fixed wing fuselages/tractor gyro

[WHY]

Anyone out there(besides me) using a fixed wing fuselage as a pattern or a foundation for a tractor gyro????

Tony

[Leonid]

Groens did convert a Cesna into a tractor gyro

Have a closer look at their pages

Leonid

[twistair]

Anyone out there(besides me) using a fixed wing fuselage as a pattern or a foundation for a tractor gyro????


Like this ;)

[Leonid]

This picture was discussed some time ago. 100% - fake!

Leonid

[twistair]

100% - fake!


Yes, it's here: http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11688
I'd rather said "mock-up" though.

[magilla]

There have been a few that have accomplished this.
Fro Ron herron's web page:

I was so intent on making my craft "Bunt-proof" that my first 2 prototypes utilized elevators for longitudinal (pitch) control. I knew that this means of control would provide positive control without the typical "control lag" experienced in many rotorcraft. Also, elevator control is not "G" sensitive. On these craft I locked the rotorhead in the fore-aft position and designed a means of trimming it for fine adjustments. I used side-ways tilting of the head for lateral control. The first of these prototypes was the LW-1. I built it from a wrecked Piper airplane fuselage. I designed and built a rotor pylon which was attached to the fuselage through four large isolation dampers. I designed a wide outrigger type landing gear with oleo struts. This aircraft was powered by a Continental 0-200 engine of 100 horsepower. Lateral control was accomplished by using push-pull cables directly connected to the control torque tube. I developed centrifugal flyweights for the rotorhead to prevent the two-bladed rotor from flapping into the tail at low rotor speeds. I used an automotive starter for a prerotator to start the blades.

This aircraft was taxi tested and then test flown. It flew remarkably easy. It also had no stick shake. It was, however, not a very good performer due to its weight and the small diameter rotor I was using for testing. I was , primarily, using this machine as a "proof-of-concept" aircraft anyway. The concept seemed to be on target. I immediately began building the LW-2. This was to be an ultralight version of the LW-1."

There is a forum member turning a "Texas Chuckbird" into a tractor gyro, and I have often wondered about using the "Lil' Buzzard" two seat airframe with a Rotax 914 as a basis for a two place instructional gyro.

Ron Herron was the first to prove the merits of using a FW fuselage - and although his first rotorcraft was heavy, and the rotor blades too small, with a bigger engine and rotors, that Piper should have done well. Two seater, to boot.

Anyway, the idea has been proven, but now we need to move to a two-seat config for training.

[magilla]

Ron herron's acft, and some "Double Eagle" pics: