Hi to everybody.

[Resasi]

Another wannabe hoping to join the ranks. Having been in love with aviation since my first remembered flight, (4 in a Cape to London Flying boat from Lake Naivasha in Kenya to Port Bell Uganda), I have spent my career in fixed wing, though always fascinated by rotary. I guess an aversion to dead mans curve and lack of financial opportunity kept me where I was.
I recently involuntarily retired medicaly and am missing flying badly. My youngest son's recent expression of interest in a sport pilot licence renewed my interest to get back airborne together with him. I have been following with great interest Jay Carter's work in slowed rotor design bridging the gap between fixed and rotary wing. It appears to offer both range and speed as well as VTOL capability in a micro/light affordable way. His proposed 2 place PAV with constantly variable automatic mechanical rotor pitch, ailerons in the wings, in-flight moveable horizontal stabilizer and tilting mast for high speed control though still an idea, sounds hugely attractive. I am greatly interested to see what this community thinks of it.
I have toyed with the idea of a fixed wing micolight and admired from afar autogyros. This though I am really excited about. Is it pie in the sky or a real possibility? I know at the moment he is only collecting deposits to show the potential to a possible manufacturer (he has mine) but does seem recently to have toyed with the idea of going ahead himself and producing it.
If anybody can enlighten me, this forum I think is the place.:yo:

[barnstorm2]

Welcome to the Forum!!!

[dragonflyerthom]

The rotary wing gyro is as close and simple as you can get in flight like a bird. Welcome to the forum.

[PW_Plack]

Leigh,

First, welcome! You'll find lots of interesting ideas and personalities here.

The Carter folks are working on some terrific ideas. It's hard to know exactly when they'll make it to market in a form the public can buy, but why wait? Learn to fly a conventional gyroplane now, and build some hours. Carter's technology appears to favor experienced rotor-wing pilots, so starting now would be helpful.

Most small gyroplane fliers seem to choose the machines for their low/slow capabilities and mechanical simplicity. For most of us, true VTOL is not important. I believe a roadworthy gyroplane with auto-variable rotor pitch will therefore attract a somewhat different community.

But, when it does, they'll probably wind up here on the forum! Keep us posted on your exploits.

[Resasi]

Thank you Paul, Barnstorm2 and dragonflyerthom,

Paul I am indeed aiming to get conventional time, and do the sportplane/auotogyro curriculum together with my son, brushing up on all the stuff I haven't used in a while together with the new.

Guess it was the cross country range/speed aspect I liked together with the ability to land and take-off from pretty well anywhere that I found so attractive about the Carter project, also very taken with the Carter Scimitar bladed prop and his strut on the modified Butterfly used as their demonstrator

Flew out of Opa Locka when I first started flying in the US in the 60's. My son is now in Mirimar which I think is quite close. Is there much autogyro activity round there? Seem to remember North Perry was just above Opa Locka and quieter,( OL was logging in excess of 3000 movements a day when I was instructing with BATC) but haven't been there in years, probably all changed now.
.

[Joe Pires]

Welcome!!!

[GyroDoug]

Leigh,

Welcome to the forum !!!!!

I too have followed what Jay Carter is working on and it is very impressive. Only time will tell if it ever comes to market. I also followed Paul Moller and his Sky Car concept for years, but I quit waiting for it to happen. If you take some time and check out "thebutterflyllc.com" you will find that Larry's Butterfly Gyros can get you incredibly short take offs, vertical landings and some spectacluar fly / drive capabilities today. There are lots of exciting developments available to us today. Best of luck!!!!

Gyro Doug

[Heron]

Leigh
Welcome!
I live (temporarily) in Pompano Beach, Broward County, Florida.
A couple of friends are working out of North Perry preparing a Cessna for its annual.
We also own a Golden Butterfly that is about to get inspected at the same airport. It is a group trying to get in the air with gyroplanes.
We need more people involved and in special an instructor.
You are in good hands here and lots of info can be received in a daily basis.
Heron

[Resasi]

Hi Heron,

Hi Heron. Pompano, used to drop in for a coffe there. Yup, looked at the instructor situation round Fla it isn't great. Something I mentioned to my son, (talk about running before crawling). Suggested if we do get ourselves a machine and airborne it's something he might consider part time, try and cover costs. Having gone the instructor route I know what I learned from my students in the hours spent in 'Indian territory' over the Everglades and round the Miami practice area was invaluable. And yes, nearly died a few times but it was the most fantastic time and I loved it.

Might I mention you to my son? I know its early days and he's still settling in with his job and a new arrival on the way, but if he could just meet a few people, just see the machine, chat. I took them flying young and they got a little stick time in a few things, but a while ago. He was good but never keen on flying as a job, the other is a 330 F/O in the UK.
I aim to come over and visit him and would certainly be very interested.

Doug, that's a problem that does concern me. Jay has been working for years and has bigger things he's aiming for. He's picked up military funding for his Heli-plane research and unfortunately as far as I can see not many options on the 2 place PAV. Couldn't afford the 4 place though I think he might be more keen on bringing that to market. Tempted to put a deposit on a production No on the jet version just as an investment. My time in Exec tell me that could be a real goer. Have looked at the Butterfly range and they look good, but not quite what I would want if the Carter on came out. He apparently thought it was OK for his prototype for development though.