I'm curious what is meant by dark side. What was on the light side you switched from? Helicopter or fixed wing? Do people look at these negatively on the light side?
A throwback reference to Star Wars. I flew trikes, but friends of mine that fly either trikes or fixed wing consider gyros to be some sort of voodoo machines. @@timlong1462
As long as the engines thrust-line is below the loaded center of gravity, they are very stable and forgiving. When the engine thrust line is placed above the CG however, they become unstable and unpredictable in turbulence, because the rotor thrust line must counter the propeller thrust line to keep the engine from pushing the nose down. The problem in rough air, is like any other wing, the thrust created by the rotary wing is a factor of loading, and the wing load is unpredictable flying thru turbulence. If you unload the wing and reduce rotor thrust, a high thrust line machine pitches nose down, further unloading the rotor, causing more nose down pitch ect... If you are unable to remove the engine thrust fast enough, this causes an unrecoverable pitch-over or “bunt” and the aircraft tumbles out of the sky, with the main rotor usually deflecting far enough to cut off the tail. This can develop in less than a second, leaving a smoking hole where the aircraft impacted and part of the tail elsewhere. Anyone who has reviewed gyro accidents will recognize this description… when the thrust-line is below the CG, the rotor thrust must be behind the CG to counter it. When you fly thru turbulence and unload the rotor, the engine thrust will pitch the nose up and reload the rotor(self stabilizing). what brought this issue about were people with a lack of understanding, modifying the simple and relatively safe low power single seat Benson configuration into a product that the market was looking for with 2 seats and more power. More power/more thrust = larger prop = raising the engine thrust-line. They did this but failed to raise the passengers and fuel to keep the CG in line with the engine thrust, setting up a scenario that if the rotor unloads or you pushover with power applied, it tumbles out of the sky… The quick check for this is in level flight at cruise power, rapidly apply full throttle. If the nose pitches down you are in a high thrust-line machine. If it stays put or pitches up, you are in a far safer and more stable center or low thrust-line machine. There is some debate as to how much of a high thrust line is truly dangerous. But having flown in several of both types over the years, and having lost a friend to a pushover accident in his 2 seat high thrust-line machine I had flown with him in, I can say that the centerline/low thrust-line is far more stable and enjoyable to fly, especially in bumpy air. If I had a high thrust-line machine, I would ground it until it could be reconfigured to centerline thrust…
@@BjFoley They are expensive. I certainly can't get one of the ones featured in the video at this time, but they're not a lot more than a fully loaded pickup truck or a Corvette. I've seen cheaper gyro's. I even found one for $23k used, but I personally don't want to fly one that's just tubes stuck together and some wires for tension...
@@jameswalker590this is one with sticks. It just also has a heavy pod on it. The wire isnt needed unless its a gyroglider (towed). The wire took the trust from tow rope directly to head. Bo needed on powered. because in the early days you built and learned first without engine people just left the cable on. Nothing wrong with open frame just cold in winter.
Thanks for your words, very deep and quite technically clear. Usually people think than gyros are very safe, but really there is always some dark thing..
The tip of the rotor wing at flying rotation will have a velocity of around 400mph, so a wind of 35mph is less than 10% of its energy - that is why the rotor is less effected by wind. The fuselage is more effected, which is why it is preferable to take off and land into wind when possible.
WOW! That was amazing!! I saw the airport from the road as we drove up the road to Hannah... It was such an awesome trip for us, I can't imagine it from the air... ❤
I personally would have to go with like a mosquito helicopter, because the only thing bad with those gyrocopters is you have to land them like an airplane. It's all personal preference and what you need for your use
Thank you for that 😄. I have been interested in gyrocopters ever since I saw my first Bensen gyrocopter! As a teen I bought a set of plans, but it never happened. Now being seventy, it can only be on my bucket list to get a ride in one. THANX.
and if you turn it into the wind you can get super close to a "hover" it really is the best of all worlds especially flying low over the Florida plains between the palms.
You should try it in a lighter gyro. These modern machines are chasing their tail many of these are around 265-300kg empty they need to bigger rotax to approach the performance of the old light gyros. With 35mph wind in the older machine you would have been airbourne without moving. Many of the older gyros had a best LD of 30-35mph would have taken off vertically. I remember in my old direct drive VW Bensen derived machine taking off in 25-30mph winds. I had 1 m ground roll before becoming airborne taking off across the strip directly and landing vertically from 5 feet in again across the strip. Every fixed wing was grounded. The modern machines like this are pretty and nice and comfy but are about 100kg over weight. We used to fly dual machines with rotax 582 and 583's. Those machines were closer to 130kg empty weight. The more weight you pile on the bigger the rotors needed, the wider the rotors, the longer it takes to get off etc. So they just use bigger and bigger engines. That stick shake and frame shake is unacceptable by the way. You can get much smoother. Compare this performance to Wallis in his little 116kg machine (still with a pre-rotator, 3 wheeled brakes, rotor brake etc). th-cam.com/video/TkSdn26d0Iw/w-d-xo.html 9 minutes is his take off and this is no where near 35mph winds. That machine could be also flown tandem (but only with a passanger) the white seat back can be removed and you'll notice foot stirrups on the keel although not with dual controls but all that with only 20 ft 6 inch rotors. Weight guys someone PLEASE build a two seater that's actually light!
I always loved the gyro ever since i saw it on the bond film , i spoke to guy you mentioned at bletchley park where he was sitting next to his gyro ( yea the one that was in the film ), lovely guy.
Some companies are coming out with additional fixed wing built into the fuselage, they look like small fighter jets with the rotor blade on top. They get 30-40% lift from the added fixed wing thus the rotor blade power is reduced making it not only safer but more fuel efficient.
