Hello Rotor Heads

[Joe Hessberger]

It seems like a long time ago, that I first learned to fly. I am retired now, sort of. Is a pilot ever truly retired? I spent the first eleven years of my flying life as a fixed-wing pilot. It was good! Then I became infatuated with helicopters. I ended up with both fixed-wing as well as helicopter ATPLs. A friend told me once " To fly is heavenly, to hover is devine!"
After many years as a helicopter and airplane pilot and a career involving many related aspects of aviation, I was able to operate relatively safely for over ten thousand hours. Actually, after having survived a lifetime in the Industry, certain friends of mine would say that I have rocks in my head for still wanting to fly. Nevertheless; this feeling seems not to be denied. So I will involve myself in this recreational rotor flying business and jusT hope to God, that I do not screw up this late in life and turn myself, or anyone else into a smoking hole in the geography. With this noble goal in mind, I do announce that, yes, I would like to fly a gyro copter, and I invite anyone with coments to make, for a chat via this forum, or my email.
Cheers to all; and for Gods sake; keep it safe!
Joe.
Ps. If I don't answer immediately, please do not be upset, as my wife and I are presently sailing and do not have regular access to the Net just now.

[JRB549]

Welcome Joe, well you saved the best flying of all for last gyros are the most fun I feel there is, so check out the different makes and models get your training, get a bird and enjoy.

[Heron]

Welcome Joe and get all info you can!
Gyros are great for fun and is becoming also great transportation.
You got the goods on flying so it will be easy for you to get good on gyros too.
have fun and watch for the mud pies! :)
Heron

[Joe Pires]

Joe make plans now to attend Benson Days. Along about April you ought to be good and ready for some warmth and gyroing. Benson Days is the place to feed the addiction.

Look up in the events section about this world class gyro fly inn.

See you there.

[Joe Hessberger]

Hi Joe,
My wife just had a heart attack and subsequent triple bypass. We are presently in Malaysia on our sailboat. We were planning to sail home to Vancouver, but that is off now. I'm not sure when we will be back. If we can make it in time we would like to come to the Bensen days. I should know in about a month. Merry X- mas
Joe

[Joe Hessberger]

Thanks for the quick reply. Yes, I will go further. I sent and enquiry to the RAF 2000 people and they replied. It looks real good. I really would like to get into an aircraft that has a bit of an accepted track record. I do not wish to be a test pilot. I had my belly full of that on other aircraft. I feel that there is always a lot of hardship with a new type.
Cheers, Joe

[Joe Hessberger]

Thanks for the reply. I am also trying to get involved in a new social scene. Now that I am retired, I will have to find a way to keep out of my wife's hair. I have been so lucky. I really did achieve most of my dreams. I became a pilot and spent much of my life doing what I loved. I travelled the world with my sweetheart, we built a boat together and we sailed accross an ocean. Next July. God willing, we will have a grand child. When we get home from Malaysia, I want to start this hobby flying thing again. Life is good!
Cheers, Joe

[Timchick]

Welcome Joe. We'll keep your wife in our prayers for a speedy recovery. If you're not back this way in time for Bensen Days there are several other large gyro fly-ins later in the year. I highly recommend attending a fly-in and checking out several gyros before you settle on one. Enjoy the sailing.

[Joe Hessberger]

Hi Tim,
Well, it's been a harrowing but also wonderful time here in Alor Star, Malaysia.
My wife's triple bypass surgery was a total success. However, this problem did make us think about our offshore cruising again. The decision was made to sell the boat and come home. Our boat sold a few days ago and we will be home on February 12th.
There were many people who prayed for us and God, in His infinite wisdom, saw fit to rescue us once again. I'm sure He must raise His eyebrows when He hears my prayers.

Anyway, this will give us opportunity to do other things. Maybe I could even make it to Bensen Days.

Thanks for your support, Tim.

Joe Hessberger

[Heron]

Good news on the recovery!
We will have a chair for you around the camp fire! Come on over!
Heron

[dragonflyerthom]

Joe H

The RAF is a beautiful aircraft and if you have been following the post there are just a few little adjustment that you can do for less than you would imagine to make it very stable and enjoyable. You will just have to drop the engine which you can do in your build. The keel will have to dropped also so the prop will clear the keel also. You will have a cozy warm a/c and it will fly by it self almost. Look up the mods that Larry Boyer did, or Aussie Paul and you will find gyro heaven. These mods are safe and effective. Glad to hear you wife is better. Good Luck in your quest for hobby flight.

[Kurt]

Joe H:

Glad your wife is on the road to recovery. I am just starting to get into this gyro thing after fixed wing myself. You might want to check out the SparrowHawk II by Groen Bros. Aviation. That is the direction my research has taken me so far. Stan Foster on this forum is a dealer for them and is sending me some info and a CD as we speak. Contact him and my guess would be that he would do the same for you. I think I will be making it to Bensen days for the first time myself this year. Hope to meet you there.
Kurt

[dragonflyerthom]

Kurt

If you are going to Bensen days then please check out the RAFs that have the drop keel engine drop mods. It isn't quite as extreme as the SH or AAI.

[Heather Poe]

Joe,
You might want to look up GBA Seattle (http://www.gbagyro-sea.com/) for a demo flight. I am purchasing a Sparrowhawk kit and taking flying lessons from them.
Heather

[Joe Hessberger]

Hi All you rotor heads,
Thanks for you interest in our lives and your kind replies. Another week now and we'll be home. We are really torn between and betwixt. The folks here in Malaysia have taken us into their families and it will be a sad leaving. But life goes on.
Heather, I will do that, as I will be visiting Tim in a little while. And Kurt, this looks interesting, but goes a bit too far for me at the moment. I am suffering from information overload. I need to see some of these machines first hand.

Funny thing happened a few days ago. seems like the helicopter industry is so short of pilots these days, that they are resurecting all these old bones that had been put out to pasture a while ago. When I get home , I will put my hands to the old Bell 212 I used to fly. We'll see if I can still do it. I haven't flown seriously now for over seven years. I just don't think that my back can withstand eight hours of pounding any more. That's a young man's game.
Question: Has anyone ever thought of installing an irreversible control system, like in the older, first generation helicopters, to dampen out some of the rotor head vibrations. Or how about a simple hydraulic system? It should not be too hard to design something like that.

Cheers, Joe

[Joe Hessberger]

Hi Thom,
Thanks for your message. I am looking forward to learning all about this new hobby of mine. I will visit an instructor when I get home and go for a flight. This will determine whether I actually go ahead with this. One good thing is that I am now retired and all doors to new adventures are open.
Thanks again.
Joe Hessberger