Newbie in Alabama

[olivefoto]

I got interested in Gyro planes about two years ago and consequently bought a UFO Helithruster in August of 07.
I went to Searcy Arkansas and took some lessons from Ron Menzie. Now I am looking for a flight instructor in Alabama in order to take additional lessons.
I would also like to get in touch with others near me that are building similar planes such as the sparrow Hawk or the ra f. M y plane is near completed and I hope to get an airworthy certificate in the near future. I went to the rotorcraft convention in Mentone, Indiana and met many nice people now I am looking forward to being a part of the gyro community.if anyone has information that may be helpful to me please respond it will be appreciated.

[PW_Plack]

Richard, welcome to the forum, and to the sport!

We'll all be anxious to see how things go with the UFO. Mentone was the first time most of us have had the chance to see one fly.

If you can, find a flight instructor who will provide a second opinion on your construction job before the UFO makes its first flight. This is a relatively new design, and if you're a first-time builder, the chance to miss something important is multiplied.

[DanielM]

Hi fellow Alabamian! :)

I just completed my ultralight Gyrobee a month ago, but I haven't had time to fly since I just started attending college at UAH(not far from you). Hopefully this will change in the coming weeks.

As for training, there are currently no instructors in Alabama. I received mine from a nice guy by the name of Larry Banks up in Sparta Tennessee. He is very thorough, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I'll PM you his Cell & Home numbers if you like.

On another note, If you are planning on joining the PRA, the Alabama chapter has currently folded. I don't know how many members it takes to reinstate it, but if we can find some more members up here we can try.

P.S. Glad to know that I'm not alone!

[John Stahl]

Hi Richard

Welcome to the forum.

It was good to talk to you at Mentone. I haven’t been able to get a hold of the guy in Bozeman that has the UFO for sale. I will be going over in a month or so I will see if I can get in contact with him then.

John Stahl

[BUD ONEAL]

Danial,
I am in Ider Al.Ron Ionas is in Cedar Bluff,Wayne Strugil is in the same area.There is several in Ala. now.
I believe that ten is needed to start another club.Should you want email me and we can get together and see about forming a club.
Bud O'Neal

[MikeBoyette]

I Nominate Bud for Pres. LOL Just kiddin.

[Dean_Dolph]

Danial,
I am in Ider Al.Ron Ionas is in Cedar Bluff,Wayne Strugil is in the same area.There is several in Ala. now.
I believe that ten is needed to start another club.Should you want email me and we can get together and see about forming a club.
Bud O'NealActually only 5 PRA members are required to form a chapter. Someone act as the spokesman and send me your contact info (mailing address, email address and phone number) and I'll get a chapter starter packet out to you. My contact info is in the PRA magazine on the chapter page and hopefully when Greg Gremminger gets some help it will be on the PRA web site.

Chapter interest has picked up considerably this past year and it would be good to get Alabama back on the chapter list.

[13brv3]

Now I am looking for a flight instructor in Alabama in order to take additional lessons.

Dofin Fritts ( gyrocfi@aol.com ) offers RAF training in Brewton, AL. It's not real close to Florence, but it's a nice airport to train at, particularly on the weekends when the Navy isn't around.

Cheers,
Rusty

[iconnary]

Rick Abercrombie gives instruction in a SparrowHawk out of Covington, GA, about 30 miles east of Atlanta. It's a bit further to drive but still an option.

You can also check the PRA website's instructor list here : http://www.pra.org/index.php?module=article&view=60&page_num=2

[Steve McGowan]

I got interested in Gyro planes about two years ago and consequently bought a UFO Helithruster in August of 07.
I went to Searcy Arkansas and took some lessons from Ron Menzie. Now I am looking for a flight instructor in Alabama in order to take additional lessons.
I would also like to get in touch with others near me that are building similar planes such as the sparrow Hawk or the ra f. M y plane is near completed and I hope to get an airworthy certificate in the near future. I went to the rotorcraft convention in Mentone, Indiana and met many nice people now I am looking forward to being a part of the gyro community.if anyone has information that may be helpful to me please respond it will be appreciated.

Atleast you have cut your teeth before lookin at the forum.. last NEWBIE that got on here was Tarrd and Feathered before he was a week old.

"Newbie" Grant is from Plains,Ga. You know,,,Jimmy Carters front yard,, he's close to the line..........

Folks from Abalama are tuff,,,,,, But just in case
get some snake bite boots.. theyll come in handy..:)


steve

[Rotornut]

EAA is 10 members to start a club. At least that is what it was 2 yrs ago.
MJ

[wayne331]

it's good to here from gyro pilot in al.,wayne stargell in leesburg al.





































































































































































































































stargell

[dragonflyerthom]

Stargell

You must be from deep south Al based on your post.

[kitin]

welcome to the forum...i am a newbie just like you are...just entered the forum yesterday...

[ELS]

Hi Richard,

I am from Rainbow City, Alabama and we met in Mentone this year. I start my lessons the end of this month with Steve McGowan in Macon, Ga.. Glad to hear you are making progress on your UFO. I have not decide on my gyroplane of choice, but I am leaning toward a Sparrow Hawk. Once I get a little farther down the road I would be interested in joining a Chapter in Alabama.

Ed Spraley

[Ron E]

Hey, I'm based in Lillian, AL !