@@SirDrifto Checkout the Tensor 600-X it will be what everyone will be going to during the next 20-30 years until they'll solve the battery power problem for drone style aircraft where they need 2 hrs flight time, 2 hrs is the length needed for family flight before folks will need to land, take a bathroom break, travel break, get snacks etc. The 600-X will provide extra safety feature of the lower fixed wing which will provide 30-40% of the lift during cruising speeds and more energy efficient as the rotors speed can be reduced during those cruising speeds, thus you won't have to maintain a certain blade rotation. Eventually drone aircraft vehicles will then start coming in competing with modern gyrocopters. Will see the family of drone aircraft coming in heavy by 2050 with battery problems solved by then for 2hrs flight time. Also in which they'll be a electrical plug ins everywhere at travel point destinations just like gas stations for cars. I still believe 50% of buyers will stay with their modern gyrocopter as the main rotor will have separate power source and be capable of "jump take offs" as they'll be more fuel efficient that the 2hr drones, I believe the drones which will operate on powerful batteries will have safety issues at first and be prone to catching fire, thus it will set back public confidence in the family drone aircraft. The Tensor 600-X looks similar to the gyrocopter you piloted in your video. It's featured in this video here th-cam.com/video/tQ_D1IxwgtM/w-d-xo.html
Would I fly a gyrocopter? I do and I no longer have a desire to fly anything else. They are incredibly capable machines despite their size and weight. We can fly in wind conditions which have pretty much everything else at our airfield tied down and grounded.
@@BrianWilliamsInspires - Typical? I can't be sure of that as different models may have different limits, but for my MTO Sport, the POH states 20kts. However, that can very easily be mitigated by flying parallel to the runway, slightly downwind of it, then turning in at the last moment and landing across the runway. Unlike fixed-wing aircraft, there is essentially no roll-out.
It's for good reason ! I developed an interest in gyros a few years ago, I even have a friend who bought one. Today, I understand why these aircraft have never been commercially exploited. They are slow, noisy, consume a lot and their only advantage is to land short. But many planes land just as short while having none of the disadvantages of gyros... and they take off much shorter !
@@vzmax That's true of the modern vastly overweight machines like this. I'd agree with you on these look at this machine however th-cam.com/video/TkSdn26d0Iw/w-d-xo.html Yes that was noisy but his 100hp Rolls version was as quite as any powered by that engine th-cam.com/video/RQMImcbbI_Y/w-d-xo.html took off almost in as little room. Modern re-drive rotaxes are quite enough its just gyros are there longer than other aircraft. Modern gyros don't take off short because they are too damn heavy my old direct drive VW gyro could have gotten off in those conditions vertically. Here's a typical take off of a light gyro - note this one is being hand wound in next to no wind. th-cam.com/video/36ogAzGGyG4/w-d-xo.html not many aircraft can get off that quick the key here is short rotors (which get to speed in less room and lower airspeeds) and a light machine. This is a rotax 503. His instructor and mine had an identical machine and it had 20ft rotors. (these were 22ft). Wallis in the videos above were 20 ft 6 inch. You are right if you want to go anywhere fast a gyro is not for you. They can safely go to about 80mph for an open machine (although I know guys who flew those to 100mph all day), Wallis shown above in one of his record breaking machines with only 19ft rotors did 130mph safely (but it had adjustable stab and canards to keep the keel level at high speeds and an in flight adjustable offset head). But cross country in a gyro? Why? There is nothing to do they are so damn stable that for me flying with ultralight buddies I'd be flying hands and feet off dangling them aimlessly in the air while they were bouncing all over the sky actively flying I couldn't even feel the bumps they were feeling at that time of the morning they were restricted to flying too. For me cross country was point in a direction and do nothing for 15 minutes (because my gyro flew itself) and then turn and point in another direction. Gyros are so light and responsive that matching my ultralight mates turns didn't even require any visible movement of the stick just pressure and a little rudder then back to kicking air and playing with turning by sticking a one hand at a time into the airflow. I couldn't have been more bored. When he'd land 45 minutes latter I'd go off and practice following windy creeks (at a safe height) doing some vertical descents side slips and such like so I could land feeling like I'd actually done something. These guys will do a cross country in comfy heated seats, they often have every instrument known to man (I had ASI, ALT, oil temp and pressure and a wool string). The average gyro back then cost around $6000 - $10 000 to build a second hand one about the same. Even the kits like aircommand were only about $12000 these machines will set you back between $80 000 (for a cheap one) to $250 000. For that money I''d be right there with you buy a Rans 9 and have a machine that can go places if thats what you are going to do. But give me a 115kg gyro that I can take off the blades in 5 minutes by hand (without using some form of light crane) stick on a trailer in another 10 minutes and store in my garage I'll happily drive a few hours to a new flying spot explore that and go home in almost any conditions - no hanger fees cheap to operate and own. These guys gain all the expense and bother, can't easily transport or set up so almost all end up hangering them and the 100mph speed limit on most means even if cross country flying your range is still limited so you will end up in a 2 or 3 hour circle of you home strip. Put a pod on a light machine like Wallis's and you'll fly just as far and as fast. But yes going places get a fixed wing. But cross country is boring. People do it in planes because doing what you can in a gyro is unsafe. Low slow and highly manuverable is what gyros do best, but only the light ones. This is extrememly on edge particularly the loops and down low stuff which is mad in my opinion but it shows what they can actually do. Try anything within 50% of this in anything but an genuinely aerobatic aircraft and consider that that machine is probably less the $20 000 to build. th-cam.com/video/4jQe238K2es/w-d-xo.html Now again don't recommend some of these positive g manouvers are perfectly safe at height (well all were positive g or he'd be dead but those not risking going negative like the loops and rolls) but this guy is clearly very skilled but also very foolhardy a slight hickup of the engine that close to the ground with rotors 5 feet off the ground and he'd roll it into a tidy ball at 90mph with ZERO chance of survival. But those turns at 100ft perfectly safe. Thats because a gyro can't stall (if positively loaded) and pull any more than 2.5 g and it will just mush into it as the blades in autorotation will just refuse to spin above a certain rpm meaning you can't overload them as you can in a chopper or a fixed wing. So if you minused the upside down bits and the low bits its actually within safe margins. But again I don't recommend. So in summary. Modern 100kg overweight gyros yes completely agree. Older and or lighter gyros can be flown with as little as 38hp take off quicker than most aircraft (not powered hang gliders) land literally on the spot or with a m ground roll (if you know what you are doing you can land on the spot every time even in still air - but its more agressive you need to come in steep and haul up at the last second). They can descend vertically all the way to the ground (although you'll smash it up you'll walk away) so engine failures are just nose down to keep it at speed and land normally in feet. Modern (heavy) gyros can only do this in 10-15mph winds. gyros can't stall or spin (you can make them spin vertically but you are in full control) And they cost about 10x as much as the lighter machines. Your problem was not gyros but that you are interested in gyros at a time when only a couple of types are available that are a reasonable weight. Most are WAY too heavy. Look at the Nano. th-cam.com/video/0DF2t6-Hpik/w-d-xo.html this is heading back in the right direction. No idea of cost, also note it sits on the tail until a pilot is in it. This means the wheel position is correct too much nose weight delays take off by a HUGE amount as you can't get the blades back. Again tell me how many aircraft can get off that quick? Yes this is in a head wind but not 35mph wind like the video here. Its blades are too long at least for the 50hp version possibly the 38hp version might need lower wing loading. anyway gyros are cool but not all gyros.
