here's a Huey & some carView Image

         

         

        1. myhomereno | Sep 30, 2007 07:30pm | #14

          Brings back memories: I used to repair Bell UH-1D and Sikorsky CH-53G helicopters while I was in the German army.Martin

          1. john7g | Sep 30, 2007 07:45pm | #16

            My Huey work was kind of a hobby volunteering with an Army Av museum not too far from here.  Really a cool aircraft.  I did some auirshows with them.  had plans to propose to my wife in my Huey over NBiagra Falls but got weathered out.  As luckw ould have it as soon as we crcked our beers the weather broke.  Next day we started a 2 day cross country with my fiance in the back flying as as low as we wanted.  

            Hada friend that worke dthe -53s in the Air Force.  Had good stories.

        2. FastEddie | Sep 30, 2007 08:05pm | #17

          & some car

          That's a beautiful Austin Healey.  "Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

          "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

          1. john7g | Sep 30, 2007 10:12pm | #19

            >& some carThat's a beautiful Austin Healey. <

            Some guy was driving it around the air field (doing some hi-speed taxiing on the taxi ways :) ) while we were getting ready for a flight.  Good light and his curiosity got me to ask him to park it just so.  Too bad I left the tug in view on the far side of the Huey. 

          2. bobtim | Sep 30, 2007 11:11pm | #20

            Hey Stan

            My Cival Air Patrol squadron has a jet engin that came out of some sort of Coast Guard helicopter. Must weigh 800 lbs or so.  Supposedly was (or maybe still is) worth over a million $$.  The cadets get to play around with it. Good learning tool

            Wanna borrow it?

            Bound to be fast

            Bound to be cool

             

      3. Hudson Valley Carpenter | Sep 30, 2007 07:38pm | #15

        You're right Eddie.  It's a Sikorski from earlier.  I'm not sure which model.  I remember now that I first saw one of them being used to lift large air conditioners onto roofs in Manhattan, many years ago. 

        My friend just sent me the photo with a "look what I bought in Oklahoma" Email, so the fault is mine for not looking closer. 

        1. JohnT8 | Oct 01, 2007 09:52pm | #25

          I remember now that I first saw one of them being used to lift large air conditioners onto roofs in Manhattan, many years ago.

          Dang company camera hasn't any zoom.  Too far away to see it, but same type of chopper was lifting AC units onto the roof of the mall a couple years back.

          View Image

          They were replaced by the SeaKing (which is on the pic someone else posted).  I supposed the SeaKing is getting replaced now. 

           

           jt8

          "Those who wish to sing always find a song." -- Swedish Proverb

    3. ClaysWorld | Oct 01, 2007 03:29am | #24

      That's my dream camper.

      I was in one in Germany and the engine went out and so we had to leave also, the chip siren was blasting and the crew chief was hollering every body out.

    4. KaneoheBay | Oct 02, 2007 05:10am | #27

      Not a huey, looks like an H34. Jumped out of them many times.

  4. User avater
    Gunner | Sep 30, 2007 05:10am | #7

       So are you going to have to get licensed to fly the helicopter? I think I remember you saying you didn't need a license for the Gyro copter.

       You have way more patience then me. I couldn't go that long not flying if I enjoyed it as much as you.

     

    .

    "I tell you, We are here on earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different."  Kurt Vonnegut jr.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5MG1ZfFiZ8&mode=related&search=  Mercy now

  5. Piffin | Sep 30, 2007 06:35am | #9

    U sold "our" capopter?!

    without even asking us first?

    I can't believe it!

    ;)

     

     

    Welcome to the
    Taunton University of
    Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
     where ...
    Excellence is its own reward!

  6. john7g | Sep 30, 2007 02:36pm | #10

    What kind of turbine, Stan?

    I have a 'little' aircraft experience.  Hope you've figured the numbers on the turbine maintenance.  AD compliance (if it ever becoems an issue) on the turbines usually cost a whole lot more than any piston related ADs. 

  7. User avater
    jonblakemore | Sep 30, 2007 08:59pm | #18

    You said you can commute more easily.

    Can you legally land a helicopter anywhere? I think I remember you saying that you were supposed take off and land at an airport with your gyro to keep in compliance with the FAA.

    Or is the helicopter just faster so you can cover more distance?

     

    Jon Blakemore

    RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

    1. CAGIV | Oct 01, 2007 12:55am | #21

      Not sure how it works in IL, however my boss has a pilots lic.  Most small airports around me have a courtesy car.  Fly in, borrow the car for free, bring it back when you're done.  Some charge a small fee for fuel, others ask you to fill the car up before you take it back.

      A few airports we've flown into just throw you the keys and you go, no paperwork or hold up.

       

      1. Hudson Valley Carpenter | Oct 01, 2007 02:09am | #22

        Most small airports around me have a courtesy car.  Fly in, borrow the car for free, bring it back when you're done.  Some charge a small fee for fuel, others ask you to fill the car up before you take it back.

        It's always nice to find a courtesy car available for local transportation but it's not as common a practice as you've encountered, flying with your boss.  It may be that he knows which local airports have them on hand. 

        Then too, they don't usually offer the car until you refuel your airplane.  Operating a small private airport is mostly a labor of love, not a great career move. 

        I've always carried a bike in my planes.  That allows me to drop in any place that interests me and make a more intimate connection with the environment while getting the blood flowing after sitting for an hour or more. 

        Not using four wheel vehicles makes the whole day more refreshing, just by avoiding the many mundane associative thoughts which arise while driving a car.

        Edited 9/30/2007 7:11 pm ET by Hudson Valley Carpenter

        1. StanFoster | Oct 01, 2007 02:56am | #23

          Several questions here.   First...I do have  a license and do need one to fly what I had.  I will need to get training in a helicopter to fly this next one.  It will just be a single seater....dont forget...I am just a small fry stairbuilder.   The engine is a Solar T-62 T-32 turbine engine.   It will be fresh overhauled with a 1500 hour life.  The worst it will get is a $5000.00 overhaul at that time.

          I think people here are confusing what I am going to fly with some million dollar plus ships.

          I just am slowly working  my way up the rotorcraft food chain and this next step will more than likely be as far as I go.  I am giving up the second seat, but I still have access to another SparrowHawk at my airport for giving my family rides in.  The days of giving passengers joy rides is over because my insurance is going through the roof.  I have given scores of rides and only one has offered to pay.  Its not worth the financial risk.

           

          Stan

    2. JohnT8 | Oct 01, 2007 09:57pm | #26

      Can you legally land a helicopter anywhere?

      We've had 'em land next to the the pond behind our building.  someone coming up for a meeting.  Just out there in the grass with all the goose ####.

      View Imagejt8

      "Those who wish to sing always find a song." -- Swedish Proverb

  8. JohnT8 | Oct 08, 2007 05:58am | #28

    A thread you might find interesting:

    http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=95462.1

     

    jt8

    "Those who wish to sing always find a song." -- Swedish Proverb

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