Aussie Paul's trip

[LARRYEBOYER]

Aussie Paul. I was on vacation last week and am trying to catch up. I hope I didn't miss your posts. If so direct me to them. Also if you did not post, let's hear and see pictures of yout NZ trip and your comments and experience flying the RAF conversion.

[Aussie_Paul]

You are right Larrye, I have not posted yet. What with training and fighting the authoroties to be able to fly from my home licenced airport, I have been slack on the forums.

I will address that this evening, after I sort my son Matt out. He is 6'4" and weighs 330 lbs, and so I will ask him rather than sort him out to show me how to shrink my pics now that he has changed my pc for the better!!!!!!!!! :D Boy I hate change!!!!!!

I have a couple of pics that I shrunk before Matt "improved" my pc :mad:

I was operating approx 2/3rds down the east coast of the south island of NZ. We flew south from one operating area to another, approx 200 miles maybe a little less, but when you are having fun who cares? :D I was upgrading a helicopter come tinnie come ultralight chief instructor, to gyroplanes. His name is Mick and his expertise is to train the trainers.

Aussie Paul

[Aussie_Paul]

Heading south

[KenSandyEggo]

I always wondered what Santa did in the summer to keep busy.

[LARRYEBOYER]

Just a spetacular shot of the coast. How did you get Santa to fly your machine? I knew you had conections, but.......

[Chuck Irby]

A beautiful shot of the coast line, Paul. It looks like you wouldn't have any problem finding a place to set her down in case of an EO either.

Yep, Santa is the first one I thought of too.

[StanFoster]

Good shots Paul....keep em coming. :D

[Aussie_Paul]

A couple more NZ pics

[Chuck Irby]

Another beautiful coastline, Paul. Thanks.

[Aussie_Paul]

And again. The leaving Ashburton pic shows Lloyd and John who own the Raf and of course "Santa Mick".

I went to NZ at the request of John and Lloyd. I had previously trained them both in Oz. They both have single seat gyros and Lloyd is mucking around with a UFO. John wants the first Firebird in NZ and has offered to come over and help me put the bits together. NZ is in the same situation as most places re gyro training, almost non existent. John and Lloyd bought the Raf and did the mods that I have proven to be beneficial. John did a very neat and tidy stepping of the keel to lower the engine and redrive 6". The Stab has 4 degrees negative AoA. I think that I may have posted some of this before, any how bear with me.

The idea was to bring Mick up to speed on gyroplanes. He had flown some dual hours on Oz. Mick is very experienced in helio tinnies and ultra lights, and is a senior instructor. John and Lloyd bought the Raf for Mick to conduct some gyro training. Lloyd had learnt with me a couple of years before John.
The Raf was to stay with Mick for a few weeks to allow Mick to become conversant with the Raf operating envelope. Micks’ intention is to train the trainers. That is train some younger gyroplane instructors. Mick is held in high esteem in the NZ aviation fraternity.

Bringing Lloyd up to passenger carrying would mean that John could fly with Lloyd when they get the machine home. That is if Mick will let them have it back. Mick is a retired helicopter pilot, who was involved in the deer culling in the 1970s, and never thought that he would fly rotory wing again!!!!! You never know what life has in store for you.

I noticed as I did with Hybrid that, as the thrust line was now lower than it used to be in relation to the thrust line, the nose came up too early during the take off run. This meant that to place the nose wheel back on the ground the rotor disc angle was reduced so much that the rotors did not accelerate as quickly as they should. I had mentioned to them that we may have had to shift the main axle back before I left Oz. I recommend that every Raf, particularly those that are flown solo by a lighter person, would benefit from shifting the axle back 2" or 3".

Mick and I had to fly the Raf south a couple of hundred miles to help some other people out who needed training, and also test a machine for Rex Telfer. Rex had modified his gyro after I had made him aware of the PPO problems that would be associated with his very high thrust line machine. Rex had come to Oz to receive some training in Hybrid after he had received some instruction in a standard Raf with a stab. He was surprised at how much more stable Hybrid flew. Rex made a great decision to modify his gyro. I can now report that it flew extremely stable. Another gyro pilot Paul Barron, who had flown Rexs’ machine, before and after the modifications, has decided to rebuild his two seat gyro to Center Line Thrust. Well done Paul. You will be a good ambassador for stable gyroplanes.

It was a great 3 leg trip but the weather kept us to the coast most of the way. The pics were taken as Mick flew us south to Taieri grassed airstrip where I had trained a Raf buyer in 1999. This is also where my friend Alan lives. We refueled at Timaru and Omaru.

By now Mick was flying very nicely and I was able to conduct some training another Raf owner Jim Service. Jim has been flying an open frame single seater, powered by an ea-81 with a belt redrive, for around 50 hours. Jim was keen to get some Raf time to help him convert across to his own Raf. Jim is definitely another convert to the Raf mods that we have developed.

It is hard beat the opinions of reasonably inexperienced gyro pilots after they have flown stable and unstable machines. They can really tell the difference.

I had flown 12 days straight and had achieved about 35 hours in this now wonderful Raf 2000 registered RAE. The only problem that we had was the exhaust cracked inside and let exhaust gasses into the carby heat. This is a common problem, so we welded a 14” length of 1 ½” exhaust tubing along the side of the muffler and connected the carb heat hose to that. This works much more efficiently than the factory arrangement. Lloyd and John intend to fit ecu driven fuel injection and ignition, as soon as possible, to remove the carby icing problems, as well as reducing the fuel consumption. Also an extra 100 engine rpm is usually gained after fitting the fuel injection.