I cannot confirm that there are used a lot for mustering operations in Australia (because this would be illegal). This guy is one of Australia's most experienced pilots he (in theory) could have gained this level of experience mustering as its the type of skills required and the gyros are certainly capable of this if not massively overweight. th-cam.com/video/IR54spHT46Q/w-d-xo.html I neither confirm or deny if he gained this level of experience mustering. It is perfectly legal to help out your mates mustering if your mates own a property and you have permission to fly on it. Its just illegal to charge for it. You would need to have all sorts of CASA regulations in place. But (in theory just for the exercise) if you compared the operating cost of a gyro which could be built for $12 000 even today running in this case a Subaru motor with re-drive. That's about $10 000 less than just the cheapest 4 stroke rotax to a R22 chopper is close to 1/4 million AU and about $500. hour run costs a gyro drinking 12 liters of fuel an hour on a car engine comes in let's just say a mustering pilot in a gyro if he were so foolish as to break the law (and risk being caught by police) 8 hours drive away from the nearest authority you could (in theory) charge say $250/hour at least and the farmer if so inclined to employ an non commercially rated pilot flying an uncertified for commercial use gyroplane at literally half the cost of the hourly rate of the chopper let alone a pilot. In fact if he were to buy such a gyro himself and learn to fly it he could save even more money while mustering with such a machine. Not that anyone in Australia has ever mustered with gyro other than recreationally (I once mustered some Ibis for a couple of minutes). But they could in theory muster just as well as a chopper as Wofie demonstrates here with the sort of skills I'd image a gyro pilot with thousands of hours spend mustering cattle would have and you might even fit a bunch or airhorns to get stubborn cattle moving or you might as Wolfie has done just fit them fun to toot to family and friends.
Back in the mid eighties I helped a friend driving his pick up towing a tethered(motor less) gyro while he took people up for the length of the runway. I had a ride, basically a garden bench hanging from the rotor...once the panic subsided great fun though possibly modern health and safetyguys might have to look away. He had his own powered gyro and it could put a STOL to shame...sadly he died before GoPro's had been invented
That little button is for the prerotation, not autorotation. It is the only time that the engine drives the rotor. Autorotation is when the airflow drives the rotor.
I’ve always wondered about these bad crosswind landings because basically a gyrocopter is capable of coming almost straight down and into a strong headwind should be able to basically fly sitting still almost. My point is in this crosswind situation why not just turn sideways over the runway and basically come straight down, using only the width of the runway to land on because that’s all you need. I’m not a pilot although my dad is and I’ve taken some ground air courses so I have some understanding but it just seems like to do as I suggested would take a lot of a lot of risk out of it. The other thing that gets me is the mechanism involved to bring the rotor up to speed. Sounds like fingernails on chalkboard especially if you’re a mechanical person. I’ve seen most of these up close and they’re actually physical hard gears. It seems like it would be the perfect application for a belt of some sort. Belts are so simple yet convert energy so smoothly and quietly. A little short lived slippage as a clutch action is why they were invented.
If you feel safe without a helmet then goodluck. I always fly with a helmet because concussion kills. A roll over may be a slim chance event but it does happen
From a presentation point of view, at the start of your video we could not see your faces until you walked around the gyro … a small point but worth remembering.
I wish these were more comfortable for longer rides. I thought the Cavalon was SO cool looking and was attracted to the idea of being able to safely land if engine fails and the ability to fly in windy weather BUT then I took a demo ride in one... The vibration through the seat felt like sitting on a small jack hammer and the vibration through the stick was like holding an out-of-balance power tool. I also thought it was quite loud in the cabin for such a high-end model. After 40min I was done and that's why I decided not to purchase. Loved every other facet of the machine. What a shame. They really need to design vibration isolation into the seats and controls.
That's because it was not balanced properly. I urge you to fly in another one that is balanced and you won't have that issue. Be careful you might decide to buy one then.😁
How is performance at higher altitudes? I live at 6000 feet, in the foothills of the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. The mountains at my backdoor go up to 14,000 feet. It would be nice to tour the mountains, maybe cross at about 11,000 feet over to Jackson Hole.
I want to see a twin engine jet gyro......Like a Cri-Cri......With the engines pylon mounted well forward....... This would be, essentially, a tractor-gyro.
