Helicycle Hatchery

[StanFoster]

Thanks guys. The collective grip had been sought after by just waiting till I ran across one. This spring I was buying a new battery for my Harley at the local motorcycle shop...and was looking over some Harley grips. I found one that looked like it measured perfectly.....I asked the owner if I could run down to my stairshop and see if it fits. It was a very snug fit...so I bought it and put some weatherstripping adhesive on it and it is there to stay.


I hope to have a little announcement tomorrow about my Helicycle.


Stan

[choppergabor]

Me too Stan. Thanks for the 12000 rpm demo over the phone! It sounded SWEEEEEEETTTTTTTT :)

[StanFoster]

His honor....Tom Milton knighted my Helicycle with its Airworthiness Certificate today. One of the few remaining hurdles for me to resume airborn status. Next is sending in my documentation....and being scheduled for the last hurdle....the 4 day factory checkout...where on the last day Doug Schwochert will first fly my Helicycle...then I lift off.

Thank you Tom for your thourough debriefing...and my 4th airworthiness from you.

Chuck Roberg came along to my delight and we all had a nice lunch together afterwards. Chuck is in the last picture.


Stan

[animal]

WOOHOO! Congrats Stan, now get that baby fired up and test flown.

been missing all your great flight posts, lord knows we need some good reading on here lately.

[ylf]

Congrats !!!

[choppergabor]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy! One step closer! :) Almost there Stan. Good for you.

[Chuck Roberg]

Stan your Helicycle looks even better in person. I know you had an appointment to get to. Thanks again for lunch.

[Aviomania]

Congratulations Stan!!!! I hope you are back up in the air soon!!!!

[NoWingsAttached]

gOSH...has it been 2-1/2 years already? Can't wait to see this! Glad it's finished. Congrats!

[lanichol]

914 days. Great job Stan.

[RICK MARTIN]

I'm happy for you Stan!

[gyroplanes]

Stan, I just got off the phone with the FAA, he said the airworthiness is invalid due to the expiration of my DAR last week. He said I could re-do the certification in TWO WEEKS !

NOT

The Helicycle ('lil Twister, the demon tornado) is nicer in person than on the last 4,000 pages of this post. You did a first class job on the machine. I'm glad your morning appointment canceled today, I hope you made the 2pm in Champaign?

Thanks for the hospitality and the lunch. I forgot to ask what the roadside marker outside your shop was for?

[StanFoster]

Tom and Chuck- Thanks so much for your comments from actually seeimg my Helicycle. Comments like that coming from you two are humbling. Tom- you got me on that invalid airworthiness, my heart is still pounding. I have put my heart and soul into this, and it makes it all worthwhile receiving inputs like I get. I am really now starting to feel the excitement that is coming. I will be overwhelmed when I see my Turbinator first lift off with Doug Schwochert at the controls. I did make my appointment, I landed the big stairway job, and I took off early to play with my grandson. What a perfect day! Stan

[Resasi]

Congratulations Stan, and yes that posting of Tom's was a bit of a heart-stopper until the infamous 'two weeks' popped up.

Look forward to the 'lill Twister flying thread.

[StanFoster]

Larry- Your post stating the days that went by during my build got me curious to go to my builders log and see how many days I touched my chopper...and how many total hours to date. I would go down extra early and sneak in 15 minutes....1 hour....or even 2 hours..........seize every opportunity to work between stairway glueups....I mean I had a choice of watching glue dry....sweep the shop god forbid!!, or go to the next room and work on my chopper. My builders log shows entries as little as 15 minutes....to over 9 hours on days I completely got carried away.

My total hours to date are 744.5 hours. Total days that I worked on my Helicycle at least 15 minutes....259 days. Average hour per day touched....2.9 hours.

My builders log showed total lapses of 0 hours for 7 straight months....5 months.....several 2 and 3 month periods.

Every component received was better than expected...and worth the wait.

My famous "2 week" wait for my turbine even turned out worth it, as I found out they were designing a new engine mount, and this delayed it by about "2 weeks" ha.

It was a very relaxing build....and I needed the periods that I was waiting on the next shipment...to review and rethink how I wanted to do the next step.

I feel I have a better build having it strung out over 2.5 years....rather than if they dropped all the parts off in one shipment. I would have had it built in one year...but would have lost 1.5 years thinking about it.

I have learned a long time ago that with stairways....a stair job well planned is already half done. That saying holds true on many other areas in life.....and especially on my Helicycle. I realize that no matter how much time I had to think about this build...I know there will be things I will later find I would have done differently....but this list will be much shorter than if I had built it in one year.

Anyway....once the factory checkout is complete, and I resume flying, this thread will be finished as it will be "hatched" out.....

I will start a new thread and let this one rest.

Thanks everyone for all the support....critique, comments...etc throughout this thread. I go back many times and just pick a page at random, and find myself realizing how lucky I was to have experienced this build.

N360SF is ruffling its feathers!



Stan

[StanFoster]

By the way, I just received word that my chrome exhaust pipe has been shipped. That was the only part I needed, and is now off the 2 week wait list.



Stan

[StanFoster]

I am trying to get all the systems clear in my mind how they work...and what to do when they dont.

I came out to my shop at 6 a.m. this morning....my main mission was to somehow get my two scavenge pumps primed and returning the gearbox oil to the oil sump.

My scavenge pumps have not been doing their job of scavenging out the oil in the gearbox. I am sure these would start working once the engine is running and allowing these pumps to prime themselves. I wanted to see if I could prime them myself , because my oil sump has now been pumped empty by the main oil pump...and these two scavenge pumps are not doing their job to return the oil to the sump. I took the fittings loose at the top of the two pumps that are stacked together...my fingers are pointing to each...and took clear line on my small oil can and filled the line with gearbox oil. I then reached in and turned the turbine wheel backwards and lo and behold...these scavenge pumps emptied my line. I did that three times to each one...then hooked the oil lines back up. These lines return the oil to the sump.

I then ran the starter and noticed I did not have oil pressure at first...but all of a sudden the gauge started reading again like it used to...so I kept the turbine spinning by lightly hitting the starter once in awhile. I let it run around 5 -8 thousand rpm....and I made sure my starter only got warm.

After about a minute of this cycled running of the starter....I checked my oil sump and it was now full again! It made my day to learn one thing about this system. Plus...it only took 30 minutes to figure out what to prime...and improvising a way to do it. I just wanted to pass this along, because I have been contemplating this mission before I went to Mentone.


Stan

[animal]

Stan is going to wear out that starter, before he even gets to fly it at this rate.

how many times have you spun that starter since you got it Stan? just a little longer my friend and you will get to hear that puppy whine to life.. that is if you don't burn up the starter motor first.

I wonder how many cycles that starter is good for. I cringe every time I hit the Starter on my Cont.C-9012F ,already had to replace it once as it has a bad starter clutch when I got it and those where not cheap. I don't even want to think about the cost of a turbine starter.

