SparroHawk Build and Testing III

[r.coplen]

Back again. Here is my four different practices at making the insturment panel. I used .090 aluminum. The final panel was completed with the help of Heather Poe. She has a small CNC machine and was able tocut out the panel dead on. She also assisted greatly by sodering the connectors for the radio and the transponder. She has done that kind of work professionally in the past and did a job that takes a lot better eyes and steadier hands than I could do. Thank you Heather. Sorry I didn't get your picture. Will get your pix soon on the forum.

[r.coplen]

Adding insturments into panel.

[r.coplen]

Here is how the back of the panel is shaping up.

[KenSandyEggo]

How come they can make handhelds the size of a pack of cigarettes and our panel radios have to protrude out the back around a foot?

Nice looking simple panel. I'd take a picture of the back of my panel, but I'd never have the nerve to post it.

[Aussie_Paul]

That radio and transponder looks like good old Oz stuff?

Aussie Paul.

[r.coplen]

Paul,

The SKYDAT is from Oz' but the radio and transponder are Beckers and from Germany.

Ken,

Have more wiring to do today in the pod and lets see howthat comes out. It will certainly look more complicated.

[Aussie_Paul]

Randy, could you give me a contact for the Skydat please.

Aussie Paul.

[gyromike]

How come they can make handhelds the size of a pack of cigarettes and our panel radios have to protrude out the back around a foot?

That's a good question Ken.

Why can they also sell a handheld with VOR capabilities/weather/preset scans/etc. for $500, yet not offer a panel mounted version for a similar price?

[Hognose]

How come they can make handhelds the size of a pack of cigarettes and our panel radios have to protrude out the back around a foot?.

Ken,

Becker now makes units that have a remote head and the head only protrudes maybe an inch and a half (say 4 cm for you furriners) behind the panel, you can stow the main unit anywhere. Be a nice solution for that low-set area of the RAF panel.

They have both individual small units (like a shallow version of Randy's that Paul mistook for the Microair units) and a combined RT and XPDR . I have Becker's CD catalogue here somewhere.

Disadvantage of the Becker stuff is cost, especially with the Euro-dollar exchange rate as it is presently. The Microair units are (IMHO) as good, and significantly less costly. Disadvantage of the Australian product in the US is intermittent availability. But there are times when a guy looking for ANY small-instrument-hole RT is out of luck because neither Becker or Microair can hook him up from stock.

cheers

-=K=-

[Aussie_Paul]

If anyone has trouble with US supply of Microair, let me know. As a Microair agent I may have internal supply at that time.

Aussie Paul.

[r.coplen]

Finally more photos. Just about finished panel.

[r.coplen]

Fuse and switch panel. The three front fuses are a master switch and the two fuel pumps.

[r.coplen]

Beginning to wire back of fuse panel

[r.coplen]

Dr. G is making sure every wire is right. If you do it right the first time you don't have to do it again. Keith (15 year old) is hanging out and picking up a ton of education about wiring as I am.

[r.coplen]

Pod is finally installed. Didn't see dusty finger prints but they dusted off just fine. Cyclic control stick is installed too.

[KenSandyEggo]

Randy, I'm assuming the handles with the white tops are individual brakes ala Jim Mayfield's on his original RAF? Are they hydraulic and is the foot brake eliminated?

[ToddP]

Man it really looks good Randy. I assume you'll have it at Arlington this week?

[r.coplen]

Ken,

The foot brakes are eliminated and the hand brakes use cables. (Although there is a foot peg on the bottom of the left hand brake where you can hold down both main brakes with your right foot.) The idea is to use it when you prerotate. You have one hand on the throttle and one hand on the cyclic. You can use your left foot to hold the brakes. When taxiing you use the hand brakes. This assembly is nicely made. The hand levers are machined to a great shape and finish.

Todd,

I am leaving for Arlington as soon as I log off. I look forward to seeing you there. Take time for a flight in Ruby with David Overman. I wish it was the SparrowHawk flying but we are about two weeks from first flight. I am trailering The SparrowHawk today for a static display and David is flying Ruby up to Arlington. Gordon will continue wiring the SparrowHawk at Arlington. It is an EAA flyin and a good place for a wiring demonstration. Gordon is installing a set of Super Trap mufflers this morning on Ruby. We welded cracks in the old can muffler as many times as we could.

[Gyrobound]

So Randy, how is the SH coming? Haven't heard any new news about the build in quite a while. Have you flown yet?
Scott

[birdy]

Gyrobound said,
You're as young as you feel. Some days you can conquer the world, other days you shouldn't even get up.