@@SirDrifto - Yer one of the first people to ever say I'm not dumb. Hahaha.. I've been thinking about learning to fly auto-gyro for a long time. Old private pilot here..Cheers!
About a year ago I flew an AutoGyro Cavalon on an intro flight at the dealer on the Petaluma, CA, airport. Talk about FUN! Here's a short video I shot with my phone while the other pilot was flying. th-cam.com/video/EOwjM-7B2-k/w-d-xo.html
I would love to go up fly there, last time I was a boy my mom have a friend with a guy take us fly up beautiful out there all my life dreamed this but never happen anyway. good share for your video.
I am considering building myself a gyrocopter, as I own 10 acres of pasture… good enough to operate from my backyard, no? Would you have a 2-seater kit to recommend?
Rotax has been producing aircraft engines for decades-not years haha. The 912 launched in 1989 and there’s been a long history of refinement and reliability enhancements.
No one ever gives an out the door price ... or really any price. Are they so expensive that they are not worth mentioning? Who makes it and do they have a website with pricing, please? Enjoyed the video!!
I've always been afraid of rotorcraft, the mechanism of bearings and movable elements is too complex, if at least one element fails and you're dead, there's nothing more reliable than an ordinary wing
@@JLang-bn3hs I feel the crosswind capability from a safety stand point was far superior to a fixed wing. No way I could put a cub down in the winds we were flying without compromising safety where as this gyro went through the cross wind like it wasn't there. That's why it's better in some ways and not so much in others.
@@SirDrifto I witnessed one of these being destroyed in a crash and was one of the first on the scene. The pilot lived but got beat all to hell. He was doing touch and goes in crosswind.
Sorry,I had to shut down your video because of the wind noise across the mic. Need to muffle or foam cove the mic . I love gyro copters,would to watch it again. If you watch your video you’ll hear what I’ve explained . Thanks
Your history about gyrocopters is not correct. Juan de la Cierva, a Spanish engineer, was the inventor of the gyrocopter, in 1920, and he once landed one on the White House lawn. Ken Wallis was a designer who became popular because of his global exposure in the James Bond Movie, You Only Live Twice but another contemporary designer of the flying chair was Bensen.
Loved it!! For some reason I’ve always wanted a gyrocopter. I just think they are the coolest aircraft out there!!
I totally agree!
@@SirDrifto>>> Since I first saw the Bond film *YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE* on TV decades ago, I have loved Gyroplanes.
They are!!
not for me. have fun
Love my Gyro - converted to the dark side two years ago now. Never looking back!
“Dark side”. Lol 😂
Is nil wind a problem for takeoff and landing, and any wind speed limitations by weather?
I'm curious what is meant by dark side. What was on the light side you switched from? Helicopter or fixed wing? Do people look at these negatively on the light side?
A throwback reference to Star Wars. I flew trikes, but friends of mine that fly either trikes or fixed wing consider gyros to be some sort of voodoo machines. @@timlong1462
“But ‘Gyrocopter’ is a peaceful planet, we have no powered rotors…”
As long as the engines thrust-line is below the loaded center of gravity, they are very stable and forgiving. When the engine thrust line is placed above the CG however, they become unstable and unpredictable in turbulence, because the rotor thrust line must counter the propeller thrust line to keep the engine from pushing the nose down. The problem in rough air, is like any other wing, the thrust created by the rotary wing is a factor of loading, and the wing load is unpredictable flying thru turbulence. If you unload the wing and reduce rotor thrust, a high thrust line machine pitches nose down, further unloading the rotor, causing more nose down pitch ect... If you are unable to remove the engine thrust fast enough, this causes an unrecoverable pitch-over or “bunt” and the aircraft tumbles out of the sky, with the main rotor usually deflecting far enough to cut off the tail. This can develop in less than a second, leaving a smoking hole where the aircraft impacted and part of the tail elsewhere. Anyone who has reviewed gyro accidents will recognize this description…
when the thrust-line is below the CG, the rotor thrust must be behind the CG to counter it. When you fly thru turbulence and unload the rotor, the engine thrust will pitch the nose up and reload the rotor(self stabilizing).
what brought this issue about were people with a lack of understanding, modifying the simple and relatively safe low power single seat Benson configuration into a product that the market was looking for with 2 seats and more power. More power/more thrust = larger prop = raising the engine thrust-line. They did this but failed to raise the passengers and fuel to keep the CG in line with the engine thrust, setting up a scenario that if the rotor unloads or you pushover with power applied, it tumbles out of the sky…
The quick check for this is in level flight at cruise power, rapidly apply full throttle. If the nose pitches down you are in a high thrust-line machine. If it stays put or pitches up, you are in a far safer and more stable center or low thrust-line machine. There is some debate as to how much of a high thrust line is truly dangerous. But having flown in several of both types over the years, and having lost a friend to a pushover accident in his 2 seat high thrust-line machine I had flown with him in, I can say that the centerline/low thrust-line is far more stable and enjoyable to fly, especially in bumpy air. If I had a high thrust-line machine, I would ground it until it could be reconfigured to centerline thrust…
Awsome knowledge great advice
Just another Rich man toy
@@BjFoley They are expensive. I certainly can't get one of the ones featured in the video at this time, but they're not a lot more than a fully loaded pickup truck or a Corvette. I've seen cheaper gyro's. I even found one for $23k used, but I personally don't want to fly one that's just tubes stuck together and some wires for tension...
@@jameswalker590this is one with sticks. It just also has a heavy pod on it. The wire isnt needed unless its a gyroglider (towed). The wire took the trust from tow rope directly to head. Bo needed on powered. because in the early days you built and learned first without engine people just left the cable on. Nothing wrong with open frame just cold in winter.
Thanks for your words, very deep and quite technically clear. Usually people think than gyros are very safe, but really there is always some dark thing..