[StanFoster]

Tim- I have probably spun it up 25 times. At first...yea...I loved to hear the whine...but that was just a few times. The other times were all to monitor my engine tach and getting it operating...checking my oil pressure...and just today now knowing my scavenge pumps are go for launch. I am now final buttoning up my instrument panel. I retorqued all the electrical screws.....final checked for any rubbing wires...kinked pitot tube...whatever. I have left the belly of the cabin open for any last minute changes....and inspections. Doug told me to go ahead and have it buttoned up as well. Its getting close....

These are the final pictures of the instrument panel...and the first time I had all the screws in place. That really made the pod solid.


Stan

[animal]

can't wait to see the Video of that puppy fired up and in the air. glad to here the chrome pipe is on the way. that has got to be a relief to know it has finely been shipped. any news on the start date?

wished I lived closer,I would love to be there to see that day in person.

[StanFoster]

Tim- Last I heard from Doug at Homer Bells fly-in last month...it would be no earlier than the end of August. But.....I think Doug was reluctant to set a date because...I had some serious hurdles left..... 1. I had to have my maintenance program scrutinized by a very curious FAA person....and new friend of mine...Vic Liberatore. He worked with me and I feel he gave me a firm program to stick to.....and I appreciated that. When he could tell I really appeciated his work....then it went real smoothly. I educated him on several Helicycles that were racking up a lot of hours...with minimal issues.
2. I had to have my Airworthiness certificate .....and that was accomplished two days ago.

Doug has been notified that I am go for launch...so the ball is in his court when he can come down for the 4 days for the factory checkout and first flight.

I will have pictures of course....a video of its first lift off....and my first flight. I will not be screwing around with an onboard video until I am more familiar with the machine...and then it will be a mounted camera with just me pushing a button twice.


Stan

[StanFoster]

Posing with the "Turbinator"


It actually is trembling along with myself as I am getting close to resuming flight.


Stan

[animal]

Posing with the "Turbinator"


It actually is trembling along with myself as I am getting close to resuming flight.


Stan
The proud Papa and his child... :)

man that is a great looking helicopter.

better make a trophy self in the hanger for it.

I see many awards in it's future.

[Lee Scatt]

Gee, that thing is small. First time to see any perspective. I can't wait to see you airborne.

[StanFoster]

Lee- Heres a picture that gives a better feel of the actual size of the chopper. I am 6 ft. 2 and have ample room in the cabin. It will accomodate a 6 ft. 6 pilot.

I also tested my "off roading" wheels. I had never pulled it outside with all the components and full of fuel. It rolled easily.

Stan

[StanFoster]

I have been playing with how to connect my tornado on the front of my cabin with the white band behind it. I keep coming up with some whimsical tornado pattern and finally just did it with some pinstriping tape. I used the same grey and black pinstriping tape that seperates my burgundy/white.

Only I cut the wide black and narrow grey out seperately and let them flow tying in the wind pattern I have always had in my mind.

It can easily be modified...but I personally love it. I feel the tornado isnt complete without a serpentine trail and flow patterns.

The first picture is of the left side which hasnt been done yet...and now its begging for the same image on its side......in my opinion. Agree...disagree?


Stan

[Flying_Lab_Rat]

That's awesome Stan. I definitely think it adds to this already remarkable example of craftsmanship.

[PW_Plack]

Stan, just one opinion, but to me the cleaner look without the pinstripes really showed off the sweet lines of the machine and the two-tone. The added stripes are a little too busy, over the top to my eye.

[animal]

Stan, I have to agree with Paul,I think it distracts from the clean lines. also is the twister painted on? if so then pinstripe tape to me would look tacky on such a finely crafted machine.

just my 2 cents,for what it's worth.

[Passin' Thru]

I agree with Paul. The additional graphics distract from the clean lines. Just my opinion ...

[StanFoster]

Hey guys,...I am listening. I have to say the striping I added looks much better in person than on my camera. I keep looking at the plain side..then look at the side I just did...and its really growing on me. I can easily take it off should I tire of it...or think of something better.

For now..I am going to let it grow on me some moe!

By the way, it looks like my first flight will be the week before Labor Day, with the factory checkout starting Aug. 30th. Its happening fast. I have to go get some fresh R22 time. I am going to have my instructor grill me good!


Stan

[utahgyrocop]

I'm with you on this one stan...i think it adds to it as a conversation starter. Not that the beauti that is is already does not do that by itself.

Having seen the turbinator in person, what a piece of art! Along with the others, cant wait to see it in the air.

Stay safe.

[StanFoster]

I just came back from lunch...and took a fresh peak at my Helicycle....and the graphics I just put on there are a keeper in my opinion. It gives a meaning to that tornado on the front.

By the way....turbine startup is 'two weeks from today' . That is actual two weeks. I just realized Aug 30th is two weeks from today.


Stan

[animal]

I just realized Aug 30th is two weeks from today.


Stan Ok I just marked my calender, looking forward to that big day.

Been a long time coming, but I am sure is going to be more then worth the wait.

[RotorTom]

I just came back from lunch...and took a fresh peak at my Helicycle....and the graphics I just put on there are a keeper in my opinion. It gives a meaning to that tornado on the front.

By the way....turbine startup is 'two weeks from today' . That is actual two weeks. I just realized Aug 30th is two weeks from today.
Stan

Stan,

Why two weeks? Do you just like torturing yourself?

Fellow skid-head, Tom

[StanFoster]

Tom- I am under a very strict factory checkout program. I have to have all my stuff done...then they schedule the checkout. They go over everything I have done...making sure its all in order. Doug will start the turbine and set the governor...and make sure its all running perfect. Then the main and tail rotor blades are dynamically balanced. Last comes its first flight with Doug at the controls...more tweaking...then its my turn. I was ecstatic that its only 2 weeks away. Actually....I need two full weeks to get a stairway out of the way so I can have 4 full days of undivided attention.


Stan

[asmuzsr]

Oh not the dreaded "2 weeks" again. LOL
As for the stripes, Stan it's your chopper, if you like it that's it.
Good luck.

[Passin' Thru]

...
As for the stripes, Stan it's your chopper, if you like it that's it.
Good luck.
Amen to that! You can't please everyone else, you gotta please yo'self! :yo:

[StanFoster]

Can you imagine if I had asked what colors to paint the chopper, where to break the colors? The world would be boring if we all thought the same. I have a ceiling hoist to install, and the other side of my cabin is getting some tornado path pinstriping.................................14 days and counting till the turbine is lit. I am looking forward to landing next to my house on Labor Day weekend. Lots of. missions to be flown. I am getting real excited .. Stan

[choppergabor]

Here we go again with the darn 2 weeks phrase..................

[PW_Plack]

The world would be boring if we all thought the same...

It sure would! I remember when Kenny J was still around the forum, thinking the same thing, that the pinstriping on his RAF was taken a bit far, but that's a completely personal preference.

Stan, it's going to be great to see you flying that gorgeous machine!