Well, after being away from home for almost 2 weeks and flying every day, I was beginning to become a little weary and it was time to head for home. Alan drove me to Momona, the Dunedin International airport, and I boarded the 737 back to Melbourne, and then the shuttle bus home to Ballarat. The very hospitable people of NZ really looked after me and made me feel most welcome. I just wished the Nelson boys, Alan, and I all lived closer together. That would make the Firebird happen so much easier and quicker.

The NZ qualifications that I now have allow me to train NZ people in Oz and sign them off with NZ paperwork. So you Kiwis, who are having difficulty receiving training on a regular continuing basis, come to Oz and go home with your NZ gyroplane pilot certificate.

Aussie Paul.

[Aussie_Paul]

I forgot to attach pics last post. Aussie Paul.

[Aussie_Paul]

Boy!! I must be tired after the gruelling I went through today with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority investigator. Aussie Paul.

[Aussie_Paul]

Aussie Paul. :D

[barnstorm2]

Great Picts!

River outlet is my fav.

[Aussie_Paul]

A couple more to tease!!!!! Aussie Paul. :D

[Chuck Irby]

Wow, nice shots, Paul!

[Aussie_Paul]

Here we go again. Oops this is a video. Aussie Paul.

[Aussie_Paul]

More. ;)
Aussie Paul.

[Chuck Irby]

That's a pretty little town or community in that valley. Does it have a name, Paul?

[birdy]

Hey Paul,is that Graham B.'s old machine???

[StanFoster]

Paul: Nice pictures. I dont know if I ever will get to Australia...so keep sending bits of her back here. :D

Stan

[Aussie_Paul]

It sure is Birdy. That was the first Raf sold in Oz under my time as Raf rep. Graeme told Raf at Oshkosh that he would buy one if they had and agent in Oz who could give flight instruction. That was at the same time that I was discussing stabs etc with and becoming a rep for Raf. I took Rafs word for the "magic bush" in the mast acting as a h/stab, and became the Oz Raf rep.

Boy!!!!!!!! how naive I was at that time. I even had a couple of thousand gyro hours!!!!! At least I have now learn't. Many others haven't so I guess that I have Raf to thank for the most important gyroplane information I have learn't. :o

Aussie Paul. :D

[Greg Mitchell]

Great pics Paul, looks about as cold as Tassie is at this time of year. Can you tell me how the cloud affected flight characteristics?
Regards,

Mitch

[Aussie_Paul]

Hi Greg, that is something your instructor should answer for you in preparation for a Met exam.

Great to see that you are getting to have something that is starting to look like a gyro. I can feel the excitement over here!!!! :D
How did you go with the brakes? The white is sure nice.

Aussie Paul.

[LARRYEBOYER]

Aussie Paul. just apsolutely incredible scenery.I really enjoyed your pictures.I noticed the impending rain storm in the foreground i the one picture, here is a $64000 question for all the gyro head know it alls. What happens if i get caught in a rain storm in my gyro. I have the composit RAF blades. What happens / Now I am assuming I still have visibility.

[KenSandyEggo]

I flew mine in a moderately heavy rain and nothing happened. I was only about 10 minutes out at the time. I think you can lose lift though if the rain is heavy enough.

[mceagle]

I have flown through heavy rain with conventional Aluminium baldes and not noticed any difference.
However I have been forced back to ground a few times with Skywheels, in light rain and low over insect infested grass. This was on a two seater with minimum respectable performance. As far as the insects were concerned, a quick clean of the leading edge restored origonal performance.

[Aussie_Paul]

I have lost the paint and some filler from the leading edge on a couple of sets of Raf blades when caught in heavier rain that I would normally want to fly in!!!!!!

I much prefere gel coated.


Tim with the Skywheels, I had one occaision, after flying in the evenings for a few days, where the student washed the blades as I refueled and we could reduce the engine power by 200 rpm(Rotax 582) on the next flight.

Aussie Paul. :eek:

[KenSandyEggo]

After I crossed the mountains on my way to Buckeye, I was flying over an agricultural area (Imperial County). When I refueled in Yuma, I washed the bugs off the blades and it felt like I gained an extra 15 h.p. Bugs and dirt will make a big difference in blade performance, and this was with the Sportcopters.

[Aussie_Paul]

It seems Ken that the more efficient the blades, the more they suffer from dirt bugs etc on the blades. I am not sure if this is 100% correct aerodynamically though.

Me not sure, heck I couldn't be maturing could I? Nah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aussie Paul.

[LARRYEBOYER]

tHANKS FOR THE RESPONSE ON THE RAIN. I notice stick shake when the blades are bug infested. I always give mine a wipe as I do the preflight.

[GraemeMonro]

I once got caught in a very heavy tropical rain, I did not notice any change to the flying quality of the alloy rotors but it did knock the prop around a bit. Also made flying and landing hard when you have your left hand over your face and eyes to stop the stinging sensation.

[Dewie]

:D :D HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL. :D :D
________
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[Aussie_Paul]

...........the old 55 !!!!!!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

Tuesday with the Feds/CASA went well. I will email you the details.

Aussie Paul.

[Chuck Irby]

A big, belated, Happy Birthday to you Aussie Paul. You ain't old!

[LARRYEBOYER]

Paul, I don't know your birthday, but you must have just had one. HAPPY BIRTYDAY to you and I hope you have many, many more to come and happiness every day!

[Aussie_Paul]

I'm a little embarrassed by the compliments and the good photos but thanks anyway Paul. You're always welcome at my camp, just let me know so I can put the still into overdrive prior to your arrival!!!! Best regards, Santa Mick.

[Aussie_Paul]

This is a map of where Santa Mick (welcome Mick) took me among all that cloud etc!!!!!!!!

Aussie Paul.