Amazing flight, breathtaking location and great description of how to operate a gyro.
Thank you!
The tip of the rotor wing at flying rotation will have a velocity of around 400mph, so a wind of 35mph is less than 10% of its energy - that is why the rotor is less effected by wind. The fuselage is more effected, which is why it is preferable to take off and land into wind when possible.
Does it mean, nil wind will affect the takeoff and landing like a paramotor?
@@MahaBali7975yes the take off will be longer. Landing even in still air can be zero ground roll need to be steeper though. More agressive flare.
Flew a Bensen type for years…The engine was always problematic but gyros are inherently fairly safe and a lot of fun to fly…
Absolutely!!!! I don’t have any ratings but I’ve always wanted one of those Cavalon side by side.
I have and it's fun. Was scared the first time because it looks a bit flimsy, but once in the air, it's as stable as a boeing.
WOW! That was amazing!! I saw the airport from the road as we drove up the road to Hannah... It was such an awesome trip for us, I can't imagine it from the air... ❤
Thanks buddy! It's a gorgeous location.
I didn't know gyrocopters were great in gusty conditions. Makes sense. More days to fly!
I personally would have to go with like a mosquito helicopter, because the only thing bad with those gyrocopters is you have to land them like an airplane. It's all personal preference and what you need for your use
Sir Drifto, that's one of the best videos you have ever done . The detail you covered was very interesting. I look forward to the next one
Thank you sir!
Thank you for that 😄.
I have been interested in gyrocopters ever since I saw my first Bensen gyrocopter!
As a teen I bought a set of plans, but it never happened.
Now being seventy, it can only be on my bucket list to get a ride in one.
THANX.
and if you turn it into the wind you can get super close to a "hover" it really is the best of all worlds especially flying low over the Florida plains between the palms.
That’s a great point
Fantastic experience with beautiful surrondings and a great instructor, what else can one ask for?! Thanks for sharing.
You should try it in a lighter gyro. These modern machines are chasing their tail many of these are around 265-300kg empty they need to bigger rotax to approach the performance of the old light gyros. With 35mph wind in the older machine you would have been airbourne without moving. Many of the older gyros had a best LD of 30-35mph would have taken off vertically. I remember in my old direct drive VW Bensen derived machine taking off in 25-30mph winds. I had 1 m ground roll before becoming airborne taking off across the strip directly and landing vertically from 5 feet in again across the strip. Every fixed wing was grounded.
The modern machines like this are pretty and nice and comfy but are about 100kg over weight. We used to fly dual machines with rotax 582 and 583's. Those machines were closer to 130kg empty weight. The more weight you pile on the bigger the rotors needed, the wider the rotors, the longer it takes to get off etc. So they just use bigger and bigger engines. That stick shake and frame shake is unacceptable by the way. You can get much smoother. Compare this performance to Wallis in his little 116kg machine (still with a pre-rotator, 3 wheeled brakes, rotor brake etc). th-cam.com/video/TkSdn26d0Iw/w-d-xo.html 9 minutes is his take off and this is no where near 35mph winds. That machine could be also flown tandem (but only with a passanger) the white seat back can be removed and you'll notice foot stirrups on the keel although not with dual controls but all that with only 20 ft 6 inch rotors. Weight guys someone PLEASE build a two seater that's actually light!
Interests i read ur vommeny. Do still exist light weight models being built ?
@@profiskipinternational4402not many. No two seaters you need to build your own.
I always loved the gyro ever since i saw it on the bond film , i spoke to guy you mentioned at bletchley park where he was sitting next to his gyro ( yea the one that was in the film ), lovely guy.
Some companies are coming out with additional fixed wing built into the fuselage, they look like small fighter jets with the rotor blade on top. They get 30-40% lift from the added fixed wing thus the rotor blade power is reduced making it not only safer but more fuel efficient.
@@snow_tacknives2024 very cool!
@@SirDrifto Checkout the Tensor 600-X it will be what everyone will be going to during the next 20-30 years until they'll solve the battery power problem for drone style aircraft where they need 2 hrs flight time, 2 hrs is the length needed for family flight before folks will need to land, take a bathroom break, travel break, get snacks etc. The 600-X will provide extra safety feature of the lower fixed wing which will provide 30-40% of the lift during cruising speeds and more energy efficient as the rotors speed can be reduced during those cruising speeds, thus you won't have to maintain a certain blade rotation. Eventually drone aircraft vehicles will then start coming in competing with modern gyrocopters. Will see the family of drone aircraft coming in heavy by 2050 with battery problems solved by then for 2hrs flight time. Also in which they'll be a electrical plug ins everywhere at travel point destinations just like gas stations for cars. I still believe 50% of buyers will stay with their modern gyrocopter as the main rotor will have separate power source and be capable of "jump take offs" as they'll be more fuel efficient that the 2hr drones, I believe the drones which will operate on powerful batteries will have safety issues at first and be prone to catching fire, thus it will set back public confidence in the family drone aircraft. The Tensor 600-X looks similar to the gyrocopter you piloted in your video. It's featured in this video here th-cam.com/video/tQ_D1IxwgtM/w-d-xo.html
Would I fly a gyrocopter?
I do and I no longer have a desire to fly anything else. They are incredibly capable machines despite their size and weight. We can fly in wind conditions which have pretty much everything else at our airfield tied down and grounded.
What is the typical cross wind limit of a gyro?
@@BrianWilliamsInspires - Typical? I can't be sure of that as different models may have different limits, but for my MTO Sport, the POH states 20kts. However, that can very easily be mitigated by flying parallel to the runway, slightly downwind of it, then turning in at the last moment and landing across the runway. Unlike fixed-wing aircraft, there is essentially no roll-out.
Very good i starting flying autogyros here in the UK very soon i love these aircraft, Peter 😊
Nice! Would love to fly one again. Such nimble and safe aircraft, really love these machines. Sad that no commercial application was never realised.
