A little more Firebird progress, and game plan change!!!! [Archive]

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Aussie_Paul

11-05-2006, 02:48 AM

Today hauled them all out to draw a 20' container plan on the floor to work out how to fit everything in. Took some pics while they were out.

Hi guys. I have given up on getting the container to NZ this year. I am beaten this time, so now plan B!!! I just can’t keep up the pace so we have postponed the container leaving until between Christmas and New Year. After several years another 6 weeks will not be a problem. Aviation and rushing do not mix.

I still have the airline ticket that I have already purchased, so my wife Eril and I reckon it would be good idea to still go to NZ and train the guy I started training last year in his own gyro. It will be a holiday and one more job that won’t have to be done when I go with the container. I need a break where I have a complete change, so a week in NZ will be great. If I stay home I will just plod along and not have a change.

I will go to NZ with the container approx 1/1/07. Getting Firebird debugged and certified can take as long as it takes and I will not have a time frame to worry about. Eril can take some holidays and come over while I am there and we can take my NZ Firebird agent and good friend John's campervan and go touring for a week or two.

I feel so much more relaxed since we made the decision.

Regards, Paul.

dragonflyerthom

11-05-2006, 03:00 AM

Looking Good Paul

Sorry for the set back. Murphys Law ya know. But you do have plan B. Keep posting.

Aussie_Paul

11-05-2006, 03:39 AM

Some more pics.:wave:

Aussie Paul. :)

Chuck Roberg

11-05-2006, 05:40 AM

dragonflyerthom

11-05-2006, 05:45 AM

Paul

What did you use for the landing gear axel? Is it a custom build or could a person get it off the shelf?

animal

11-05-2006, 05:58 AM

Some more pics.:wave:

Aussie Paul. :)

In photo 2 I see you are useing push pull cables, I will be intrested to see how that works out, they use the same thing on the rotorway Execs but the use 2 cables at one connection point. I think yours should work well since you have one cable at each point. good luck on your machines, they do look good.

Aussie_Paul

11-05-2006, 07:27 PM

Hi Paul, just a curious question. What did you have to do to be allowed to instruct in NZ.

Does NZ just accept your OZ instructors permit. Or is more paper work involved.

I might be going to NZ next year on holiday. I was wondering what I would have to do to be able to fly there.

Really glad to see the Firebird is coming along.

Thanks Chuck, I am qualified as an ATO A (authorized testing officer)

In Oz I can legally issue with a NZ PPL gyroplane

In Oz we do not quite have the privileges that the ZN people have, like flying in controlled airspace, etc.
You could come to Oz first and obtain both the Oz and NZ ratings.

Aussie Paul. :)

Chuck Roberg

11-05-2006, 08:09 PM

Thanks Paul. How hard, what would I have to do to get the rating?

John_wilkinson

11-07-2006, 01:04 AM

PAUL:whip: WE HAVE FORGOT SOMTHING whoops cap locks on but seriously wheres the bludy stab????

Aussie_Paul

11-07-2006, 01:12 AM

PAUL:whip: WE HAVE FORGOT SOMTHING whoops cap locks on but seriously wheres the bludy stab????

Still at the painters, are you sure we need one? :censored:

Aussie Paul. :)

John_wilkinson

11-07-2006, 02:06 PM

no we dont ,it will only slow the gyro down in them tight turns:tape:

Aussie_Paul

11-07-2006, 10:47 PM

I picked the stabs up today John.

Here are some pics from the weekend.

FB 001 with windsreen sitting on
Front of 3
Rotor head with part finished redundent cable controls.
Rear end view of 3 and ultra lights
Hybrid and 2 Firebirds.

Aussie Paul. :)

Chopper Reid

11-08-2006, 01:36 AM

Thats one strange looking head set up Paul, I had no doubt that you would do something diferent :) .

Aussie_Paul

11-08-2006, 03:25 AM

Thats one strange looking head set up Paul, I had no doubt that you would do something diferent :) .

Normal head Brian BUT four push pull cables. Two for pitch and two for roll. A totally redundant system.

Aussie Paul. :)

Greg Mitchell

11-09-2006, 12:51 PM

Aussie_Paul

11-09-2006, 02:02 PM

Hey Paul,

Looking good. Question Paul. How wide is your 'cross bar' mechanism to which your push pull cables are attached?
I believe if you have the HP to push it, then the addition of redundant systems is a must. Great job, sure hope FIREBIRD ends up being a winner for you and the movement generally.

Cheers,

Mitch

Mitch the stick travel per degree of head travel is the same. It does not matter what the distances are. Narrow forks and a short cross bar or wide forks and a longer cross bar still end up with the same pressure to move the rotor head. It is the ratio to achieve the accepted 10" or 12" of stick movement for 18 degrees of head movement.

Aussie Paul. :)

PW_Plack

11-09-2006, 03:14 PM

Paul, true, but shorter arms at both ends requires the cables to carry more force for a given resultant control force at the head.

birdy

11-09-2006, 06:59 PM

Wen i fitted the new low profile stick setup on the ferel, i found there wasnt enough room to move the stick, itd hit the dash and seat in pitch and id have to throw a leg out the side to get full roll. So, me be'n a lazy bastered, thought id halve the length of the x tube, and halve the leaverage it had on the torque tube so the stick wouldnt have to move so far.
Obviosly this was go'n to make the stick feel a little 'heavier' coz of the halved leverage, but its only a single seater anyway, and it turned out to not be heavy at all.
Another thing i thought would be a bonus was that the heavier stick would prevent me from demanding too much cyclic of the rotors, but i too found out that wen push comes to shove, and sh1ts bout to hit the fan [or im bout to hit the tree] and you gota heave on the stick, the blades can still be partialy stalled even with half the recomended leaverage.;)