I thought i'ed tell you folks about my gyro.
its a subject dear to my hart and I have put many hours of work into the thing over the last 5 years...
First off a Gyrocopter,Gyroplane or Autogyro Aircraft or Simply Gyro as they are commonly called
is Not a helicopter... and its not a fixed wing aircraft like a Cestna 185 or so...
it is a blind of the two crafts, it has a Rotor like a helicopter but it takes off and lands like a regular airplane because the Rotor is un powered in flight. the moveing wind makes it spin is all.
My Gyro started out as a Ultralight Bumble bee  but it was wrecked when I got it and everything was appart that could possably come appart ... we found it at a yard sale for $900.00  the rotor was busted and prop missing and a few landing gear struts were missing.
but everything else was there but the main landing wheels.and  there was the all important MANUAL...so we got it ! ...( My Dad actually bought it for me! )
...
over the past 5 years I have built it back into its original configuration, then modified it...wrecked it , repaired it , modified it some more... wrecked it again, repaired it once again and then realy wrecked it good and have repaired it again all but the rotor blades...( i will make new ones when i get the money for meterial.)
...
I have vurtually tought myself to fly the thing ( which is a no no !) and the last time out I actually got the beast off the ground  but was cought by supprize and i wasn't fast enough to keep it from laying over on its side....  I won't make that mistake again !
...
it Is a Rotex 447 powered craft that has a Pre rotator that will spin the rotor up to the bottom edge of flight speed. for fast take offs...
I have tried 4 configurations with the beastie and I am happy with the current configuration as she sits now...  I have just completed makeing mechanical disk breaks for the main landing gear, makeing a 3 bladed ground adjustable pitch Prop and am only waiting for plywood and steel to make the rotor blades I need to fly the thing.
....
the current weight of the craft is between 250 and 275 pounds  that is as close as i can get to being accurate. thats with a full tank of gas.
a legal Ultralight must not weigh more than 254lbs ... but i refuse to sacrafice safty for a stupid law that only harms the person flying the things !  I'm hard headded that way !
...
if I can I'll post a before picture and an after picture...umm when My Kid gets up and shows me HOW to ...

...
I'ed be happy to answer any and all questions.
Bob.......

Bob,

I looked up some pictures of the bumblebee (or gyrobee).  I cannot imagine myself sitting on a chair attached to a single beam!  Give me a cockpit anyday! 

So how are the controls?  Light on the touch?  What's the furthest you've flown with the 'Bee?  What do you enjoy most about the 'Bee?

Is there anyone near you that could give you a few lessons on flying a gyrocopter?  I know that the Wrights & Glen Curtis did it all themselves, but the FAA would take a dim view of you doing it in this day and age!  Probably the EAA could help you find an instructor. 

Besides, I'd miss your posts if you turned yourself and your 'Bee into a pile of kindling! 

Chaunte

You got a good deal as those engines can cost around $4000 alone.  I wanted to build an ultralight about 2 years ago exactly.  I had plans for it and I remember the engine was the most expensive part.  I believe I was either looking at the Rotax 447 or Rotax 503 engines, both which would allow it to stay within the weight confines of the ultralight.  Some people may wonder why you want to keep it within the weight limit.  It's because ultralights don't require you to have a pilot's license or training by law.  Now training is highly recommended, but you don't need to spend a small fortune on getting a license.  I started collecting the necessary tools to build it, but (excuse the pun) the project never got off the ground.  I had started doing some self training with a flight simulator and was pretty good at take off and landing.  The rest of the flying was easy.  It is still something I would like to do in the future, but I am working on myself before that time comes. 

Melissa

Quote from: Chaunte on August 17, 2006, 09:15:48 PM
Bob,

I looked up some pictures of the bumblebee (or gyrobee).  I cannot imagine myself sitting on a chair attached to a single beam!  Give me a cockpit anyday! 

Ahhh its no sobad !<grin> its the bees and grasshoppers that get to ya !

Quote from: Chaunte on August 17, 2006, 09:15:48 PM
So how are the controls?  Light on the touch?  What's the furthest you've flown with the 'Bee?  What do you enjoy most about the 'Bee?

the controls are very touchy it takes a light touch !
when i first got the Bumble bee assembled I took her to a dirt air strip down in the vally ( closed now) and after a few short hops I flew it about 50 feet about 1 foot off the ground.
....
but in that configuration it was a loosie-goosie axident waiting to happen!
so I changed it and made it more solid ... and have only been to the air feild up here on the mountian at 4800asl and that is 90% of my problem...the altitude !  the thing just don't want to get off the ground up here !