Looks like we have at least one gyro person in every corner of this vast State ! We all should get together at the Waffle House.

[BUD ONEAL]

Hey Ron E.
Pick a waffle house that is close to the same distance and we can make it happen! Would be nice to set and talk for awhile.

[PW_Plack]

Ron, if you promise to bring your avatar gal with you, I'll bet they'll meet you at a Waffle House close to your place!

[DanielM]

Ron,
Pick a place I'll be there.

BTW, Bud did you get my email about the chapter?

[BUD ONEAL]

Daniel,
Yes I did,Have been busy repairing the roof of my house and a few other things my wife has set aside for me awaiting cooler weather,Now it is here and I'll be busy for about two weeks and then I'll be FREE! Will contact you then,Bud

[tailrotor007]

I am the exclusive Rep for the Helithruster in the US ... I live near Kansas City Mo. We have two in stock and what a great bird it is...

Forget what ever you have herd about these machines... I used to be affiliated with the sparrowhawk in fact I was one of the two that went to the GBA factory to finish it up the final touches for test flights on the bird that was build for the Denver Rep. They were calling the bird we worked on the Sparrowhawk 2.5 on all the websits and forums.

It didn't take me long to decide which one I would be associated with, once I actually saw and laid hands on the UFO. It was definately the UFO hands down.

All the negative things i have herd so far have been retorick, put out by GBA especaially Al Wydell their chief snake oil salesman.

He actually lied to my face. Thinking I wouldnt't know any different, after being at athe factory and talking to all the empolyees for over a week.

I simply asked him how long if one of my clients orderd a kit how long would it take him or her to recieve it. He looked me dead in the eye and told me 45 days. I had already been there and seen the customers come in who hadn't recieved any part what so ever in 18 months. The one man who made the tail sections at his station told me he was 18 behind and that he can only make one tail per week.... Hummmmmmmmmmmmm seeing is beliveing.

I only have 15 thousand hours in rotor wing time mostly turbine helicopters.. My last job was FDA for Air Evac lifeteam, Gee lets see I was only responsible for 215 pilots 74 bases and almost 600 crewmembers... I shouldn't know anything about rotorcraft or what it takes to make one or how many you can make with only 6 employees working to make parts at the factory...

Then he had the nerve to ask me an additional 45K to become a dealer. John had made arrangements to take over the ship in Denver as he was the partner of the Denver Rep anyway...Then they told him that he would have to buy another bird and also pay the 45 k if he wanted to take over the Denver dealership. We both looked at each other and was truly amazed that they would even have the nerve to ask that kind of money to sell their Sparrowhawk, when John was already had a sparrowhawk and was just taking over fromt he guy retireing in Denver...

We already had dealings with the Barnettes which are a great bird and Jerry has been a prince of a guy to work with and still offer kits or used birds from him. What a great guy and a great machine. One can only stand around Jerrie Barnett and just learn, you can't help it he is a walking enclyclopedia when it comes to Gyros. Even if you have or own a different model than his he will help you ..... He is a wealth of knowledge and profound inventor and well he flies his own product... Can't say that about good Ole Al. He has never piloted a Sparrowhawk ever, he told me this himself.

But now we have found a more modern and eye appealing bird in the UFO.. So we have the best of both worlds now...Better people running the show... We offer free training with a gold seal master CFI instructor, John Revenboer from Denver. We can train you in Either the Barnett Coupe or the new UFO. Lets see he was the same guy who did all GBA test flight data but now they hate him since we started our own company...

We are now taking new students and inquiry's about the UFO Helithruster and the New Law Enforcement version of the UFO Enforcer. It now comes with an 9 pound FLIR unit. It's cabin is now made of Kevlar and carbon fiber, which gives it some bullet resistance up to a 308.....

Come look at these birds we have 8 more coming for delivery by Christmas. Welcome to the new world of rotorcraft. But don't let the negative comments from the peanut gallery scare you off.. These birds are built right and have enought room in them for me ... I am 6"1' 270 and still wont touch shoulders with the students.. 25 gal of gas with a new brain box system that gets 4.5 to 5 gals per hour...Oh did I mention Gear drive reduction .. No Belts...

Look me up, wibe site is coming soon .... Email me at tailrotor007@yahoo.com
I welcome all questions. these are the new models of UFO and are built to be flown not just looked at in ones garage.

Please I am not looking to argue with anyone on the forum over who's best and who's not.. Just gonna tell you the facts and not somebody told a freind of a friends sisters brother about this bird in Australia ..There are only 7 in the Us two in PA two at my place and two personal ones sold previously a couple years ago .. No crashes or insodents here in the US at all ...the owner of the company is truly set on making the best machine ever..

Swivle nose wheel coming soon as well as jump takeoff capabilities is on the drawing board.. We already have one sold and they have not been here two weeks ...Those who are truly interested in a first class gyro rotorcraft who see this bird are impressed..

Also the owner is listening .. all feedback and ideas are welcome. Not like GBA here it is take it or leave it... we are experimenting with the new props variable pitch as well as muffler systems for the quiet rides around the airports.. We call them the hush kits...

State of the art, inovative and listening to other gyro ethusiasts as to what they would like to see and get in a beautiful machine. what else would you want to see.

Doc Bailey