It's for good reason !
I developed an interest in gyros a few years ago, I even have a friend who bought one. Today, I understand why these aircraft have never been commercially exploited. They are slow, noisy, consume a lot and their only advantage is to land short. But many planes land just as short while having none of the disadvantages of gyros... and they take off much shorter !
@@vzmax That's true of the modern vastly overweight machines like this. I'd agree with you on these look at this machine however th-cam.com/video/TkSdn26d0Iw/w-d-xo.html Yes that was noisy but his 100hp Rolls version was as quite as any powered by that engine th-cam.com/video/RQMImcbbI_Y/w-d-xo.html took off almost in as little room. Modern re-drive rotaxes are quite enough its just gyros are there longer than other aircraft. Modern gyros don't take off short because they are too damn heavy my old direct drive VW gyro could have gotten off in those conditions vertically. Here's a typical take off of a light gyro - note this one is being hand wound in next to no wind. th-cam.com/video/36ogAzGGyG4/w-d-xo.html not many aircraft can get off that quick the key here is short rotors (which get to speed in less room and lower airspeeds) and a light machine. This is a rotax 503. His instructor and mine had an identical machine and it had 20ft rotors. (these were 22ft). Wallis in the videos above were 20 ft 6 inch.
You are right if you want to go anywhere fast a gyro is not for you. They can safely go to about 80mph for an open machine (although I know guys who flew those to 100mph all day), Wallis shown above in one of his record breaking machines with only 19ft rotors did 130mph safely (but it had adjustable stab and canards to keep the keel level at high speeds and an in flight adjustable offset head). But cross country in a gyro? Why? There is nothing to do they are so damn stable that for me flying with ultralight buddies I'd be flying hands and feet off dangling them aimlessly in the air while they were bouncing all over the sky actively flying I couldn't even feel the bumps they were feeling at that time of the morning they were restricted to flying too. For me cross country was point in a direction and do nothing for 15 minutes (because my gyro flew itself) and then turn and point in another direction. Gyros are so light and responsive that matching my ultralight mates turns didn't even require any visible movement of the stick just pressure and a little rudder then back to kicking air and playing with turning by sticking a one hand at a time into the airflow. I couldn't have been more bored.
When he'd land 45 minutes latter I'd go off and practice following windy creeks (at a safe height) doing some vertical descents side slips and such like so I could land feeling like I'd actually done something. These guys will do a cross country in comfy heated seats, they often have every instrument known to man (I had ASI, ALT, oil temp and pressure and a wool string). The average gyro back then cost around $6000 - $10 000 to build a second hand one about the same. Even the kits like aircommand were only about $12000 these machines will set you back between $80 000 (for a cheap one) to $250 000. For that money I''d be right there with you buy a Rans 9 and have a machine that can go places if thats what you are going to do. But give me a 115kg gyro that I can take off the blades in 5 minutes by hand (without using some form of light crane) stick on a trailer in another 10 minutes and store in my garage I'll happily drive a few hours to a new flying spot explore that and go home in almost any conditions - no hanger fees cheap to operate and own. These guys gain all the expense and bother, can't easily transport or set up so almost all end up hangering them and the 100mph speed limit on most means even if cross country flying your range is still limited so you will end up in a 2 or 3 hour circle of you home strip. Put a pod on a light machine like Wallis's and you'll fly just as far and as fast. But yes going places get a fixed wing. But cross country is boring. People do it in planes because doing what you can in a gyro is unsafe. Low slow and highly manuverable is what gyros do best, but only the light ones. This is extrememly on edge particularly the loops and down low stuff which is mad in my opinion but it shows what they can actually do. Try anything within 50% of this in anything but an genuinely aerobatic aircraft and consider that that machine is probably less the $20 000 to build. th-cam.com/video/4jQe238K2es/w-d-xo.html Now again don't recommend some of these positive g manouvers are perfectly safe at height (well all were positive g or he'd be dead but those not risking going negative like the loops and rolls) but this guy is clearly very skilled but also very foolhardy a slight hickup of the engine that close to the ground with rotors 5 feet off the ground and he'd roll it into a tidy ball at 90mph with ZERO chance of survival. But those turns at 100ft perfectly safe. Thats because a gyro can't stall (if positively loaded) and pull any more than 2.5 g and it will just mush into it as the blades in autorotation will just refuse to spin above a certain rpm meaning you can't overload them as you can in a chopper or a fixed wing. So if you minused the upside down bits and the low bits its actually within safe margins. But again I don't recommend.
So in summary. Modern 100kg overweight gyros yes completely agree.
Older and or lighter gyros can be flown with as little as 38hp take off quicker than most aircraft (not powered hang gliders) land literally on the spot or with a m ground roll (if you know what you are doing you can land on the spot every time even in still air - but its more agressive you need to come in steep and haul up at the last second). They can descend vertically all the way to the ground (although you'll smash it up you'll walk away) so engine failures are just nose down to keep it at speed and land normally in feet. Modern (heavy) gyros can only do this in 10-15mph winds.
gyros can't stall or spin (you can make them spin vertically but you are in full control)
And they cost about 10x as much as the lighter machines.
Your problem was not gyros but that you are interested in gyros at a time when only a couple of types are available that are a reasonable weight. Most are WAY too heavy. Look at the Nano. th-cam.com/video/0DF2t6-Hpik/w-d-xo.html this is heading back in the right direction. No idea of cost, also note it sits on the tail until a pilot is in it. This means the wheel position is correct too much nose weight delays take off by a HUGE amount as you can't get the blades back. Again tell me how many aircraft can get off that quick? Yes this is in a head wind but not 35mph wind like the video here. Its blades are too long at least for the 50hp version possibly the 38hp version might need lower wing loading. anyway gyros are cool but not all gyros.