Quote from: Chaunte on August 17, 2006, 09:15:48 PM
Is there anyone near you that could give you a few lessons on flying a gyrocopter?  I know that the Wrights & Glen Curtis did it all themselves, but the FAA would take a dim view of you doing it in this day and age!  Probably the EAA could help you find an instructor. 

Besides, I'd miss your posts if you turned yourself and your 'Bee into a pile of kindling! 

Chaunte

  there is only one Gyro instructor on the west coast and he is in Portland or. or Sacrapoose Or.  hehehehe  and at over $150.00 an hour  its way out of my reach financially... and that cost has probly went way up now .
... the FAA went through an over haul a while back and put almost all the gyro instructors out of business and put nothing in their place. i have nothing nice to say about the FAA. they hurt us more than help us !
there is very little chance of me hurting myself with this gyro, contary to popular belief i have wrecked it 3 times and my gyro has only sustained minimal dammage... and I got a bit or road rash on my arm once but thats all.
but i take it as a life and death matter and have studied well and practiced till i am blue in the face and practiced some more.... thats what it takes...
detication ! know how the craft handles before you get it off the ground !
I recomend anyone makeing a gyro to get formal instructions , but i simply cannot afford them , it was said that the amount of money i put out in repairs would have paid the instructor already but this is not true as I repair for zero to aprox. $30.00 ... each time ... though this last time i will need new rotors as they were un repairable so about $100.00 this last time .... and i'll have enough meterial for 4 rotor blades ! HEHEHEHE
....
  What i like most about the gyro is what i have read, the thought of flying along intregues me to no end  its menoverability should be Awesom and able to do no roll landings easy and take off in 50 to 75 foot ... thats purdy hard to compair with anything and still fly in moderate winds.
....
oh here is the pics....
one when I first got it togather... the other one is just about 2 seconds before it crashed !  ...
Bob........


Image 1 -- 691kb
Image 2 -- 164kb




Posted at: August 17, 2006, 09:56:22 PM

---

Well Melissa don't stop now ! <grin>
the gyrobee is probly the best bet when it comes to an Ultralight gyrocopter
the plans are available on the net and free to down load.
its a proven design and there are many out there flying today.
I would like to Design one similar to the gyrobee except make it a truly CLT machine, which the Gryobee is not. CLT means Center line thrust. and is a good safty factor in gyrocopters... if I do ever get arround to designing one thats what it will be... and i will make it available to all for the love of the sport....
  as it is Now I have changed my Gyro so much you can't call it a Bumble bee any more... its bigger higher off the ground  closer to a CLT than it ever was... solid handleing on the ground  and in general a neet little doo-gizzy!
I have no doubt in my mind at all now that i found a major problem in my gyro when I was repairing the gyro after the last crash... and strangely enough i checked that aspect of it many times to be sure it was correct. but alas I checked it against the mast and i forgot that i had tilted the mast back and that changed everything... so now with the rotor head angle correct
i have no fear it will fly at all... weather or not I can fly it is something else alltogather ! <GRIN>
but i know the machine will work and before i wasn't truly positive, now i am !  so that helps alot.
Chaunti you mentioned the gas prices as a deturrant.. and this is true but i use regular gasoline from the car pumps and add 2 cycle oil to the gasoline to make my fuel for the Rotex at a 50:1 mixing ratio.
...but at todays gas prices i can't even afford to ride my motorcycle as it takes over $10.00 to fill the gas tank on my bike ! ... that is rediculas !
I suppose it wouldn't be so bad if the income would have raised with the Cost of the gas but it hasn't !  infact the cost of everything has gone up dramatically in the past 3 years... everything has gone up but the income !
...oh well such is life ! <grin>
I have studied the Benson Manual till i know it almost by hart it is about the only way to be self taught when it comes to gyros , and even then it is still not Wize....
aircraft have alwayse been a favorite of mine ,and I hope alwayse will be
I have also started to build a strap on your back helicopter. and there is only about 4 in the entire world that are actually flying today.
I call it my CopterPack and I have the counter rotateing rotors already made and on the frame and even the gearing on it. but I lack a suteable engine to operate the thing... so I am on the look out for a 250cc to 350cc 2cycle motorcycle engine that i can use to power the thing ! HAHAHAHAHHA
... anyway, I can make or repair just about anything as long as i have the desire to do so ! ....  but Toys ain't all that is important in life.
and you can alwayse get the toys later !  getting your Head screwed on right is far more important than any possession ! ...I know because I think my head is cross thredded ! cuz it gives me truble sometimes ! HEHEHEHEH
c ya !
Bob.......

