Aussie_Paul
06-27-2004, 04:00 PM
I brought this part of the hi jacked pre rotator thread to here.
================================================
Aussie_Paul
Stirrer and troublemaker.
Maybe I should tell the story some time?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry to the people who have seen them a number of times before, but with new members coming along I think it is worthwhile.
Besides, I like to have a little boast every now and then. They were great days home on the farm with my dad. We were more mates than father and son. I do still miss him, even though he has been dead for 22 years, come October 12.
Many people probably don't know that he died in a gyro.
Maybe I should tell the story some time?
Aussie Paul.
__________________
#26 Today, 06:38 AM
jucie
Senior Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aussie_Paul
...They were great days home on the farm with my dad....Many people probably don't know that he died in a gyro. Maybe I should tell the story some time?
Yes, Paul. Please.
__________________
#27 Today, 06:39 AM
Chuck Irby
Gold Supporter
I'd like to read it too Paul.
__________________
********************************************
My Dads final flight.
My father died in a gyro accident on October 12th in 1982. That sure was a low time for me. I was only getting back into flying, and only had about 30 gyro hrs. I did not fly for three months after the accident for my Mothers sake, but at the end of that time I said to her that I would like to continue. My mum said that she could understand. Mum said that she would not be able to handle the sound, (we all know that gyro sound don't we?) but I was welcome to use another property 30 miles away. I did not live at home at that time.
I then, on my own had to trailer my VW Bensen 25 miles to the farm, put the machine together, preflight and then go and take it steady doing strip runs until I felt comfortable. That was pressure I can tell you.
I was married, and my wife Eril and I had two children, a daughter Emma 6 and Mark 3. I am so thankful for the support of Eril and my Mother. Eril could have easily said no, and that would have been the end of my flying. Eril had always liked flying, but cannot understand how I could be be so "hooked". I say I can't understand how Eril could not be "hooked".
I had to on my own, as we ran a 24 hour motel, trailer my VW Bensen 25 miles to the farm, put the machine together, preflight and then go and take it steady doing strip runs until I felt comfortable. That was pressure I can tell you.
I guess at this point you’re all thinking,” What was the cause of my Dads accident?"
At the time we were flying a marginal 1675cc VW powered Bensen with 23' Rotor Hawk blades. I was one stone lighter than dad and could back the power of 100 rpm, and dad had to fly full power until it was time to land. I can hear a lot of the more mature (older) people thinking, "Ah that brings back memories". Dad was having a fly in on the property that weekend. There was a guy, we knew, from Melbourne, who had an 1835 VW Bensen with a pre-rotator and all the goodies on the dash. He was talking to dad about how hard it was to find places to fly without getting banned because of the noise. Dad told him he was welcome to bring his caravan and gyro up to the farm, plug into the shearing shed power, and fly till his hearts content. This guy had some long service leave coming up and though that this was a wonderful opportunity, and he was very grateful. So much so that he offered dad and me a fly of his beautiful gyro. Because the day was blowing a gale, both dad and I said that we would leave it until the next day, which looked like being a much better day.
I finished work on the Sunday, and arrived at the farm about midday. My VW 1905cc lightweight Bensen (dad had flown it once on the Friday) was up at the farmhouse. This new machine of mine had only done 3 hrs. The fly in was a mile away, in an open area. The strip at the farmhouse had a power line across it and so it was not a marked strip. I took off and flew down to the fly in paddock. It was the ultimate gyro flying day, gentle 5 mph breeze and 4/8 ths fluffy clouds. I landed and had just tied my blades down as dad and his mate were heading his mates’ gyro. I asked dad if I could swap props with him as his prop was 5 mph faster and I needed a little more airflow
over the new VW. He said ok, and as a joke said, “Don’t hit any rocks with it,” the strip was grass and had no rocks. I thought to myself that Dad was really going to enjoy this flight, and I don’t have to spin the rotors for him!!!! I started to take the prop off my engine as well as keeping an eye on Dad getting strapped in and the owner giving Dad the instructions about the pre rotator. I watched him take off and climb out over the end fence and start a very gentle turn to the right. Dad was not one for radical type flying, he reckoned just being up there was good enough. Mum called out that the bbq lunch was ready so I turned and headed over to the food table. All of a sudden there was a commotion. I looked around and about ¾ of a mile away there was a fire and plume of black smoke. :( I jumped in the car and raced across, but there was nothing I could do, so I headed back to mum. I just could not believe what had just happened.
