Air Command SxS is AIRWORTHY!

[barnstorm2]

Yesterday a very long awaited event took place....


My 2-Place Air Command Side by Side PASSED it's Airworthyness Inspection!!
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D

SHE IS LEGAL!! :eek:


Though she is still far from done.. Needs 40 hours of flight testing, adjustments, lights, GPS chartplotter install and more.

Photo shows Tom the FAA inspector giving me the 'OK'.

[barnstorm2]

Runway tests! :D

[barnstorm2]

More Testing...

[scottessex]

COOL! Keep us posted, I think that a side by side open frame is WAY COOL!

[ToddP]

Great News Tim, it looks great. I'm sure you can't wait to get airborne. Congrats.

[Rick Whittridge]

Looks good Tim, lots of work huh!Tom Milton is a great guy to do inspections.He knows his way around gyros. Just curius why you didn`t use Stan Faskie to inspect your gyro (he`s from cinncy)?Tim do you have rating to carry a passenger?

[barnstorm2]

Thanks Scott!

Todd, Yes I can't wait. Patience is most difficult.

After fast-taxing and getting the nose light I found that she has some trim adjustments to be made and I will need alot of basic practice with her.

She is so differn't from my 447 it will almost be like learning all over again.

Rick,

Although I keep my 447 in Cincinnati my 2-place is in Greencastle, IN. A 6-hour round-trip drive from here. It was great to meet Tom. He flew in with a cool airplane checked out the gyros, certified me and attended the PRA Chapter 34 meeting. How cool is that!?!

No passinger rating ..YET..

I feel ready to take my check ride and have almost all the duel time I need ( I still have to do the landing at a towered airport thing and x-cty ). However, my 50+ hours of solo time has been in an ultralight gyro so it doesn't count for squat toward by private rotorcraft ticket.

Now that I have a N-numbered gyro with an AW cert I can start counting my hours toward my PPL. :D

I think it will be a long time before I will feel I have the skill to carry anyone other then my instructor or another qualified gyro pilot.

[Chuck Irby]

Congratulations Tim!

She sure is a good looking machine.

Keep us posted, please.

[GyroRon]

Cool and Be Careful!!!

[Chuck Roberg]

It was great seeing you on sunday Tim. I like your chapters set up on the airport. The lack of F/W traffic is a real plus also.

Tom and I flew on to Anderson, In. where he did another inspection on a RAF 2000. Yes to all, it does have a horiz. stab. Can't remember the gentlemans name but he does plan on flying out of his farm.

After being bounced around in the Beach Sundowner I sort of missed my gyro.

[barnstorm2]

Chuck I, and Ron, Thanks!

I do plan to be carefull. I will have to have my instructor teach me how to fly her. I had hopes of being able to teach myself but it is just WAY too differnt' from my single place. I feel like I was trying to fly a step-ladder!

Chuck,

Good meeting you! Yes the Greencastle airport is great for training and testing. I am so lucky to have access to it and all of the resources of Chapter 34. Unfortunatly, it is a very long drive for me and the airport seems to be windy often. Must be that flat IN landscape or something.. :confused:

[Dean_Dolph]

Tim, great job! I have a question for you. Is Greencastle the airport that has the pig farm near it? If so, the PRA convention held there had the wind in the wrong direction!

[Chuck Roberg]

Dean, Greencastle had the last PRA convention in 94' I believe.

It was the PRA convention in Mentone that had (has) the pig farm down the road to the east.

[Kevin_Richey]

Tim:

Would you tell us about your machine?

The rotor blades...are they Dragon Wings? The blade straps are black like theirs...but the hub bar looks too long to be a Dominator one...

What about the engine? What kind, size, etc.

Is this an Air Command SXS converted from an original SXS, or a newer version?

Looks pretty spiffy!

[scottessex]

Shoot! My parents lived outside of Danville In. before they moved to Fla, a couple of years ago. I still have 2 brothers in that area, but I don't get up to visit as much as I'd like.

I think there is a pig farm on every acre that doesn't corn or soybeans on it!

[Screw]

Screw-In

Fantastic News Tim!!! You comming to ROC this year? What's a few more hours drive anyway? I'd love to see you Aircommand. Please do be carefull. Are you gonna leave it white or do have some paint ideas in mind?