Well, my next goal is to save for SRS, so that comes before any ultralight.

Melissa

Well I understand that !
that is slightly more important ! <grin>
However , start now in gathering up the information it takes years to learn all the in's and out's of a gyro and you will be realy ready when you do begin !
there are a few ladys flying gyros on "Rotory wing forem" so you'ed be in good company... just have the fire burning in the back ground if you can afford the distraction...that way its easier to fan it into a flame later ! <GRIN>
.... never give up on your dreams !
Bob.......

I can't argue; she does look pretty!  And for $900, I would have bought the aircraft as well.  I know the cockpit thing is just my own personal fear of falling out of the aircraft!  I had the same thought then I saw pictues of the Flying Rail or the now defuncked TEAM Skycycle.  (Picture a cross between a motorcycle and an airplane.  It was something that could have come out of American Chopper!)

The second image set my hair straight up and I think I ground 3mm off my teeth!  I can hear the rotor blades shattering on the runway!  brrrrrrrrr!  Were you hurt?  What caused the roll over? 

I know how sluggish Sundowners and Skyhawks can be in the air at 4,800 msl.  No wonder you need the spool up for take-off!  Can you get rotor blades that will work better at your altitude? 

This is the sort of gyro I thought would be fun to build/fly.  http://www.rotaryairforce.com/  At least it's got a cockpit for my little-ole' nerves! 

Chaunte

I'm sure you must have seen this sometime in the past, but I wanted to repost it for everyone's enjoyment. 

The 33 Biggest Lies in Aviation:
1. I'm from the FAA and I'm here to help you.
2. Me? I've never busted minimums.
3. We will be on time, maybe even early.
4. Pardon me, ma'am, I seem to have lost my jet keys.
5. I have no interest in flying for the airlines.
6. I fixed it right the first time, it must have failed for other reasons.
7. All that turbulence spoiled my landing.
8. I'm a member of the mile high club.
9. I only need glasses for reading.
10. I broke out right at minimums.
11. The weather is gonna be alright; it's clearing to VFR.
12. Don't worry about the weight and balance -- it'll fly.
13. If we get a little lower I think we'll see the lights.
14. I'm 22, got 6000 hours, a four year degree and 3000 hours in a Lear.
15. We shipped the part yesterday.
16. I'd love to have a woman co-pilot.
17. All you have to do is follow the book.
18. This plane outperforms the book by 20 percent.
19. We in aviation are overpaid, underworked and well respected.
20. Oh sure, no problem, I've got over 2000 hours in that aircraft.
21. I have 5000 hours total time, 3200 are actual instrument.
22. No need to look that up, I've got it all memorized.
23. Sure I can fly it -- it has wings, doesn't it?
24. We'll be home by lunchtime.
25. Your plane will be ready by 2 o'clock.
26. I'm always glad to see the FAA.
27. We fly every day -- we don't need recurrent training.
28. It just came out of annual -- how could anything be wrong?
29. I thought YOU took care of that.
30. I've got the field in sight.
31. I've got the traffic in sight.
32. Of course I know where we are.
33. I'm SURE the gear was down.

Bob,

Looks like you got a great deal of that gyrocopter at only $900.00.  It looks pretty good.  I am a licensed aircraft mechanic and I helped restore and assemble an early 1930's Kellett autogyro for a museum last year.  It sounds like the density altitude at your airfield may be your enemy.  Changing the blade design and making them a wider profile may help some.  You need to find a design that maximizes lift to the fullest to overcome that density altitude you have at your field.  Might be able to find a good set of blades already manufactured from Aircraft Spruce and Specialty Company.  I recommend checking them out.  A good friend of mine is a CFI and he could check you out in your gyro.  He has flown all kinds of ultralights and has checked out many pilots on them, but he lives here in Ohio.  I think he charges around $100.00 an hour.  Let me know if you are interested.  I have to admit he is not the easiest guy to get a hold of.   

Chaunte,

Your list forgot to mention one.  "Excuse me Ma'am, I forgot to bring my bottle of propwash."  Lol!    

Shannon