[StanFoster]

Not trying to convince anyone to like the pinstriping, but each one of us is wired differently. My stairshop was destroyed by a tornado and it left a lot of chaos. The tornado decals that are on the front of my cabin have been sitting there for way over a year begging for more to finish the 'feel' that I wanted. A turbine is nothing but full of vortices inside that are tornados of fire and wind that drive this beast. The pinstriping adds motion to my cabin when you look at the side that is done, and the motion stops on the side with just the tornado. I love it, while others may prefer it off. It looks like the chopper is already sucking in air from the front before its even started........................................Gab or- I am on a different 21eeks schedule now. I am talking 14 actual days, tomorrow I will post 13 days. I very likely will fly and land my Helicycle next to my house on my heli-lot Labor Day weekend. That's my story and I am sticking to it!! Stan

[animal]

Stan, it is kind of like the paint job on my harley, it did not come out perfect,but I can live with it. as long as you like it, that is all that matters.

but, just me I would get the pinstripes painted on.

your labor day is going to be a lot more exciting then mine will be that is for sure.

I am really excited to see this chapter come to a close and even more excited about soon reading the new chapters of all the fun flight reports and photos from your new freedom of being able to land in new places.

I am sure we will get to see some cool pics of off airport landings.

Powered Rotors Rule! :)

[Arnie Madsen]

Stan.

My absolute instant first impression would be to remove the tornado decal and all the associated recent trial striping.

You would be left with the very clean and nicely thought out color scheme that you intended many months ago.

Nothing else is required and anything else is a distraction.

Do not put clutter on a machine that has no clutter.

That is how I see it. This is a beautiful machine. Decals are not required.

Arnie

[StanFoster]

Arnie- That saying. , " one mans trash is another mans treasure " is similar here. One mans clutter is another mans art. That tornado decal is so connected to my chopper and myself, it will never come off as long as I own it! Stan

[lanichol]

Having grown up in Western Kansas, seen lots of tornados, no big deal-never hit anything, kinda like Stan's logo. Cute.

Having been in the middle of a tornado recently, tornados leave foot prints on your memory; big, powerful, high winds, unchallengable, tear you up if in the way. I now see Stans logo, and it instantly has a different meaning than the original cute logo. I like it, kinda scary.

[StanFoster]

Larry- I may not have elaborated earlier on why the tornado has so much significance to me flying the helicopter out of my stairshop.

In 2004 a tornado destroyed my stairshop with me in it. I was on the phone with Barbara telling her to get into the baseement. As I was burrowing underneath my heavy workbench, the ceiling collapsed with a tree pushing clear to the floor right on my bench.

My dad was down the road under a tractor and his shed was ripped up. My house didnt get hit by a tornado..but straight line winds made for many weeks of cleanup.

Anyway.....that tornado tore out a 200 foot by 200 ft hole in my woods. I had to clear it out....and I would have NEVER EVER considered clearing out trees like that without nature doing it first. I ended up having a hi-hoe come in , clean the mess up, and that would be our future building site for a new home someday.

So that tornado is why I built a room onto my stairshop as I now had a perfect place to fly out of, after I cleared a channel out to the side of the woods.

Everytime I look at the tornado...it is in defiance of that beast...and it BELONGS on the beast I am going to fly out of the woods in. I dont expect anyone else to understand how much that tornado put more resolve in me to build my shop back bigger and better, and now am going to have a tornado powered helicopter fly me out of there. I dont apologize for still being very passionate about this. It ended up beng a blessing that I didnt realize at the time.

Heres the link.... http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1613&highlight=tornado+stairshop



Stan

[StanFoster]

13 days till my turbine start and factory checkout. Stan

[Rick Whittridge]

No Not the Two Weeks Thing Again!:phone:

[StanFoster]

Rick- This is a different '2 week' timetable....I hope! 12 days till checkout.


Stan

[StanFoster]

These two guys are planning on flying from Ohio to Illinois to my checkout. I hope they can take off one of those days. Heres a video of them cutting up the air at Homers. The whole group of those Helicycle guys rack up more hours and have so much fun. The first one is Mark Whistlers Helicycle. Mark has more hours in one than anyone...right around 700 last I heard. He also has flown his up to 12300 feet....and is one of the heavier pilots. The other is Joe Loxtercamps "Tweety Bird". Joe has been to Mentone several times....and Mark has also.


YouTube - July24 062 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4e8xEpoqM8)


Stan

[animal]

ok now I am jealous,that is going to be fun to have those 2 guys there for your check out.
you are going to have way to much fun with that Helicopter.

[StanFoster]

Tim- I sent them the checkout dates yesterday and unfortunately Marks is down for an annual that week, and Joe can't make it either. It would have been cool having those two Helicycles at my checkout, but what a distraction. I will just fully concentrate on getting some air churning again. I am getting some R22 time next week. I only wish everyone could experience what it feels like to fly a helicopter. It is a totally different dimension. I am really looking forward to my first cross country mission, a half mile flight to, hovering at, and landing at my house. I have dreamed of that since 1985, 25 years now. I will try and take a picture from each place I land a. Places I have been flying over for years will now be accessible. Stan

[choppergabor]

I only wish everyone could experience what it feels like to fly a helicopter.

I wish I knew the feeling. Now it is up to you Stan to relay that experience to the rest of us. I am sure you'll do a darn good job doing it. Have someone else do the video shooting of you from the outside. Don't leave the Helicycle hovering unattended! :lol:

[OC Mike]

Hello All,

Great forum and great group of folks.
I am interested in owning a Helicycle. Does anyone know of one I could come look at in the Santa Fe or Albuquerque, New Mexico area? Thanks in advance.

Mike

[StanFoster]

I am really getting revved up now. I talked to Doug Schwochert and he is coming to my town. August 29th, and starting on the next day. He says he will check every bolt, adjustment. He is very meticulous and I am anxious to learn a lot from him. I will be flying soon! Stan

[StanFoster]

My son Jeff and his daughter McKenzy stopped by before I started taking the rotor blades off.

I have a pre-checkout checklist that requires certain disassembly so no ime will be lost during the checkout. Doug goes by a schedule of tasks to be done each of the four days...and we will work on each days task until it is done. This might mean quitting at 3 p.m....or who knows how late?

I have a handy way of taking my blades off by myself in my hanger. I just put some foam on the right step on my stepladder....and have a nylon strap strung across my garage door tracks holding the other blade at the right height. The blades are a very precise fit going in and out of the blade grips...and anti-seize is a must.

While I have my blades off....I am going to really give them a final polish with my buffer and Purple.


Stan

[StanFoster]

8 days till Doug comes down for my factory checkout. I have the main rotorblades off, and the rotorhead also. The factory witholds the elastomeric bearings for the rotorhead until I prove that I have at least soloed an R22. I had to send them pictures of my solo endorsent from my logbook, my medical certificate, the airworthiness certificate, and while I was at it, I sent a picture of both sides of my pilots license showing my helicopter rating. ............................................I don't know of any other company that is as thorough as this company. Doug Schwochert will check everything I have done. He told me he trusts the Helicycle kit, but not the builder! I love this thoroughness that this company demands. I have to send in progress reports as I start flying my helicopter. Its an honor system of course, and I have so much respect with how safety minded they are, that I will follow their itinerary closely........................................... .I will be flying my Helicycle next week, and so this week I am getting an hour with my instructor in the R22 so that I will be ready for my first lift off. I plan on hovering and hover taxiing at my stairshop for a few hours, progressing to some quickstops etc. Then my goal is to do my first cross country flight to my house, which is 0.6 miles away and land there. The adrenalin is starting to build. Stan

[JEFF TIPTON]

I can hear the music in the background; "Restless days and restless nights!