Screw-Out

[barnstorm2]

Dean,

Yes, there are pig farms around and you have to keep distance so they don't freak out. I have not suffered the smell of the farm though so either I am lucky or there is a closer pig farm at Mentone.

Screw,

I plan to leave it white for the forseeable future. I have knocked some ideas around about painting a griffin on the tall tail. I would love to come to ROC but it is not looking good with my work schedule.

Kevin,

This is the first Elite Air Command Side by Side. It was built from the ground up to be what it is, no upgrade kit. Currently I know of 2 other side by side Elites. One is our very own Chris S. ( CLS447 ) who is doing a single place Elite to side by side Elite conversion. I have been told by Air Command that there is someone in northern Ohio doing a high-thrust line side by side ( original ) to Elite side by side conversion and this weekend I heard a rumor that another low thrust line side by side is being upgraded. So how does that work out? 1. ground up. 1. conversion from single. 2. ( unconfirmed ) conversions from 2 place original. = 4.

I am running a carb'ed EJ-22 with a warp drive. Chris is running a EA-81 in his. Rumor has it one of the 2-place upgrades plan to use a Rotax 682.

I have 28' DragonWings.

We did a thrust test Sunday and with the prop at a 14 degree pitch the RPM maxed out at 5000 ( right where I want it ) and static thrust in excess of 500lbs ( the scale maxed out at 500 ).

Thanks!

[Chuck Irby]

Tim,

Those numbers really sound good. What HP do you suppose the EJ 22 is putting out?

Kevin,

When the DW's get longer than 25 feet (I believe it is) then the hub bars start getting longer. In other words, the longest blades Ernie makes is either 12 or 12.5 feet. Thus a 4 foot bar and 12 foot blades makes up a 28 foot set.

[Dean_Dolph]

Chuck, Mentone may have pig farms around it but I've yet to notice them and I've only missed one convention since Mentone opened in '96. So it must have been Greencastle. And believe me the wind was definitely letting us know that there was a pig farm near by. That and the flies!

[ben]

tim congrats on the airworthy sounds like you are putting out some great thrust i put out ea 81 62 inch prop 350 at 4700rpm scale max at 14 deg pitch i can go to 5400rpm where did ya get a scale that goes that hi ??? congrats again

[barnstorm2]

Ben,

The scale belongs to Gary Goldsberry. I think he got it from a fish monger.


My girlfriend Lisa had been working on a surprise for me when I was in Indiana. Here is the cake and champagne I came home to on Sunday after the inspection.

Unfortunately, I had to work on Monday and I arrived back about midnight.

[GyroRon]

Wish my wife did stuff like that for me! Also Tim if you miss ROC you will miss one of the best fly ins of the year.

[gyroplanes]

It was a pleasure to meet you and give your gyro a first hand look over. Glad to see your pictures of it on the runway. I look forward to seeing it fly someday. I hope you can bring it to Mentone.

[gyroplanes]

Another shot of the newest gyro in the land

[gyroplanes]

Another view of Tim's gyro

[gyroplanes]

Tim's girlfriend isn't all about cookies and cake. She takes "Casual fridays" at work to a new , sexy level.

[Screw]

Screw-In

Oh my God! I wish....................................

Screw-Out

[StanFoster]

Tim: Congratulations and a nice looking machine.

Stan

[barnstorm2]

Stan, Thanks!

Chuck I, I don't know what the HP is. It is an older EJ-22 so the rated HP is 130, but since it is carb'ed and not fuel injected I suspect it is around say 110ish. Anyone know how much HP you loose going with a carb?

Tom, Hey cool pictures. I didn't realize you were taken those. I was too consumed with battleing my master cylinder. That must have been a really bad day for Lisa. Here is a picture of a better day, Mentone 2003. This is Her second ride in a gyroplane, the first was in Terry E's Sparrow Hawk.

.

[Udi]

Why do girlfriends turn into a different person as soon as they become a wife??? Girlfriends cheer when you buy a gyro and make cake and champagne when you make progress. Wives give you a dirty look whenever the word gyro is mentioned and think they are in a constant competition with your hobby...

Go figure women...

[Chuck Irby]

That is a good point Udi! My gyro is probably the main reason my second wife left about a year ago. A couple of weeks after she left, I obtained a girlfriend. It is primarily because of her (the girlfriend) that I finished my training and started flying. Three cheers for girl friends. I think my son gave me some good advice . . . "Keep the girl friend . . . but no more wives"

[scottessex]

It all starts when they eat the WEDDING CAKE ! it also makes them loose their sex drive, etc.