I cannot confirm that there are used a lot for mustering operations in Australia (because this would be illegal). This guy is one of Australia's most experienced pilots he (in theory) could have gained this level of experience mustering as its the type of skills required and the gyros are certainly capable of this if not massively overweight. th-cam.com/video/IR54spHT46Q/w-d-xo.html I neither confirm or deny if he gained this level of experience mustering. It is perfectly legal to help out your mates mustering if your mates own a property and you have permission to fly on it. Its just illegal to charge for it. You would need to have all sorts of CASA regulations in place.
But (in theory just for the exercise) if you compared the operating cost of a gyro which could be built for $12 000 even today running in this case a Subaru motor with re-drive. That's about $10 000 less than just the cheapest 4 stroke rotax to a R22 chopper is close to 1/4 million AU and about $500. hour run costs a gyro drinking 12 liters of fuel an hour on a car engine comes in let's just say a mustering pilot in a gyro if he were so foolish as to break the law (and risk being caught by police) 8 hours drive away from the nearest authority you could (in theory) charge say $250/hour at least and the farmer if so inclined to employ an non commercially rated pilot flying an uncertified for commercial use gyroplane at literally half the cost of the hourly rate of the chopper let alone a pilot.
In fact if he were to buy such a gyro himself and learn to fly it he could save even more money while mustering with such a machine. Not that anyone in Australia has ever mustered with gyro other than recreationally (I once mustered some Ibis for a couple of minutes). But they could in theory muster just as well as a chopper as Wofie demonstrates here with the sort of skills I'd image a gyro pilot with thousands of hours spend mustering cattle would have and you might even fit a bunch or airhorns to get stubborn cattle moving or you might as Wolfie has done just fit them fun to toot to family and friends.
@@cameronlapworth2284
Thank you for all these language precautions, it was funny to read ! 😉
@@vzmax no worries. They have limited commercial applications but are tremendous fun.
this was a ride of pure joy for me
That was 'amazing'. Thanks for the video. Always liked gyro-copters, they seem to defy physics. Armin is living the life...
Would I fly one? Sure but I'd much prefer in an airplane or helicopter. Thanks for sharing.
Back in the mid eighties I helped a friend driving his pick up towing a tethered(motor less) gyro while he took people up for the length of the runway. I had a ride, basically a garden bench hanging from the rotor...once the panic subsided great fun though possibly modern health and safetyguys might have to look away.
He had his own powered gyro and it could put a STOL to shame...sadly he died before GoPro's had been invented
I tell everyonecopen cockpit gyro flying is like ridinf a motorcycle in the sky. So maneuverable and a blast to fly low and fast.
Most baseball caps worn like that in a gyro end up going through the prop at some point!
That little button is for the prerotation, not autorotation. It is the only time that the engine drives the rotor.
Autorotation is when the airflow drives the rotor.
super video! I now want one...
I’ve always wondered about these bad crosswind landings because basically a gyrocopter is capable of coming almost straight down and into a strong headwind should be able to basically fly sitting still almost. My point is in this crosswind situation why not just turn sideways over the runway and basically come straight down, using only the width of the runway to land on because that’s all you need. I’m not a pilot although my dad is and I’ve taken some ground air courses so I have some understanding but it just seems like to do as I suggested would take a lot of a lot of risk out of it. The other thing that gets me is the mechanism involved to bring the rotor up to speed. Sounds like fingernails on chalkboard especially if you’re a mechanical person. I’ve seen most of these up close and they’re actually physical hard gears. It seems like it would be the perfect application for a belt of some sort. Belts are so simple yet convert energy so smoothly and quietly. A little short lived slippage as a clutch action is why they were invented.
Cross winds were surprising incredibly easy . In fact the rotor blades cut through the winds as if they weren’t existent
It's the safest way, it never stalls.
If you feel safe without a helmet then goodluck. I always fly with a helmet because concussion kills. A roll over may be a slim chance event but it does happen
F yeh its like the motorbike of the sky
first gyro I have ever seen where the wheels are driven to maneuver on the ground
Center line? Never heard of it.
There's no way in Hell you would talk me into flying in that thing !!!
Looks nice. I actually do not see a lot of shake on the stick.
To answer your initial question - would I fly one? YES!!
Jedi Gyrocopter!
Feather , here we go. Listen to the rotor . Wot motor ?. Terra firma. Ta mate. Dave
In those winds you can land across the runway. Try it!
I would fly one.
Not at the top of the list though.
Depends on the use case. That could change it if it made sense.
Very cool
Thanks for watching. Definitely go fly one
From a presentation point of view, at the start of your video we could not see your faces until you walked around the gyro … a small point but worth remembering.
I wish these were more comfortable for longer rides. I thought the Cavalon was SO cool looking and was attracted to the idea of being able to safely land if engine fails and the ability to fly in windy weather BUT then I took a demo ride in one... The vibration through the seat felt like sitting on a small jack hammer and the vibration through the stick was like holding an out-of-balance power tool. I also thought it was quite loud in the cabin for such a high-end model. After 40min I was done and that's why I decided not to purchase. Loved every other facet of the machine. What a shame. They really need to design vibration isolation into the seats and controls.
That's because it was not balanced properly. I urge you to fly in another one that is balanced and you won't have that issue. Be careful you might decide to buy one then.😁
Great stuff!
Totally awesome!
Beautiful...my dream is to own one!!!
How is performance at higher altitudes? I live at 6000 feet, in the foothills of the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. The mountains at my backdoor go up to 14,000 feet. It would be nice to tour the mountains, maybe cross at about 11,000 feet over to Jackson Hole.
quite incredible, given the fact that it is turbocharged.
Would I fly one? YES!
People were not supposed to do a lot of things. Yet, it seems we did...
Que bela máquina!!! Que lugar bonito!!!!