[utahgyrocop]

Stan,
As Laurie and I have personally visited you with your beautiful helicycle we wanted to congratulate you on an excellent build. It truely is a piece of art.

As the days are in single digits till the turbinator is flying, we wish you continued success and much luck and fun with your new aircraft.

Stay safe,
Heath and Laurie

[StanFoster]

Heath- Thanks for the very nice comments! It was a pleasure having you and Laurie stop by my shop. I have been lucky to have you and several other forum regulars stop by. If I ever get out your way, I will look you up. ..........................I painted a nice white circle next to my home for landing on soon. Its nice to have. A distinct aiming point for my approaches. Plus I will be practicing circling around it with my nose pointed in to the center, and other stuff. I also checked my flight boundry which is a 25 mile circle, and my daughters home is inside the ring by a mile, plus on the other side of my ring, my instructor and his R22 are also just inside by about 2 miles. I actually could be limited to a 5 mile circle, and I probably wouldn't come close to landing at all the places I want to. Its going to be a new experience that I am going to go at it slowly. I can't wait till my helicopter logbook says........'It feels like part of me now" . My RAF and my SparrowHawk logbooks both had a similar quote put down around the 40 hour mark. I am guessing it will take at least this amount of time, and it may very well not be written down until 100 or even 200 hours! Whatever, I respect this new dimension of flying, and hovering and being able to land and take off most anyplace is way more enough thrills for me. I am looking forward to acquiring the 'feel' for this helicopter. One common comment I hear from other Helicycle pilots is that it is easier to fly than an R22, much more forgiving with its extra rotor energy, and more mellow cyclic inputs are needed. I can't wait to start feeling this stuff for myself. I will of course report what I feel, good or bad. Stan

[choppergabor]

7 more days......but who is counting? :) You are !!! Hahahaha

[StanFoster]

I took my electric hoist that I use to lower my curved stairways to the shop floor...and installed a place in my hanger to suspend my Helicycle from. I went up into the attic...and placed a doubel 2 x 8 header with a 3/4 inch all thread down through the header and into a bracket under my ceiling.

I then hung my electric hoist with its handy toggle control. I found a big clevis off the farm and wrapped my rotorhead with 6 wraps of electrical tape so as not to mar their precise finish that the washers run on.

I just hooked the hoist up to a 50 amp car starter and lifter the Helicycle off the floor. If I lift it so the rear of the skids are off the floor two inches...then when I climb in...it felt like it was hanging right at level....so the batteries on the tail will need to move forward a tad. The actual final test will be to use my digital inclination gauge and have the mast tilted 3 degrees forward with me in it. I have 28 pounds of batteries than can move almost a foot forward...but I am guessing just a few inches.

One week from today the turbine should be running.


I climbed in and the skids were off the floor, felt like I was hovering...it really did!
Stan

[choppergabor]

We want to see a picture with you sitting in it......... Anyone can claim those statements without picture proof :)
LOL

[StanFoster]

Gabor- How will you know for sure when I post flying pictures, that its not just photoshop? Is it real? or is it fake? huh?:twitch:

Stan

[choppergabor]

Well I would know because you'd have me do them for you......that kind of gives it away I think......:der:

[Resasi]

With your reported photoshop skills Stan, probably be real.

[Passin' Thru]

Gabor- How will you know for sure when I post flying pictures, that its not just photoshop? Is it real? or is it fake? huh?:twitch:

Stan

Stan, we trust you, it's that Gabi character we must watch out for! :eek: :lol::lol:

[StanFoster]

Yea,.....I was catching heat when I asked Gabor to photoshop a turbine into my Helicycle. I didnt know he was so dang good! I believed it myself.

I am wondering if the Behemoth isnt just fake..and all photo shopped?


Stan

[choppergabor]

Moi? I am innocent like a flower.......................:noidea:

[Passin' Thru]

Yea,.....I was catching heat when I asked Gabor to photoshop a turbine into my Helicycle. I didnt know he was so dang good! I believed it myself.

I am wondering if the Behemoth isnt just fake..and all photo shopped?


Stan

Huummm! :confused:Now I'm begining to wonder!:twitch:
That Gabi is one devious character!:eek: :lol::lol:
.

[StanFoster]

What did you really do with that brazilian cherry wood I sent you Gabor? Fess up... ha


Stan

[PW_Plack]

We'll know when Stan starts flying. There will be a sudden shortage of JetA in the midwest...

[choppergabor]

Huummm! :confused:Now I'm begining to wonder!:twitch:
That Gabi is one devious character!:eek: :lol::lol:
.
Not me! I promise. I want to be good......it's just those darn voices in my head are making me do things.......and they speak Spanish so I don't understand a freaking word.......:eek:

[StanFoster]

I am just going to burn some of dads corn. He is having such a big crop this year...that a few thousand bushels turned into ethanol wont even be noticed. I will barter the ethanol for JetA or K1.

Ethanol anyone? get your ethanol here. Even trade .....

will work for Jet A or K1!


Stan

[Arnie Madsen]

Stan . I always thought it was a clever idea to be able to move your Helicycle batteries for CofG. I like the way they slide on the boom. Easy to get at and easy to adjust. Batteries are a necessary weight and if they can be easily moved it is an efficient system. I like the way you did it.

There have been several kit helicopters that ended up with some dead weights hanging out on a skid for balance purposes. That always struck me as contradictory when designers worked hard to save ounces of weight whenever possible.

I reproduced a couple of your pictures and the battery box thread here: Thanks again for a detailed and informative build.
http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=332121&highlight=battery#post332121

[choppergabor]

Arnie don't let Stan fool you! He has the most efficient counterweight on his Helicycle.

[Arnie Madsen]

Arnie don't let Stan fool you! He has the most efficient counterweight on his Helicycle.

She is mine. I saw her first. All those dang Boeing 747 pilots have self loading freight so to compete I always wanted a self adjusting helicopter ballast. I want ballast that has a pretty face up close , a good personality , a big purse full of money , and likes to ride helicopters.

She is mine .... I'll tell ya' .... she is mine !!!!! What the heck is she doing in Stan's Hangar ??

[StanFoster]

Gabor- You are one sick puppy! That was too funny. Where did I ever run across you? Ha. Its time to get this thing hatched and out of the nest. Arnie- yea, those battery boxes let me move 28 pounds on quite a variable arm, for a lot of moment. It will be real easy to adjust the CG . Part of my reason for putting two batteries on this ship was knowing that with my big butt in the cockpit, the dual batteries computed out to be just what I needed. I have them almost full aft right now, and it was a pleasure seeing my skids level with me in it. I have over a foot of travel that the batteries can slide forward. I am estimating a few inches should tilt the mast to 3 degrees forward. I also have an auxillary fuel tank that needs the CG under control with movement of these batteries. Stan

[StanFoster]

Just when I thought I was done with this thing...I read the vertical card compass thread. Next I am on the phone with Gabor...and ordering a VCC.

