N527UZ Comes to Life

[Udi]

After almost a year of rebuilding, N527UZ has made its presence known to the whole neighborhood yesterday afternoon.

Other than some instrumentation problems and too low EGT temps, the beast worked very well. One stupid mistake on my part was to leave the seat belt unsecured - this resulted in some ugly dings to my brand new aluminum radiator :( Luckily, the buckle itself did not reach the prop.

Here is N527UZ:

[gyromike]

Way to go Udi! Keep us informed on the progress.

You ought to have a picture taken of you standing next to the gyro, so we can put a face to the name too.

[Screw]

Screw-In

Great shot Udi and Congratulations! I love the "Rake" of the front fork. Ever consider mounting an "Apehanger" to the cyclic with biker style throttle? :eek:

Screw-Out

[darrellwittke]

Great job Udi!
I've always wondered about front wheels and rake. I would like to use a bicycle fork much akin to yours on my dream gyro that will probaly never be built...

But I've noticed some designs like the AAI sparrowhawk and Air command started out with a raked front wheel and then newer versions became trailing link style, ala dominator.

I assume the wheel trailing the forks precludes shimmying or side to side shaking. However, I wonder if that is a problem that needs solving with the landing envelope and speeds of a light gyrocopter?

I know on my wheelie prone RZ350 racebike, I did get into a tank-slapper once, but as soon as I got off the gas and shifted my weight forward in reaction it settled down and stopped.

So, with your keen analytical mind kind Udi, can you educate me as to the design pluses and minuses of a raked bicycle wheel. (which I'll probaly use anyhow...lol)

[Chuck Irby]

Way to go, Udi. That's a great looking machine. Is that a 582?

[GyroRon]

Udi, take a break from the gyro project and get the string trimmer out and do some weedwacking around that fence line! Other than that it is looking good.

Chuck Irby you really must not follow the threads here.... Udi was posting about his engine not but a week or two ago. Several times in that thread he mentioned his engine was Rotax 532. I am just giving you a hard time~

[Chuck Irby]

I admit that I have not been spending a lot of time on the forum, Ron. Unlike some people, I've been getting a Dominator ready to fly! :D

[GeneWeber]

Hi Udi,

Looks like it won’t be too long before N527UZ is flying. That’s got to feel good.

Regards,

Gene

[scottessex]

OUTSTANDING! Good job and keep us posted!


As long as Udi's trail is correct on his front wheel he will be fine.
If anyone has questions about trail angles, Let me know and I will try to explain.

[Brent_Brown]

I have used the Mt. Bike forks on two gyros and they work great. The 20 to 25 degree rake is so you can make wide turns I had my rake to small and it would try to go off the runway ASAP. I use springs s oyou don't have a hard direct link to the fork. If in a cross wind landing the nose wheel will move in the forward direction and you can hold hard rudder without the springs you will go over the nose roll over or something bad.

[Udi]

The steering mechanism and fork are standard Air Command. I can't take credit for the bike wheel either; this is a classic Maxie Wildes design. Frankly, I would feel more comfortable with less rake angle. I think this steep rake may make handling difficult at low ground speeds. I have enough trail, though, for good stability at medium-high ground speeds.

You are giving me too much credit, Darrell. I know very little about front steering design, it sounds like you know quite a bit.

Brent - The Air Command steering is also using springs to allow for the front wheel to caster with the runway when a rudder pedal is held for crosswind. I hope mine works well; the front fork stiffener has made the steering a little stiff… We'll see.

Ron - trimming the grass has a very low priority right now... You can stop by anytime and help. I will let you test fly my gyro too!

Mike - why spoil a perfectly nice picture? :rolleyes: Just kidding - my wife was out with the kids and there was no one to take a picture with me. Will take more pics next time N527UZ is in the pasture.

Udi-

[GyroRon]

Udi, fly me out there and back and I will be the test pilot dummy. It looks good and I know it should be fine ship after all the attention you gave it.

[barnstorm2]

Looks great!

[Udi]

I have measured the fore-aft range of my cyclic with the gyro standing in the desired flight attitude (nose wheel on the ground). Here are the numbers:

full aft stick -19 degreed
full fwd stick -2 degrees

Do these numbers seem ok?

I will have more info after I do the hang test Friday. The cyclic has to be level with the stick centered during a hang test, right?

Thanks

Udi

[GyroRon]

You want the rotorhead to go to level or slightly nose down at full forward stick.

[Aussie_Paul]

Udi, Raf use -2 degrees full forward stick. that helps slow the rotors if you are stuck into a head wind. More than -2 can drag you off the runway when you use full forward stick. This may have been a contributing factor in my stuff up in my Hybrid roll over.

What you have sounds good to me.

Aussie Paul.

[Udi]

Udi, Raf use -2 degrees full forward stick

Paul - when you say "-2 degrees" do you mean 2 degrees back or 2 degrees forward of level?