I want to see a twin engine jet gyro......Like a Cri-Cri......With the engines pylon mounted well forward.......
This would be, essentially, a tractor-gyro.
Maybe I'm dumb... but I don't see the link to Armin's website... Nice video, otherwise...cheers.
You're not dumb. I forgot to update it. Thanks for the heads up
@@SirDrifto - Yer one of the first people to ever say I'm not dumb. Hahaha.. I've been thinking about learning to fly auto-gyro for a long time. Old private pilot here..Cheers!
@SirDrifto >>> Great video...👍
Glad you liked it!
you said we should check out his operation....is there a link for it? How would we find it. Thank you.
posted his link to his flying operations in the video discription.
About a year ago I flew an AutoGyro Cavalon on an intro flight at the dealer on the Petaluma, CA, airport. Talk about FUN! Here's a short video I shot with my phone while the other pilot was flying.
th-cam.com/video/EOwjM-7B2-k/w-d-xo.html
Very cool
That would be so cool…but I’m still waiting for flying cars 😂
I always wondered how they got the lift prop spinning fast enough!
I would love to go up fly there, last time I was a boy my mom have a friend with a guy take us fly up beautiful out there all my life dreamed this but never happen anyway. good share for your video.
thanks for watching!
2:36 "You push that little autorotation button..."
* Pre-rotator button.
Spectacular!!!!!
what is it that you have to do to get license around 40 hours of flight training ?
I am considering building myself a gyrocopter, as I own 10 acres of pasture… good enough to operate from my backyard, no?
Would you have a 2-seater kit to recommend?
I know people who fly that really shouldn't be crossing the road on their own
wen u wan to fly both fixed wing and heli at e same time
Love one so much fun👏👏👏
@6:54 When you are coming in for a landing… Reducing power (throttle) is a big part of the landing sequence. Omitted from this discussion.
Would you recommend the autogyro for someone who is new to flying / aviation?
Got to get me one of those
Rotax has been producing aircraft engines for decades-not years haha. The 912 launched in 1989 and there’s been a long history of refinement and reliability enhancements.
My tach says RPM...your says RPMS? How many minutes is that, how does that work?
What make is it? I quite like the idea
Heck ya❤
That was an amazing video. I really liked it, what is the price?
Around $120k
@@SirDrifto way out of my price range, but I definitely enjoyed the video
The kits are cheaper.
@@leobrea2635 Tango 2 is around $48K, not much more as a turnkey. Yamaha 3 cyl 130hp engine.
Good video on Gyroplane information! Is nil wind a problem for takeoff and landing, and any wind speed limitations by weather?
No.
No one ever gives an out the door price ... or really any price. Are they so expensive that they are not worth mentioning? Who makes it and do they have a website with pricing, please?
Enjoyed the video!!
He mentions the one we were flying is about $125k
Love it
What’s the make n model of that gyro?
Wowh ... that instructor must have confidence in this mashine to allow a first flight by the newbe without having access to the stick.😮
I know right? Not to mention the guy in the front has zero flight time and has never flown anything with a stick either 🤷♂️.
Can anyone tell me the brand of gyro that it is please?
I've always been afraid of rotorcraft, the mechanism of bearings and movable elements is too complex, if at least one element fails and you're dead, there's nothing more reliable than an ordinary wing
autogyro rotor mechanism is simple - especially compared to helicopter ..... it's worth a google to learn the differences
You failed to mention that the gyrocopter was originally invented in Spain by Juan de la Cierva. :)
Answer: NO. And yes, I’m a non-current helo pilot with a PPL…
What happens if a bird strikes you and your raise your hands up out of caution….⚠️ don’t your hands get chopped off by those blades above your head ?
Wind always blows inland from the ocean. Whoever built that runway sideways from the incoming wind failed.
Wish i could 😊
EASY just google local fliers - bound to find something !! it's NOT major-league expensive for a 15 / 20-minute 'jolly'.
Are you sure that poking around with a selfie-stick under that rotor is a good idea? I don't know, just asking...
not to mention the possibility of it swinging back and smashing the propellor ??
Why? Fixed wing has less moving parts and a hellofa lot safer.
@@JLang-bn3hs I feel the crosswind capability from a safety stand point was far superior to a fixed wing. No way I could put a cub down in the winds we were flying without compromising safety where as this gyro went through the cross wind like it wasn't there. That's why it's better in some ways and not so much in others.
@@SirDrifto I witnessed one of these being destroyed in a crash and was one of the first on the scene. The pilot lived but got beat all to hell. He was doing touch and goes in crosswind.
@@JLang-bn3hs I've also watched a Cessna flip from improper control in a crosswind. Just matters which capable hands the aircraft is controlled by.
Small aircraft used to be totally affordable a lot cheaper than cars until lawyers and insurance got into the business and ruined it
Agreed. There was much more freedom until the government got involved and forced insurance which made those greedy a-holes even richer.
If you think the airlines are safer, do some research as to why they build a gryo.
Sorry,I had to shut down your video because of the wind noise across the mic. Need to muffle or foam cove the mic . I love gyro copters,would to watch it again. If you watch your video you’ll hear what I’ve explained . Thanks
You need a microphone!!
I'm dying to 🪰 fly
The father of gyrocopter was Juan De la Cierva.es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_de_la_Cierva
Your history about gyrocopters is not correct. Juan de la Cierva, a Spanish engineer, was the inventor of the gyrocopter, in 1920, and he once landed one on the White House lawn. Ken Wallis was a designer who became popular because of his global exposure in the James Bond Movie, You Only Live Twice but another contemporary designer of the flying chair was Bensen.
James Bond flew one
Just looks like a death trap
They are very safe
@@stonehorn4641 38% of accident fatal. Yeah really safe you Wally
@@Handlethetruth666Source?
I didn't hear "Clear prop!"
Pilot in back with no instruments? Wtf.
That’s hellocopter duh