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View Full Version : SparrowHawks 1st birthday


StanFoster
03-01-2007, 06:43 PM
My SparrowHawk just turned 1 year old. I dont know where the year went but I can only say that it has been a lot of fun. I logged 151 hours...with just minor mechanical bugs...such as my alternator wasnt quite putting out enough voltage.

Its been flown now from 98 degrees to -8 degrees....and up to 7700 feet. I enjoyed the cross country to Mentone....and many other places around Illinois/Indiana. I would build another one in a heartbeat knowing what I know about it.

Its been fun and satisfying seeing the improvements my inflight adjustable Ivoprop has done to its performance. It is very nice to have a so called "gear shift" on the prop. Its a pleasure to take off at max performance then slip her into higher gear and crank the rpm's down on the motor maximizing the most out of it.

The 4 into 1 exhaust has been another improvement that I would do again...along with the electric trim and the idler pulleys for the pre-rotator belt.

Other little things I have done is the automatic auxillary fuel pump activator circuit. That is nice having the confidence that should my main pump fail...the second pump and fuel filter are new and ready to carry on the mission with just only a momentary sputter before that fuel gets turned back on to the engine.

The little detail of that bleed air modification to my pitot line to finally make my ASI accurate and adjustable.

My next upgrades will be the 5/16 rodend upgrade for the pitch control...and I have the hydraulic brakes sitting in my shop waiting for a little warmer weather to install.

I am eagerly awaiting all the flying in 2007. This sport just gets more interesting all the time. The excellent variety of single and 2 place gyros have a machine matched to almost everyones personal needs. My needs of flying year round in comfort have more than been met.....both just in flying for fun...and also using it for my stair busines to meet clients...go to the jobsites....etc.....

Happy birthday 609SF.....:peace:

Stan

Gyrobound
03-06-2007, 11:37 AM
Congratulations Stan. We’ve been with you every step of the way and have all benefited from your experiments and improvements. It’s been a pleasure to join in your journey and I’m sure we are all looking forward to the next adventures you have coming in 2007. Keep posting and sending those pictures. I for one have enjoyed every one of them.

Scott

Kurt
03-06-2007, 12:04 PM
Congratulations Stan. I too have followed your posts since joining the forum and I appreciate all the information you have provided. To date the SparrowHawk is my favorite machine and I look forward to getting a really close look at BD.
Kurt

ventana7
03-06-2007, 03:14 PM
Stan,

Your enthusiasm is wonderful. Thank you for taking so many of us on your flights.

Rob

StanFoster
03-06-2007, 03:22 PM
Thanks guys. I love flying gyrocopters...especially when in the colld.

My next "mission" will be several missions. I delivered some stairways to Chicago for Lyle Campbells house. He is on an airpark. I drove 5 hours today getting there and back. Of course I had to deliver the stairways on a trailor....but I have many flights coming up as I am going to commute to this jobsite in my SparrowHawk. I will enjoy using my gyro for for business and pleasure...but its going to be pleasure all the way. I will be able to gain 2.5 hours onsite working....and then be able to fly for 2.5 hours. :D


Stan

Mark Sanders
03-06-2007, 05:16 PM
Happy buildday stan

Heron
03-07-2007, 09:44 AM
Is it aniversary or birthdate?
Anyway congrats and many more hours in the blue yonder . . .
heron