Gabor, thanks for explaining in Hungarian why I need one.


Stan

[choppergabor]

The only way I explain things, and somehow it works most of the time :) Thank you for listening! Looks great too.

[StanFoster]

Gabor- Tomorrow afternoon, I am going up in your favorite helicopter, an R22. Part of getting my Helicycle ready for flight, is making sure I am ready. I will have my instructor along to grill me on autos etc. I am really looking forward to this, and I should be flying my Helicycle Thursday of next week. 6 days till my turbine startup. Stan

[choppergabor]

Weeeeeeee 6 days ay? I am glad you have an R22 nearby that you can rent out. I guess an R22 is better than no helicopter ROFL

[StanFoster]

I flew the R22 today. The last time I had flown it was Nov. 27th of last year. 9 months had passed. It was fairly windy today and I was excited to see how much rust had accumulated in my muscles since November. My instructor went along as per insurance policy. I told him I would be mad at myself if I didn't lift off very smoothly and hover nicely. It felt like I had just flown yesterday. I took off and set down several times , each one getting a compliment from my instructor. The euphoric feeling that flying a helicopter gives me can't be described with my vocabulary. In short, all my dreams of learning to fly a helicopter and the expense was worth it. Notice however I only have flown once since my checkride last October. As much as I love flying this R22, shelling out $240 an hour is not enjoyable. It was worth it getting my helicopter rating, but after that, I am saving that money for flying my Helicycle. ........................................Back to my flying, everything seemed like yesterday, except my first auto. I completely was all over with the rotor rpm, but I soon got the feel back and gave myself a C grade. I am going back for more auto training soon. .................................................. .......................................Now, onto my checkout starting next Monday. I will give an update with pictures each of the 4 days. The first day in my opinion is the critical day. My turbine will be started, and if the governor circuitry all works, I feel this will be the major event. Its all checking bolts, adjusting after that. Getting the rotorblades dynamically balanced is the next hurdle. I should see my Helicycle flying next Thursday, and also be flying it myself. I am about as excited as I have ever been around a machine. I am really looking forward to cautiously getting the feel for this chopper. I will always be learning something each flight. I have such a satisfying feeling seeing one of my lifetime goals within my grasp. Stan

[Friendly]

Stan,
I think there is an airshow near Mattoon, this Saturday, Maybe there will be some vintage Rotorcraft there. That close to you isn't it?

[StanFoster]

Mark- Mattoon is about 75 miles south me right down I-57m. Stan

[choppergabor]

As much as I love flying this R22, shelling out $240 an hour is not enjoyable.
You mean you had to pay for it? I thought they pay for you to get into one of those things.......... My bad. I had the wrong info than...... :)
Heheheheheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. I am glad you felt comfy and got a little stick time.

[GrantR]

Stan,

I know you are super excited. I can't wait to see your chopper flying! We need pics of the big grin on your face when you get it ready to go.

Sorry for the naked chicks I sent that to Gabor and he took it and and fattened up your helicycle! LOL :)

[StanFoster]

Gabor- I love flying that R22. I am not a tatoo type, but if I were to have one, I would put an R22 on my shoulder. I forever was changed learning to fly a helicopter, and am verp partial to this little Robby! Stan

[StanFoster]

Now that my flying is about to resume....this has caused me to seek out better pictures to post. I wasnt made aware that this forum automatically resizes my pictures...and now I can take 4 meg pics and post them here. People like Arnie can see the thumbnail...and if its interesting...zoom in on it.

Heres a sample 4 meg picture looking up the butt of my turbine. That little wheel should be spitting fire and turning 62000 rpm next Monday.


Stan

[StanFoster]

I put some weatherstripping around the perimeter of the instrument panel to dress it up a tad. More clamps.......and these are my new high resolution pictures I will be posting from now on.

Yee gad....I just looked at them...and you can see I dont have all my black panel screws in! I will have to be careful what I post with the eagle eyes out there. Now you wont think my machine is so sharp looking......my low resolution pictures hid it all!


Stan

[animal]

Gabor- I love flying that R22. I am not a tatoo type, but if I were to have one, I would put an R22 on my shoulder. I forever was changed learning to fly a helicopter, and am verp partial to this little Robby! Stan
Hey Gabor, we have to over look Stan on this one, sadly most don't get to train in a Real helicopter anymore... hehehe.

granted I don't have that many hours, but mine are all in a Hughe 269B and a 1966 TH-55, man I loved that helicopter.

Just messing with ya Stan, just think your Helicycle has a real Cyclic stick and not that hangy down thingy a robbie has..

[StanFoster]

Tim- Funny you mentioned that hanging cyclic. I didnt even think about it yesterday....I just latched on and flew. That was sure a good feeling having been out of the seat for 9 months...and my takeoffs and setdowns were as smooth as ever.,....but..................my first auto.......hmmmmm .....I am demanding myself to go back for some more auto training. I would have done it yesterday...but my instructor said it was too gusty and that on a calmer day...I would learn more.

I know how to do autos...its just keeping the rotor in the green....


Stan

[Passin' Thru]

.....and these are my new high resolution pictures I will be posting from now on.
Stan, your "new style" of posting photos works great! :yo:

[RotoPlane]

Yee gad....I just looked at them...and you can see I dont have all my black panel screws in! I will have to be careful what I post with the eagle eyes out there. Now you wont think my machine is so sharp looking......my low resolution pictures hid it all! Stan

Yep....they did....but not any more ;).

[StanFoster]

I am experimenting with this new camera. My higheest resolution posted so far was 2 meg. This is a 9 meg picture....it will go up to 12 meg.


The first picture is the 9meg...the 2nd is the 2 meg.......any difference?



Stan

[choppergabor]

Yeah 7 megs!

[RotoPlane]

I can't see any difference with all four pictures on this page….and they all have a reduced file size of around 144KB. The one thing that would help clarity now would be more light getting through the cameras iris. I think anything over 4MB would be overkill for forum pictures except you may want more for your own pictures. Flash may also help....at least for close-ups.

[StanFoster]

Ed- I cant see any difference either...except it takes longer to upload them to the forum. I am sticking with 2 meg size. Thats about 15 times more resolution than I have been shooting at 140K. I made a camera mount to be able to shoot short videos from outside the cabin.

Heres a little video test clip.

YouTube - Aug28 007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd4aemAMbB4)



Stan

[RotoPlane]

Good point Stan...it does take much longer to up-load large files. I like that view and cannot wait till I see the ground leave the skid! You may notice a difference in left drag with that camera on and off....