Udi-

[GyroRon]

Udi you want the rotorhead to go to level or beyond level to a nose down setting at full forward stick.

[Udi]

Thanks, Ron.

Udi-

[GyroRon]

Udi, when are we going to see a picture of you?

[barnstorm2]

I like your new avatar udi.

[Udi]

Soon, Ron. I have some pictures from my hang test. I will post them soon.

Thanks, Tim. As you can see, I had to reduce resolution to stay within the file size limit...

Udi-

[Udi]

Here is a picture of the hang test. I had to move the battery from the rear keel to under the seat to get the mast in the right angle. I think I am ready for the DAR inspection on Thursday!

[GyroRon]

Udi is like the neighbor of Tim the toolman taylor on the show Home Improvement... We just get to see enough of him to guess what he really looks like.

[Udi]

No need to guess. Here is another one I have posted on Norm's. Flying Randy's AAI mod. RAF in Buckeye.

[GyroRon]

still hiding behind some sunglasses and the mic!!! lol You don't look like a Udi to me, Udi. Glad to be able to put part of a face with a name.

[GyroRon]

Me and my beer belly, Panama City Beach Florida summer before last.....

[Udi]

I don't look "like a Udi"??? What does a Udi looks like :confused:

Here is a picture of a Udi with a Udi's daughters...

[GyroRon]

now that is a better pic! and that explains why the rebuild has taken so long too! As for what does a Udi look like??? Don't know it is just a unique name and your the first person I have kown with that name. So now the next time I run across a Udi I would expect that person to look something like you!

3 daughters!!! wow life will be tough in a few years when they are old enough to date

[GyroRon]

Ah and after a second look, I see you got rabbit ears too. Funny

[StanFoster]

Udi: Nice gyro pictures....and more importantly...nice bunch of girls you have. This is what its all about. :)

[Udi]

N527UZ has passed the airworthiness inspection this morning without a problem. The DAR was Terry Edwards, a real nice and knowledgeable Coloradoan.

Thanks to Bill Clem for all his help.

I had a small problem just before the inspection. This was the first time I have mounted the new 24' DW rotors on my gyro. It turns out my teeter towers are shorter than the “standard” Bensen towers, and the hub bar was touching the spindle bolt. I will replace the teeter towers, probably with higher than standard AC towers, so I can have more options for underling.

Since I had the rotors already installed I tried my prerotator and it worked great.

Udi

[Udi]

After inspection

[RobO]

Congratulations Udi. I'm sorry I haven't made it up there yet check it out. When I get back from working in New Mexico after the 4th, I will definitely have more time and I'd love to see it.

Just as the weather is getting nice!

Rob

[jucie]

Congratulations, Udi!

[Heron]

What a cute bunch of "Udilooking" little girls! :D
Heron

[Udi]

I spent a couple of hours doing taxi work today. The pre-rotator worked fine, I can get it to ~150 static. Balanced on the mains and stopped short of getting airborne. My left side disc break is a little stronger than the right one, but I don't think I can do anything about that. I got used to that quickly and compensated with rudder.

The nose bike wheel worked great. I was a bit concerned that it would catch in one of the many deep cracks we have in the runway, but it didn't. Ground control was superb.

The new 24 ft DWs worked like magic. I didn't flap them even once :eek: I felt no stick shake at 250 RPM.

The CEP (thanks John Landrey) helmet setup proved absolutely wonderful. Those earplug transducers deliver crisp audio, and leave the engine noise out. I have installed the CEP and a microphone inside the Arai helmet, which you can see in the hang test pictures.

The wind picked up with gusts at noon and I had to stop.

While I was at the airport I found a new home for my gyro. A very nice couple with a 172 let me share their hangar for $125/mo. This may be a bit steep, but it sure beats trailering the gyro around.

Tomorrow at the crack of dawn I am going back for some more practice.

Udi-

[Friendly]

Great picture, Kids are proof 'God has a sense of Humor'.

[Udi]

I could feel the tension building up in my body as I taxied my new gyro to runway 33 for it’s first test flight. It was 6:30 am Saturday morning. The air was cool; the wind calm, and the fixed wing traffic was slow. Perfect conditions for a first test flight.

The first test flight of a home-built aircraft is always exciting. Rationally, you know that you have used accepted construction techniques to build your machine, the gyro was set-up according to known specifications, you hang-tested it, and therefore it should fly ok. But somewhere in the back of your mind there is this nagging uncertainty of what is going to happen once the wheels leave the ground.

My original plan was to have my flight instructor come and test fly my Air Command for me. I live in Colorado, and there are no flight instructors in a 1000-mile radius. Greg Bradley, the Air Command company CFI, has offered to come to Colorado and test fly my gyro. However, due to conflicting schedules, Greg couldn’t be in Colorado as soon as I wanted. Other flight instructors I spoke with couldn’t make it either. I decided that, with some good flight instruction already under my belt, I could fly the gyro myself.