Why ruin a good relationship by getting married?


I can't complain about mine, she is good and supports me 100 percent! And lives in an airplane hangar! but she is wife #2 and also the LAST wife I will ever have.

[Chuck Irby]

Scott, it sounds like you really got lucky with #2.

[scottessex]

Yeah I did!
And She can cook too!

[GyroRon]

But can she mow the lawn? Wash the cars and change the oil in your truck?

[Chuck Irby]

Come on now Ron, does yours mow and change the oil?

[PW_Plack]

The salesman died in his sleep and found himself at The Pearly Gates. Before St. Peter would admit him, he said, "When we get people from your profession here, my manager insists we show you both options before we allow you to choose. Please take the down-elevator behind you, and after three days in Hell, you'll be welcome to come back if you wish."

Down he went, seemingly forever, and when the door opened, the salesman found himself looking out over a lush, green golf course. He wondered aloud, "Where am I?" A golf cart stopped to pick him up, and the three guys riding laughed. "Welcome to Hell! Hurry up, or we'll miss our tee time!"

For three days the salesman was wined and dined, enjoyed the company of beautiful women, was treated to a raucous nightlife and fabulous weather, and wanted for no creature comfort. When it was over, he took the long elevator ride back to the top.

As he stepped out and walked toward the gates, he looked out on endless, bland, white clouds, serene winged angels playing harps, and thought back on the past three days. Approaching St. Peter, he said, "You know, I didn't think I'd ever say this, but I think I'd rather spend eternity in Hell."

St. Peter sighed, and said, "I'm sorry for your decision, but it is yours to make. The elevator will take you back whenever you're ready. Please know, however, that you only get to make this decision once, and it's final."

The long ride down passed more quickly this time, as the salesman rubbed his hands in anticipation of an eternity spent in the style of the past three days. When the elevator stopped and the door opened, the salesman was greeted by a blast of heat, chocking sulphur smoke, and the sounds of millions of screams. Running desperately to find an answer, he found and confronted a demon with a pitchfork.

"What's the deal! I was here moments ago, and this place was a paradise!"

"Ah, yes," said the demon. "then, you were a prospect. Now, you're just a customer."

Chuck, it's like this...

"Ah, yes," she said, "then you were a prospect. Now, you're just my husband!"

[Chuck Irby]

That's a pretty good analogy, Paul. :D :D

[scottessex]

Ron, Yes, Yes, No oil changes on a regular basis, but she does know how. She actually did the drywall finnishing at the other house, in our bonus room!

She knows how to shoot guns too, and can bait her own hook when fishing.

[GyroRon]

Come on now Ron, does yours mow and change the oil?

Sure she can, she hired me to do it for her ;)

[GyroRon]

Ron, Yes, Yes, No oil changes on a regular basis, but she does know how. She actually did the drywall finnishing at the other house, in our bonus room!

She knows how to shoot guns too, and can bait her own hook when fishing.

Sounds like a winner to me!

Of course there is one more thing a woman can or can't - or should I say won't - do that makes it a perfect package.... I won't say what it is exactly but will say that it has to be good and involves either swallowing or spitting at the end :eek:

[Chuck Irby]

Em, em, em, Ron!!! You are bad to the bone (pun intended).

[gyroblackwell]

Tim, Congrads on the S x S ! Nice looking machine!
MAybe you can haul it up to Mentone this coming memorial day week-end and join
chapters 18,80, and 81 for a flyin at the airport! I plan on having my machine on static display, and others will be flying!

I will be planning a flying trip down to greencastle this summer .... maybe I'll catch you there !

[GeneWeber]

Hi Tim,

Congratulations on passing your airworthiness inspection. I hope to get there with my plane one day. :rolleyes:

Hi Folks,

Since this thread took a negative tangent on spouses, I’ll add my two cents.

Marla (Durn) and I will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary on July 14. Marla is my first and (barring a tragedy) only wife. She is and has been my best friend for 21 years. We’ve gone through happy and sad times together. We’ve built a successful life together.

I feel very fortunate for many reasons. First of course is that I married a wonderful human being. But I’ve also been blessed in that my parents and Marla’s parents have been examples of caring and consideration to each other.

