What was your first Gyro

[Screw]

Screw-In

I'm attempting to to compare "What People Learned to Fly In," verses thier first gyro to get an idea of transitional differance.

Please note the "Pusher/Tractor" selection at the bottom.

Screw-Out

[Dean_Dolph]

John, good question/poll! I have wondered about the same thing even though I talked to many, many pilots over the years this is one question that I never thought to ask at that time.

Right or wrong, I intuitively believe that transitioning to a single place open frame machine will be easier if training was conducted in an tandem open frame machine.I suggested and encourged Jim Mayfield to think about creating a tandem open frame machine at the time of his Sparrow Hawk announcement. Now that Steve Mac is working for him maybe it will come to pass. The AC and Dominator tandems are good training machines but another choice always makes it more interesting.

It will be interesting to see what your poll shows.

[Screw]

Screw-In

That was kinda my thinking Dean. I was wondering how easy or hard it would be for a student to go from learning in an enclosed side-by-side to thier personal open frame single?

I've seen alot of new CFI's here lately that are in RAF (mod) or SparrowHawk. How would that be on a student like me who has a VW Bensen?

Screw-Out

[birdy]

I'd done about 1500 hours in my single open machine before I bought the RAF.While I expected the obvious weight and slower responce times to inputs,the two things I noticed most was the lack of wind FEEL on me,[had to keep checking the ASI],and when I landed there was alot more right yaw.When I tryed to land with no power and no ground roll[spot engine failure sim],the right yaw would have me land with my nose at 45 degrees right of the approche line.[ the rudder being almost usless with no airflow or prop blast]
It was'nt untill I did same with a passenger and landed with no yaw I realised that it was my weight[which isn't much] on the left side that made it swing to the right when I flared with no power and low airspeed.


Now that I'v been thinking of it again,it dosn't yaw anymore one up????
My old mate subconcious must be doi'n something to stop the yaw,I'll have to take more notice of what I do next time to see why it's not yawing.

[Ron Iaconis]

Well, thanks to Lee Bradshaw taking me up in his 18A and handing over the controls to me, was a bit of an eye opener! The controls were " heavy" to me the machine very slow to my input, all compared to an open frame 260 lb Bensen. Personally, I prefer the single seat open frame Bensen type.

[Harry_S.]

I learned to fly in towed Bensen gliders.

I next transitioned to a single seat, open frame, powered Bensen B7.

All was self taught.


Cheers :)

[Chuck_Ellsworth]

" I learned to fly in towed Bensen gliders.

I next transitioned to a single seat, open frame, powered Bensen B7.

All was self taught. "

Harry, you don't have to answer my question here, but I am very interested in if you have ever received training from a licensed flight instructor?

It may help me to try and understand your opinions regarding training and some other issues we are eons apart on.

You can PM me should you wish.

[Phil_Ruffin]

"What People Learned to Fly In," verses thier first gyro.

Hey Mr. Screw,

Am I missing something, most likely yes, but where is the question about what you learned to fly in to compare to what you bought?

P.S. I am going to enjoy using your gas tanks you bought for the LW. I should be able to fly for hours. :)

[GyroRon]

I trained in Fixed Wing Ultralights for 8 hours before soloing those - pic attached of my first lesson, and my own first plane.

I flew those from 1995 to present. :)

I got my first gyro ride in Febuary of 2001 - pic attached - but had already bought my first gyro a week before - pic attached . That April I went to Bensen days and took 4.5 hours of dual training before being soloed to fly my gyro.

Still flying gyros today. :)

I got into heavier faster stuff in 2003 so that winter I bought a Piper Pacer and hired a CFI to fly with me to earn my Private pilots certificate and recieved it the last day of Jan 04.

Still flying the heavier stuff today as well. :)

[StanFoster]

I started out with a 90 horse mac powered Bensen. I was my instructor and my instructors seat of the pants saw that I taxi for three weeks getting the feel of my machine. When the wheels left the ground...it was uneventlful and its been a pleasure repeating this same scenario in my Air Command and my RAF.

I am looking forward to flying my SparrowHawk next year and I am considering getting lessons this time as I have some subtle control inputs to deprogram out of my reflexes. :D

Stan

[Harry_S.]

" I learned to fly in towed Bensen gliders.

I next transitioned to a single seat, open frame, powered Bensen B7.

All was self taught. "

Harry, you don't have to answer my question here, but I am very interested in if you have ever received training from a licensed flight instructor?

It may help me to try and understand your opinions regarding training and some other issues we are eons apart on.

You can PM me should you wish.

I almost missed your post , Chuck. I don't want to hijack this thread.

I have no qualms about answering your questions on this forum. You will reciprocate, of course?!

I received all my required dual instruction towards my ASEL Private and Commercial tickets, from CFI's.

Being as there were no CFI-Rotorcraft, Gyroplane available at that time, when I took up with the gyro...nor two seat gyro's...out of necessity, I was self taught...home schooled.

After 3-4 years of driving the gyro, I checked on getting a gyroplane add on to my Commercial. Again, with no 2 seater available, a FW-CFI observed my gyro flying, from the ground and gave his recommend to take my check ride. The FAA Examiner also gave me a list of maneuvers he wanted me to perform, as he observed from the ground...and he signed me off.

I was away from flying anything for a few years when I saw an RAF ad, in I think the EAA mag. It piqued my interest...took a couple demo rides,,,and I had to have one.

While building my machine, I realized it was 2-3 times more machine than the bare bones, single seat Bensen's that I last flew. I arranged for a professional to rig and test fly, plus dual instruction for me. After 6 hrs. of dual I've been on my own...except for the bi-ennials.

I don't know how you perceive that I'm against dual instruction?! In fact, if you go back thru my posts you'll find that I highly recommend dual instruction AND the student to follow the regimen outlined by the CFI as to solo flight.

Now, you tell me where we're eons apart on the need of dual instruction for the new pilot?!

.

[Harry_S.]

Addendum to my post above.

I also received 15 hrs. of dual instruction in a Brantly B2B. Had 20 hrs. total towards a helicopter add on. Circumstances curtailed that dream.

.

[Rehan K.Janjua]

I fly the Aircommand 582 low profile with pod, exd tanks,H stubs and skywheels since 1999. This is the only gyro in Pakistan and trying to introduce a concept aircraft.
I go for check rides every few years to magni S.Africa.
My intro to gyro was by Roger A.Rorack in Stanton/Lampook A/P Calif, in SxS 503 Air Command in 1982.
Roger A.Wood provided the Bensen bible.Greg & Stiffnie provide the corrective inspiration and Magni the ultimate.
Flying in mountainous Pakistan is a challange, staying well inside of the LTL 582 A/C flight envelope keeps me alive to enjoy the joys to fly an gyro.
We are the dealers for Air Command in Pakistan.
Rehan K.Janjua
Air Command Pakistan
AP-ZAZ.