I pre-rotated the blades to 100 RRPM and called on the radio - “Fort Collins Loveland traffic, Gyroplane 527 uniform zulu is rolling on runway 33 for it’s first test flight. Staying over the runway for about 3 minutes.”

I taxied on the runway and continued pre-rotating. At 145 RRPM I released the brakes and increased the engine RPM to start rolling. The Dragon Wings were accelerating fast and at 165 RRPM I released the pre-rotator handle and added more power. The rotor speed exceeded 230 RRPM and I was balancing on the mains. Now came the part I have never done before with this, or any other single place gyroplane. I advanced the throttle slowly forward and the Rotax 532 accelerated to 6000 RPM. Here we go.

At this point I stopped paying attention to the instruments and only concentrated on keeping the nose wheel off the runway and staying on the centerline. In a few seconds the gyroplane became airborne, slightly rolling to the left. I stopped the roll with some right stick while keeping the gyro for a few more seconds in ground effect, until the airspeed has reached 50 mph. With a slight backpressure on the stick the gyro started climbing and I reduced power to stay at 30-50 feet off the runway.

The gyro felt stable and responsive. A small rudder correction resulted in a huge yaw overshoot. OK. I will have to be more gentle with the rudder. It was time to bring it down. I still had about half of the runway in front of me, but I didn’t want to get too close to the end so I reduced power to about 4500 RPM and the gyro started descending back to the runway.

I kept my speed at about 50 all the way to ground effect and then eased back on the stick for the flare. Surprise – the gyro ballooned and I found myself too high over the runway with the airspeed bleeding off quick. I relaxed the stick a bit and the gyro came down nicely for a perfect second flare and a very smooth touchdown. Power came to idle, and I rolled off the runway after a short flight that felt much longer than 3 minutes.

This was my (and N537UZ’s) first test flight. In the next couple of hours I have made 8 or 9 more short flights, flying higher and higher over the runway, doing S-turns, and practicing steeper approaches. After that first flight, the rest of the flights were much more relaxed.

My objectives for the next few flights include flying the pattern at 500 feet, practice steeper and steeper approaches until I have my engine out practice landings perfected, and then venture out of the airport to some of the friendly fields surrounding the airport.

I am very excited to finally be flying the machine I was working on for the past year.

Udi

[Dean_Dolph]

Congratulations, Udi! I have never done it (yet!) but I suspect it is close to the same feeling a first time father feels. I said close, guys, not the same feeling! Your report had enough detail to make me feel as if I was there, appreciate it.

[Chuck Irby]

Way to go Udi! I am happy for you. :) ;)

[CLS447]

Good going Udi ! With the little instruction I had , I drug my blades up & down the runway many times. You launched on the first run..... & landed! Don't skimp on your preflights & don't rush things. Sounds like you got a good handle on it though. Good luck and..........

[StanFoster]

Udi: Way to go...its a rush isnt it? :)

Stan

[chuter]

Way to go Udi! I could feel the butterflies in my stomach. :eek:

[PW_Plack]

Udi,

You express yourself so well, it's like being there! Thanks for a small sample of the emotion I hope to enjoy soon myself, and stay safe.

[scottessex]

OUTSTANDING!

Congrats, what a feeling it is!

[Screw]

Screw-In

Way to go Udilicious!!! Great looking family too. Comming to ROC?

Screw-Out

[barnstorm2]

Big Congratulations!!

Take it one step at a time!

[ben]

way to go udi con- grats in a big way :D

[Udi]

Thanks, Everyone.

Went flying again this morning. Wind was quartering tailwind 2-3 knots on the active runway. I decided to go ahead and fly the pattern. The rate of climb was much better than I had expected it to be at my altitude (5000ft) - about 700 fpm. That, of course, has something to do with the cool morning air - 61 deg. F, 16 C. I can improve my climb rate a little by reducing the pitch of my prop; max RPM today was about 6350. I would probably get more power if I pitch the prop to 6500 RPM.

The prop torque is significant. At full RPM the airframe is hanging oh, maybe 5 degrees to the left. I have to keep some right stick pressure all the time. This is a weird feeling that I don't remember having with all the two place machines I have flown. It probably has something to do with my short mast (68").

As I was flying, the quartering tail wind became stronger, but I had no problems keeping the centerline during takeoff and landings. This gyro is so agile! I think I am starting to get the hang of it.

After about 7 landings I decided to call it a day. I taxied back to the hangar, did a post-flight check, and went to work.

Life is good.

Udi

[Chuck Irby]

That sounds really good, Udi. Keep on keepin' on. ;)

[Aussie_Paul]

Congratulations Udi. One question? Why would you accept a tail wind that was becoming stronger?

Well done. Aussie Paul.:)

[Udi]

Paul - I have to use the active runway. I cannot fly in opposite direction to all the other planes. Usually, when the tail wind becomes stronger than 5 knots, the active runway would change direction.

Udi