The Bureau of Air Safety with some help from me did their normal thorough investigation. There was only one witness about a ½ mile from the accident site who said that the gyro started another turn to the right, but the turn continued until the gyro was almost inverted and fell almost vertically onto a mob of sheep, killing 2 of them. The power only stopped when the gyro impacted the ground. Control systems were checked and found to be either bent but intact or broken from accident overload. It did not appear as if dad was doing anything silly. The Coroner came up with an open finding which I was not really happy with. We know that the accident has to be either
1) Pilot error,
2) Machine Failure, or
3) Pilot incapacitation.
Not being one to “just accept” things, I started to look into the health side of things. The autopsy revealed that dads heart was in better than average shape for a 57 y/o, but they could not make a judgment regarding the possibility of a stroke due to the severity of the head injuries. Over the next few years I spoke to a number of people who had been affected by a stroke. What I did learn was that strokes can cause a reversal of your motor functions to what the brain is telling the body. I.e. One guy told me he woke up in the morning and went to get out of bed on the left side but his body kept going to the right side. Whether Dad had this happen to him we do not know. To me it seemed very strange that he never reduced power when things started to go wrong. He may have died as he started the second turn.
Dad had a GA aircraft, built the first Bob Hovey Wing Ding in Australia, and loved his gyro flying the most.
Dad had flown approx 70 hours in a 72 hp mac Bensen style gyro is 1962 and 1963. In 1964 we then went GA flying and in 1978 dad built the Wing Ding. In 1980 his passion for gyros resurfaces and he bought a VW Bensen and had accumulated approximately 120 hours in that machine around the farm.
Dad would not have been happy in a wheel chair, so if it was a stroke, or something similar, I am glad that he died and did not end up an invalid. I sure do miss the fun we has together though.
Aussie Paul
================================================
Aussie_Paul
Stirrer and troublemaker.
Maybe I should tell the story some time?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry to the people who have seen them a number of times before, but with new members coming along I think it is worthwhile.
Besides, I like to have a little boast every now and then. They were great days home on the farm with my dad. We were more mates than father and son. I do still miss him, even though he has been dead for 22 years, come October 12.
Many people probably don't know that he died in a gyro.
Maybe I should tell the story some time?
Aussie Paul.
__________________
#26 Today, 06:38 AM
jucie
Senior Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aussie_Paul
...They were great days home on the farm with my dad....Many people probably don't know that he died in a gyro. Maybe I should tell the story some time?
Yes, Paul. Please.
__________________
#27 Today, 06:39 AM
Chuck Irby
Gold Supporter
I'd like to read it too Paul.
__________________
********************************************
My Dads final flight.
My father died in a gyro accident on October 12th in 1982. That sure was a low time for me. I was only getting back into flying, and only had about 30 gyro hrs. I did not fly for three months after the accident for my Mothers sake, but at the end of that time I said to her that I would like to continue. My mum said that she could understand. Mum said that she would not be able to handle the sound, (we all know that gyro sound don't we?) but I was welcome to use another property 30 miles away. I did not live at home at that time.
I then, on my own had to trailer my VW Bensen 25 miles to the farm, put the machine together, preflight and then go and take it steady doing strip runs until I felt comfortable. That was pressure I can tell you.
I was married, and my wife Eril and I had two children, a daughter Emma 6 and Mark 3. I am so thankful for the support of Eril and my Mother. Eril could have easily said no, and that would have been the end of my flying. Eril had always liked flying, but cannot understand how I could be be so "hooked". I say I can't understand how Eril could not be "hooked".
I had to on my own, as we ran a 24 hour motel, trailer my VW Bensen 25 miles to the farm, put the machine together, preflight and then go and take it steady doing strip runs until I felt comfortable. That was pressure I can tell you.