I thought it went,
Your only as old as the one your feeling. :D :D

[Gyrobound]

Birdy, I'd have to say that is sometimes not true.:{)}

[Gyrobound]

So Randy, what happened to your gyro? No new pictures since Jul 7th. Trying to keep us all in the dark?
Scott

[r.coplen]

Scott,

I am just about done. I will post more pictures in the next few days. Can't believe that there Russian Alex beat me. I have been really tied up with the flight school and trying to get time to get everything done that needs to be done when you are starting a new business. The wiring is more than I can do so I have had to ask for help from Gordon to make sure all the avionics work right. I am scheduled Friday for the DAR inspection. I hope I don't have to move it till Monday. David Overman (our local CFI)Under the supervision of our cheif pilot Scott Tennisand who is a gyroplane test pilot member of the Association of Test Pilots, will do the test program.

[Gyrobound]

Sounds like you are almost there. I've run into a little snag on the front end. I've been trying to get my home refinanced to get the cash to buy my SH and that looks like it will happen this week but a couple weeks ago I tore the tendon off in my right arm trying to lift a water heater so surgery has now postponed my buy for at least a month. Doc says 6 months before I'm back to 100%.

Looking forward to the new pictures though and what the finished product looks like.

Scott

[r.coplen]

Scott,

Your going to love the SparrowHawk. I was talking to Terry Eiland yesterday and he said it is just a great flying machine. He has flown RAF's, Modified RAF's and the SparrowHawk and he is very pleased with all the flight characteristics. I will be reporting the same I believe soon.

[Gyrobound]

Yes, I know Terry, I got my first flight in his modified RAF just before he had finnished his SH. That flight sealed the deal for me. I've been emailing him on and off for the past year since we flew this past spring. He is full of information and I will most likely go down there next spring and train with him. I can hardly wait.
Scott

[r.coplen]

I finally have to post more pictures. Final pod wiring.

[r.coplen]

Overhead wiring for switches, breakers, engine computer

[r.coplen]

Its all there!

[r.coplen]

Here is the process for the wind screen. I used a Sika product that is used to hold windows in some commercial aircraft.

[Vance]

Once again you have done a remarkable job. Everything is very tidy. You are always an inspiration! Thank You, Vance

[r.coplen]

Time to get the rotorhead, droop stops and blade mounted.

[r.coplen]

Picture of rotorhead. I tried to get it in the batch above but you can only put in five pictures.

[r.coplen]

Here we are out at the airport beginning engine startups.

[r.coplen]

A good look at the front of my AAI Modified RAF and my SparrowHawk (there is a big difference) and a picture from the side.

[PW_Plack]

Wow...that side-by-side really shows the extra cabin room in the SH.

[Gyrobound]

Great job Randy. You have a super looking gyro there. Hope mine comes out looking half as good.
Scott

[Brian Jackson]

Wow, I didn't realize how different the geometry is between the two enclosures. Personally I like the contours and cut lines of the SH much better aesthetically. I'm sure the extra volume is a nice bonus too!

Brian Jackson

[Vance]

When I fly with Terry, who is around 160 pounds, the little cabin is not a big problem, when I fly with Steve, who is around 210 pounds the extra room is very usefull. With the little cabin Steve has to lean out in order to not limit my control movements. The difference the larger, better cabin makes needs to be experanced to be fully apreciated. Thank you, Vance

[twistair]

Randy,

Aircraft is pretty nice looking - I wish it flies same it looks!
Have you already name it? Looking at it's nose I bet I know what name would be proper 30 years ago ;) - Mae West, yeah?

Congratulations and - best luck on flying it!

[r.coplen]

Alex,

The image was supposed to be a stylized sparrow hawk beak. You are not the fisrt to bring up the fact that our grahjpic might be much more appealing than just a bird beak. Oh well you win some - and you lose some.

[Udi]

Randy,

This is one of the best crafted gyroplanes I have seen. Great job!

What is the little gadget that is mounted over the teeter block?

Thanks,

Udi
p.s. your graphic would go well with my helmet...

[r.coplen]

Hi Udi,

Like your beak.

I have certainly had some help from Gordon and others in the technical areas beyound my ability and knowledge. I can't even imagine what the wiring would have looked like if I had done it.

I think you are refering to the droop stops. Keeps blades from flpping up and down on ground taxy. Keeps stress of the rotor head form blade flap. The droop stop is released by centrifical force. It is the black apperatus in one of the top pictures. This is a standard item on all SparrowHawks.

[Udi]

Randy,

In the last picture in post #32, there is something installed in the holes above the teeter bolt. Looks like a cylindrical aluminum part. I can't tell what that is... :confused:

I looked again, and I think this part may be a spacer for the droop stopper plates...

Udi

[twistair]

Udi,

This part is an adjustment spacer which is for precise adjusting of the distance between teeter plates.

[ventana7]

Randy,

It looks BEAUTIFUL-- great job !!

Rob

[twistair]

OK, Randy,

One more beak for your collection :D

[ventana7]

Alex,

The above link did not work for me.
Rob

[r.coplen]

Alex,

I believe that is great desert war god Thunder Hawk. It has a mighty beak with one hell of a bad bite. Make quick work of my poor SparrowHawk. I think you could buy 1000 SparrowHawks for the price of one Thunder Hawk.

Blue Skies, Alex