[StanFoster]

Ed- That's why the camera is out the left window, to take less left pedal. Ha. I know there will be a little drag. I also will have the camera strap secured to the bolt on the cabin, just in case the camera came off the bolt on the strap. It would drop clear of the tail rotor, but just to be certain! Stan

[RotorTom]

Ed- I cant see any difference either...except it takes longer to upload them to the forum. I am sticking with 2 meg size. Stan

Stan,

One of the most misunderstood principals in digital video and digital photos is "resolution". Resolution is the number of "lines" in video or "pixels" in photos ... in short, we can call it "density".

Density is only important for larger images. As an example, imagine making a dot on an un-inflated balloon with a magic marker. Now, blow up the balloon. The dot will get blurry because it does not have much density. Yet, if you keep the dot small, it looks just fine.

It is the same with video and photos. Higher resolutions (or density) only matter when enlarging the image.

Each image size has its own maximum density at which more density will do no good, but less density will look worse.

Sorry for getting carried away here ... but I see so many people wasting time and money on mega-stuff ... when they will never use the "mega" part of it.

[StanFoster]

Tom- Thanks for packing more information about density...into my dense head!:lol:

Looks like I will stick with the 2 meg size.....

I received my elastomeric bearings today, and my owners manual. The company withholds the bearings till just before the checkout. Keeps me from flying it.

I also was asked to submit my finished pictures to KitPlanes...and they will see that it will be published. I was flattered.


I can sure tell Monday is about here. I have been waiting for this day for 2.5 years.......actually it will be almost 3 years when I actually ordered the kit.

Stan

[Resasi]

Didn't see much if any difference Stan, and was glad to get the head's up on why from Tom.

Still have a tiny Sony Sureshot from a few years back that I think is 2Megapixel. Love the photos I get from it. The vid though is crud which is why I got the HD Contour.

That position for the camera looks pretty good.

[StanFoster]

Heres the situation I will be flying out of next to my shop. I have a hole that is over 200 feet by 200 feet, and at the NE corner is my chopper channel that is 70 feet wide by over 500 feet long. If you include the hole...its over 700 feet long. I have some orange lids buried every 24 foot down the centerline so I can concentrate 100% flying the centerline and keeping plenty of clearance on the sides.

The last pictures are of the lot next to my house that is around 210 feet x 210 feet. I have a little wind flag out there ready to go. Dad has a field of beans that will be combined in a few weeks on the north side.

I have a 16 foot diameter circle for my aiming point. Plus if I am scorching grass...I may as well do it in one place. I dont think the exhaust off the turbine will hurt because its pointed mostly sideways. You could count everytime I landed the R22 on my lot....it would leave bun prints from the hot exhaust scorching the grass.

Stan

[Kandace]

I'm getting excited for you Stan! I can't wait to see light under those skids, with the rotor spinning that is!

I like the chopper channel! I may fly down to visit if that would be ok?

[StanFoster]

Kandace- Fly in anytime, just give me a call as I am out of my shop once in awhile. The R22 slips right in there. I am very excited about reaching a lifelong goal next week! Stan

[StanFoster]

I have been reading my Helicycle manual, studying the turbine start and shutdown procedures. Also it mentions that the Helicycle does beautiful full stop autos, with no run on landings. I have heard Helicycle guys say the same that have done full down autos............................................. ..............It is also routine to do enter an auto when landing, with a power recovery. I plan on doing this most of the time so as to keep my reactions honed to entering the auto, and maintaining rotor rpm and airspeed in the proper range. I would land my SparrowHawk most of the time just cutting the throttle and landing. They don't recommend doing full down autos in the Helicycle, but power recovery instead. I can't wait to feel how much extra rotor energy I have available to be able to do a zero roll auto. ........................Tomorrow is the big day. The turbine will be started and the governor will be calibrated. After that milestone is done, then its on to checking my work, dynamic balancing the main rotor and the tail rotor. Then seeing my 2.5 years of accumulating 763 hhours of building and much more waiting, end up with N360SF actually being flown by Doug. Schwochert, will be worth it all. But what will top that for me, will be when I climb in, start the turbine, get the rotors to flight rpm, slowly lift the collective, making subtle cyclic and pedal inputs as the ever lightening ship dictates, and ending up breaking free of the terra firma into a stable hover.....................PRICELESS! By the way, even though this will be a major event in my personal miniscule flying life, I am very relaxed about this. I need to be loose as a goose, and I absolutely am looking forward to this. I will of course be posting pictures of each days progress, and including Doug first making the first flight, then myself doing the same. Thanks again everyone for your continually showing a lot of interest in this project. Stan

[StanFoster]

Today is the day. Doug is in town and will arrive at my shop first thing this morning. Our goal is to light the turbine today. Kind of need that done so we can dynamic balance the rotors tomorrow and have it flying by Thursday. I am excreting adrenalin! Stan

[earthbnd misfit]

We are all sharing the exitement. Good luck.

[Doctor Bob]

We've all been following this thread and I must say I am too in anticipation of you reaching your goals and fullfilling your dreams. Awesome. Can I make a request......VIDEO! I think the lighting of the turbine and the first hover mandate a you-tube link! Good luck and congrats.
Sincerely,
Bob

[animal]

WooHoo! I just love the smell of kero in the Morning. I would say good luck on the first start,but I am sure,it is going to fire up just fine and roar to life like a sleeping dragon,snorting smoke and flames as it does.

[StanFoster]

Bob- I wouldnt miss getting a video of its first start....its first flight with Doug....amd my first flight. I will set my camera up on a chair outside...and right before we attempt the start...I will push record...and will post on You tube later in the day.....


Stan

[dragonflyerthom]

143 pages Stan. Must be a record in here somewhere. I wish you the best my friend.

[asmuzsr]

I'm sniffing at your heels. Getting the paperwork ready for a DAR to inspect mine next week.

[Flying_Lab_Rat]

I think everyone in here, members and visitors, are all excited for you. I'm sure there will be a lot of us sniffing around this thread, waiting for a peek at that video. Best of luck with it, Stan.

[RotoPlane]

I have my fingers crossed that the engine and its components all work correctly....I know the stuff that Stan worked on is copacetic and ready to roll....

[choppergabor]

True Ed I have the same feeling about Stan's workmanship. Simply outstanding. I can't wait to see the video :)

[animal]

I got a phone call awhile ago, that had to be a prank call,all I heard was some whine and a blow torch sound... dang prank callers.. can't wait to see the Video.

[Gyro_Kai]

Jumping up and down, full of excitment.

Kai.

[StanFoster]

We had a fantastic day. Doug checked over a lot of my work, mainly the squareness of my rotorsfaft bearing and the straightness of my tail rotor driveshaft. He commented the measurements were beautiful. Next the incidence of my tail was checked both laterally and vertically , and both were right on. ..........................Next came the turbine start. What a heavenly sound and aroma. It started right up and we have a minor surge issue that is improving. Next came the tail rotor balancing. We spent probably 2 hours starting and stoPping it for adding small weights. This kept me in the cabin learning how to start and what to watch for. I learned a lot. .........................Every gauge was reading perfectly, except my ammeter, but I switched two wires, and its working now. I have a good video and pictures to share, but I had trouble uploading it. More tomorrow. Stan

[animal]

Stan I loved that Prank call I got today where all I heard was a fine whine and a blow torch sound.. :)

I bet you are on cloud nine.

more details on how he did the balancing and adjustments please.