A couple of years ago I started attending a Promise Keepers group at my church. I honestly feel that my father already taught me most of what is reinforced in those meetings. The bottom line is that what society tells us about what it means to be a “real men” is baloney. My minister challenges us to be real men all the time by “Out honoring, out serving, and out loving our wives”. And of course our wives are challenged to do the same.

Marla was not happy when I got the gyroplane bug, frankly because she fears for my safety. And she gets unhappy if I start to get obsessed with this or anything that chews up large chunks of my time. Why wouldn’t she? She likes to spend time with me, and likes to see me spend time with our children. She supports me in this because she knows it makes me happy. I moderate it to make her happy. If it ever makes her miserable, I’ll sell the plane and know that I did the right thing. Our “me first” society is messed up.

I’ll step out of the pulpit now. :o

Regards,

Gene

[Chuck Roberg]

Gene, Great post. I agree with you 100%.

I also love my wife very much. It was because of her I got back into flying after a 10 year hiatus. Even though she's scared to fly and worries every time I'm up. She says she will never ask me to stop if it makes me happy.

She works a lot of weekends. But when she's free I'll happily give up flying for a day to be with her.

Gene, I'm glad you found the woman of your dreams. I found mine also.

[Chuck Irby]

Gene, Chuck R . . . good posts. You are both fortunate in the wife department. Unfortunately, for most of us, that is not the case with most women. Too many, it seems, are caught up in, and adversely affected by the "Women's Lib movement" and other negative influences. Apparently your's, for one reason or another, have not allowed this to happen to them. This is fortunate for you. Congratulations to you both, for you have what all (or most) of us would like to have in a marriage.

[bogman]

Chuck the good ones are out there. After 28 years with mine it was hard to understand why people have such a hard time making a marriage work. And maybe work is the wrong term, we don't really work at it, we just live by the golden rule.

But now I'm starting to see what some guys are having to deal with, as several guys I know have related to me what they have come up against.

In their cases the dating phase went very well but after the vows their wives turned into different creatures.:D These women just wanted to use these guys up for everything they had.

It might help to review your sources though as most of these gals were met at the local pubs.:D Remember I did say most!

[chuter]

Gene and Chuck R, you are both very lucky. Cherish what you have. I lost my fiancé to breast cancer about 6 months ago, the worst thing I’ve ever gone through. Needless to say my gyro building has been out of the picture for quite awhile, I’m just now getting back to it.

Just remember, every day you have together could be your last, so tell ‘em you love ‘em.

[GeneWeber]

Michael,

I’m very sorry to hear about the loss of your fiancé.
Cherish what you have.
I do. Both my Marla and my children.

Regards,

Gene

[scottessex]

I think you must strike a balance, between interests and family, and work etc. You are right about the Me first society, and many people get caught up in that.

Sorry for your loss Mike.

[barnstorm2]

Tim,

I would LOVE to fly it to mentone but I still have not flown her and I will not have a chance to test her for almost three weeks from now.

Then I have to burn off 40 hours of testing around Greencastle, IN ( a 6 hour round trip drive from here ). Judging by last year's weather 2/3 of the weekends have wind gusts or foul weather.

I might be lucky to make the national convention at Mentone.

I am looking forward to seeing you ( and your machine? ) at Greencastle.

Gene,

Thanks! Good luck with the plane. I barely have the patience for a gyro I could never hack putting an airplane together.

Michael,

Sorry to hear of your loss.

[r.coplen]

A little change in the suject. (Although I have been married for 36 years to the same lady) The question was asked how much horse power in the EJ-22? I have a modified RAF with the EJ-22 with a Holly carb. The figures I have seen show 108 horse power. The fuel injected version from Subaru is rated at 130 horse power. The new version from AAI with the new cam is rated at 148 horsepower.

From there you go to the single and duel turbo charged and to the EJ-25s. I saw a Subaru (a new 2004 Subaru car from the factory) the other day at NSI Engines in Arlington WA. that had 400 horse power. The engine was based on the four cyclendar Fuji Industries EJ format. NSI sells two versions of modified Subaru engines mostly for fixed wing aircraft although Vanic (Sportscopter) is beginning to use their engines. Their EJ-22 is rated at 180 horsepower and the EJ-25 is rated at 220 horsepower. They can run on 85 to 120 octane, leaded or unleaded and up to 20% alcohol. I would like to try one of those engines someday soon. Should be an interesting change from the Holly carb version. Great for cross country flights.