I guess at this point you’re all thinking,” What was the cause of my Dads accident?"
At the time we were flying a marginal 1675cc VW powered Bensen with 23' Rotor Hawk blades. I was one stone lighter than dad and could back the power of 100 rpm, and dad had to fly full power until it was time to land. I can hear a lot of the more mature (older) people thinking, "Ah that brings back memories". Dad was having a fly in on the property that weekend. There was a guy, we knew, from Melbourne, who had an 1835 VW Bensen with a pre-rotator and all the goodies on the dash. He was talking to dad about how hard it was to find places to fly without getting banned because of the noise. Dad told him he was welcome to bring his caravan and gyro up to the farm, plug into the shearing shed power, and fly till his hearts content. This guy had some long service leave coming up and though that this was a wonderful opportunity, and he was very grateful. So much so that he offered dad and me a fly of his beautiful gyro. Because the day was blowing a gale, both dad and I said that we would leave it until the next day, which looked like being a much better day.
I finished work on the Sunday, and arrived at the farm about midday. My VW 1905cc lightweight Bensen (dad had flown it once on the Friday) was up at the farmhouse. This new machine of mine had only done 3 hrs. The fly in was a mile away, in an open area. The strip at the farmhouse had a power line across it and so it was not a marked strip. I took off and flew down to the fly in paddock. It was the ultimate gyro flying day, gentle 5 mph breeze and 4/8 ths fluffy clouds. I landed and had just tied my blades down as dad and his mate were heading his mates’ gyro. I asked dad if I could swap props with him as his prop was 5 mph faster and I needed a little more airflow
over the new VW. He said ok, and as a joke said, “Don’t hit any rocks with it,” the strip was grass and had no rocks. I thought to myself that Dad was really going to enjoy this flight, and I don’t have to spin the rotors for him!!!! I started to take the prop off my engine as well as keeping an eye on Dad getting strapped in and the owner giving Dad the instructions about the pre rotator. I watched him take off and climb out over the end fence and start a very gentle turn to the right. Dad was not one for radical type flying, he reckoned just being up there was good enough. Mum called out that the bbq lunch was ready so I turned and headed over to the food table. All of a sudden there was a commotion. I looked around and about ¾ of a mile away there was a fire and plume of black smoke. :( I jumped in the car and raced across, but there was nothing I could do, so I headed back to mum. I just could not believe what had just happened.
The Bureau of Air Safety with some help from me did their normal thorough investigation. There was only one witness about a ½ mile from the accident site who said that the gyro started another turn to the right, but the turn continued until the gyro was almost inverted and fell almost vertically onto a mob of sheep, killing 2 of them. The power only stopped when the gyro impacted the ground. Control systems were checked and found to be either bent but intact or broken from accident overload. It did not appear as if dad was doing anything silly. The Coroner came up with an open finding which I was not really happy with. We know that the accident has to be either
1) Pilot error,
2) Machine Failure, or
3) Pilot incapacitation.
Not being one to “just accept” things, I started to look into the health side of things. The autopsy revealed that dads heart was in better than average shape for a 57 y/o, but they could not make a judgment regarding the possibility of a stroke due to the severity of the head injuries. Over the next few years I spoke to a number of people who had been affected by a stroke. What I did learn was that strokes can cause a reversal of your motor functions to what the brain is telling the body. I.e. One guy told me he woke up in the morning and went to get out of bed on the left side but his body kept going to the right side. Whether Dad had this happen to him we do not know. To me it seemed very strange that he never reduced power when things started to go wrong. He may have died as he started the second turn.
Dad had a GA aircraft, built the first Bob Hovey Wing Ding in Australia, and loved his gyro flying the most.
Dad had flown approx 70 hours in a 72 hp mac Bensen style gyro is 1962 and 1963. In 1964 we then went GA flying and in 1978 dad built the Wing Ding. In 1980 his passion for gyros resurfaces and he bought a VW Bensen and had accumulated approximately 120 hours in that machine around the farm.
Dad would not have been happy in a wheel chair, so if it was a stroke, or something similar, I am glad that he died and did not end up an invalid. I sure do miss the fun we has together though.
Aussie Paul