[StanFoster]

Tim- He had his electronic balancer and it took many startups, but the cabin felt so smooth at flight rpm. The power of that turbine and the extreme smoothness of just feels so surreal. Doug is very meticulous and I am learning a lot just watching him. I am more ecstatic than I thought I would be. I can't imagine what flying it Thursday is going to feel like. If all goes well, Doug will be flying it Wednesday. I have videos, and will try to post them tomorrow. Stan

[animal]

I just think that is so cool,thanks for letting me hear that baby fire up. I was helping a buddy paint his baby ace frame,and your call was just to cool as I had just told my buddy, I wonder how the start of the turbine is going. I was suprised that the starter made more noise then the engine once it lit off.

[PR_Arecibo_DC]

Congrats Stan... Hard work and good workmanship and godd skill are paying off... Hope to see you in the air soon... Thats where you belong...

Jose

[StanFoster]

Jose and others- Thanks for the comments. I can't believe I am about to pilot this beast. Spooling that turbine up is very intimidating. The smooth vibrationless power is awesome. That smell of burning kerosene is so sweet. I have been warned many times that I will have trouble getting away from airports as it becomes a magnet for questions. I have put a lot of heart and soul into this machine, and it has rewarded me so much already, and I haven't even flown it yet. I am absolutely worn out from the anxious anticipation from today, and the success we had today. I will link my start up video as soon As I successfully upload it. Stan

[StanFoster]

Its 3:30 a.m. And I am wide awake thinking about day 2 of my checkout. Yesterdays success has removed my nervous anticipation about the turbine. Its downhill now. I woke up and the recollection of sitting in the cockpit scanning all my working gauges telling me its alive back there is just to much to put into words. Seeing the rotor tach right on the numbers, watching the red digital engine tach showing the governor doing its job was an experience in itself. Those numbers were reading around 61800 rpm, and I was impressed how it stayed under control. Having all my instruments and switches, my clutch engagement lights all working perfectly was a reward in itself also. Having just my ammeter reading backwards and switching the wires solving that micro problem was a gold nugget, cause that had my work operating correctly at 100%. I love numbers like that..........................................Well , today is another big day installing the rotorblades and getting them dynamic balanced. It should be ready for flight by the end of the day. .....................Please excuse my exuberance , I am on extreme sensory overload right now. I need to absorb all this over a few days, then when Thursday comes and I actually fly it, I won't blow a gasket! Stan

[utahgyrocop]

Stan,
You deserve to be excited about all of this. You have completed a major build with exceptional quality and workmanship. I only wish I could be there to see the grin on your face each time you spool it up and the first moment you hover.


WHERE'S THE VIDEOS??????????????????????????????/

Congratulations and stay safe.

[StanFoster]

Heath- Thanks. I have a good video of it starting up....and have tried 3 times to upload it to You tube. I am trying again. Here are some still pictures of Doug Schwochert....."the man" that made the turbine installation all possible. That guy is something else. It is definately worth having him check over your machine...massaging every ounce out of it....adjusting what I have done...or confirming what I have done is correct. Its an experience I will never forget.

I am still waiting on my chrome exhaust. I have a "loaner" from Doug on there now.


Stan

[utahgyrocop]

I am still waiting on my chrome exhaust. I have a "loaner" from Doug on there now.


Stan

Don't worry about the chrome exhaust...just 2 more weeks! LOL

Stay safe.

[choppergabor]

Wow how exciting. This is really the finish line. Just one last sprint and you are there :)

[StanFoster]

Doug- The sound and smell that come out of that exhaust proves to me why turbines burn kerosene.............so deaf people can enjoy them too! Stan

[Kandace]

Stan I'm so excited for you! I can't wait see it fly.

Kandace

[animal]

Its 3:30 a.m. And I am wide awake thinking about day 2 of my checkout. Stan
By the Time his check out date rolls around Stan is going to be to tired to fly...lol

get some sleep Stan, your baby will still be there in the Morning.

We all want you well rested and alert when you take off on your first flight from your chopper channel cut out and reach that long dreamed of Goal of flying you own helicopter.

WOO HOO going to be a turbine over Paxton soon. :first:

[StanFoster]

The blades are being adjusted now for lead lag...etc. The hangtest is done...and we will soon start dynamic balancing.

Here is a video of its start up yesterday. The shut down at the end is the neatest. Love that sound , smell, and smoothness.

YouTube - Aug28 021 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNfb4tuWgxM)

Stan

[kstorm32]

That sounds great Stan.Have a great day...

Ken-

[route66]

You said it right, "SWEET!" I just watched it on my cell phone and can't wait to watch on my computer. Thanks for sharing Stan

[animal]

Hey my old push mower use to surge like that...LOL was a spring on the govenor.

That does sound sweet, will sound even better when those blades sound like a beaver in heat... :)

I can't wait to see that baby fly.

[RotoPlane]

That was a neat video Stan....I can imagine how exciting that was for you. Probably old hat for Doug….for some reason I thought he was much older. It sure didn't take him long to stop the rpm surge. Great outside pictures too…..

[StanFoster]

What a day. The surge has been fixed. The main rotors installed...and Doug got them smooth as glass. Heres some pictures of its firsl flight just minutes ago! We are way ahead of schedule....I will be flying it tomorrow. Doug says it flew beautifully! I was teary eyed...


Stan

[choppergabor]

It's alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds really sweet :)

[Monte55]

Proud PaPa

[Resasi]

The word that springs to mind is perhaps inappropriate here as there may be a lady or two present however I do believe that Stan is somewhat excited. What he is going to with all that power is a frightening thought.

Enjoy.

[animal]

yeah baby! thats what I am talking about air under the skids.! way to go.

[Kandace]

WooHoo for Stan! It flies! That is absolutely fantastic!

Kandace

[ylf]

Congrats Stan, looks sweet, you've put in the hard work and you deserve the reward.

Mike

[Doctor Bob]

That is so great Stan. What a day. Each day keeps getting better and better. Thanks for the video. For every person who posts here with a "way to go," there are about 100 other "lurkers" (usually me) who are thinking the same thing. "Ahead of schedule" means he didn't have to fix a whole bunch of crap that was screwed up on the build! Keep safe and congrats.
Bob

[Chuck Roberg]

Stan, all I can say is "GREAT". Glad to see all your hard work is bearing fruit.

[Timchick]

Congratulations, Stan. Can't wait to see video of you flying it.

[brett s]

Congratulations, nice to see air under those skids - bet you can't wait until tomorrow :)

[dabkb2]

It has been a long 2 weeks, but it looks like it's worth it. Congradulations.

[Arnie Madsen]

Your enthusiasm can be felt worldwide Stan. To see air under the skids of a helicopter (you built) in a shop (you built) is a great accomplishment.

The detailed posts and positive effect you have had on the followers of your build is also up-lifting. The word up-lifting is not a proper helicopter term but when you pull collective tomorrow you will feel it too :)

By the way your recent thumbnail pictures load instantly (even on dial-up) and the expanded view is very detailed and the size fills the monitor perfectly. Many thanks for all the effort you have put into this build thread. We feel privileged.

Arnie

[utahgyrocop]

Your enthusiasm can be felt worldwide Stan. To see air under the skids of a helicopter (you built) in a shop (you built) is a great accomplishment.

The detailed posts and positive effect you have had on the followers of your build is also up-lifting. The word up-lifting is not a proper helicopter term but when you pull collective tomorrow you will feel it too :)

Arnie

Stan,

I could not have said it better than Arnie, so I just quoted him...but congratulations.

Laurie sends hugs and congrats too.

Stay safe.

[karlbamforth]

Congratulations Stan, I can feel your excitment from here.

[StanFoster]

Everyone- Thanks so much for all the comments. Today was so much fun. The engine surge was fixed in half an hour. Then it was on to static balancing the main rotor, and then dynamically balancing. Doug had the electronic balancer hooked up and I was in the cabin srarting the turbine and running up the blades. Initially there was a definate vibration in the cabin. We shut it down, he read the numbers and made an adjustment. After a few adjustments , the numbers were getting better, and the cabin was getting smoother. He made another adjustment, and I ran the blades up to flight rpm. I am a fledgling helicopter pilot , but it was glass smooth! Doug was croutched down by the cabin looking down at his instrument, when I tapped him and said.....-It really got smooth as glass! I didn't have to tell him, as he had data showing we were less than half the level that was acceptable, and that we were done! I couldn't have been more pleased, as I have a very smooth running turbine, and glass smooth rotors. It just doesn't get any better than this.............................................. .............................Tomorrow I will solo and I will have a video to post. I have a video of todays first flight that I hope will get uploaded tomorrow. After I solo tomorrow, I consider that my Helicycle has left the "Hatchery", and I will stop posting in this thread. It has given me a lot of kind comments and advice, and I just want to thank you all as I solo and post my last comments. I will still be around with a new thread detailing all the crazy places I end up landing at! Stan

[gyroman]

Congrats Stan, you are truely an ispiration to all of us here on the forum who dream of flying!!!

[StanFoster]

Doug is going to remove some trailing edge reflex so that the collective doesnt rise on its own. I will fly my helicopter when Doug says its ready...and not before. All these 2.5 years of patience wont mean a thing if I go and get rammy now and rush to flight. I am mellow as a cat about this. I dont need to fly today..but....probably will.

Heres the apparatus that guides a dial indicator up and down the rotor blade reading out in thousands how much reflex the blades have. Right now there is a little too much...and thats causing the nose of the rotor blade to climb...and self raise the collective.

I dont think I want to be sitting on the ground at flight speed...and some ghost called "physics" is raising my collective for me! I would rather do that myself!!


Stan

[Jazzenjohn]

WooHoo Stan! I think today's the day he says "everythings fine, take it up Stan"

[StanFoster]

I am pleased to announce the Helicycle has hatched....I have left the nest...and I will try to upload a video as Tim has suggested be a fitting ending. I want to thank all the interest in this thread. It took on a life of it own.

The Helicycle is more than promised...it is a dream to fly....smooth as glass....and that smooth power that is instantly added when you pull the collective. It does awesome quick stops.....

I am going to start a new thread....you will soon find it....ha....my new adventure begins..


Stan

[Timchick]

Stan, a fitting end to this thread would be a video of you flying it.

[StanFoster]

Tim- You are right. As soon as I get one of my videos uploaded to You-tube , I will post a link. I had the turbine running video uploaded, but it took me several tries. Stan

[animal]

Tim,Stan don't have time to upload a Video..lmao he has missions to fly.

[gyroplanes]

Shelbyville, here we come !

[StanFoster]

This is a short video...the best I could load right now. Doug is flying and departing out my chopper channel He hauled butt going down that!


YouTube - Sep1 017 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX6cgMEdsEU)

Stan

[animal]

More more, we need more, that was only a tease...lol

that looked sweet, can't wait to read of your adventures now.

Now you are flying Real helicopter....:)

[StanFoster]

Tim- Here is a short clip of its first hover.


YouTube - Sep1 003 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hByDNBf46lo)



Stan

[choppergabor]

Wow that is cool!

[StanFoster]

Turbine shutdown video...


YouTube - Sep1 001 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8EG0FmVBnA)

[GrantR]

Thanks for the videos Stan! I like the takeoff through the channel. :) What was causing your upload problems?

[StanFoster]

I cant hardly upload any long videos...say 4 minutes. I am keeping them short.


Stan

[animal]

Stan I would love it if you could E-mail me the full Video clips, that is so cool.

I love the whistle of the blades winding down in the shut down video.

I am suprised you have time to post anything..lol did your wife have to pry you out of the cockpit to get you to bed? or did you just sleep in the Helicycle.. :)

I am so happy to see ya flying it now,becouse now we can Go powered rotor flying with you on the level we did in the posts when you had your RAF-2000 and your sparrow hawk.

[StanFoster]

I received my last part for my Helicycle today....,my chrome exhaust. Now the machine is complete...and all I have to do is go turn part of that chrome blue now.



Stan

[animal]

oooh that perdy. looks Good Stan, did you adjust it to not burn the grass?

[StanFoster]

Tim- Yes...I turned it up as far as I dare....with the assumption of making a little blast shield to favor it going up a few more degrees.

Yesterdays 3.4 hours of flight just got the frame sooty...but not hot or burned. I am putting this little shield there to deflect some of the heat.

It looks like I no longer scortch grass...because I could always see the grass blackened a little right after I land..... I dont see any discoloration now...so I think turning that chrome pipe up is going to work.

I will paint this white and give it a test. If its not wide or deep enough...I will make another!


Sta

[RotorTom]

Stan,

That heat shield will work. It takes only a slight deflection-protection to keep things cool in flight. I used one on a Velocity I built (with a big ole IO-540). And that small shield is more than adequate.

Tom

[StanFoster]

Tom- I painted my little heat shield and now have it bolted on....ready for testing.

It has to keep the heat off my white frame...even though as you can see the angle of the exhaust is below it. The frame would get just a little warm,,,but after an hour, would be pretty sooty right at the exhaust. I have it bent down a little to see if that wont direct the expanding upper part of the exhaust down from my frame tube.

I can tell that I dont scortch the grass anymore...as I have landed several places and no oval footprint showing I was there!


Stan

[StanFoster]

Heres what my heat shield looks like after 7 hours of turbine exhaust running on it simce my last post here. I like the heat damage to the paint...that shows I have the angle of the firery exhaust angled up about as high as I want....and thats why I no longer am scorcthing grass like I was. My frame doesnt hardly get any soot on it...and it wont be discoloring like my sacrificial heat shield is doing.......and my friends will love me to come back since I am not marking my spots alll the time!


Stan

[helopilot2be]

Stan,
I went back and read the entire thread. You did a fabulous job on the build and an equally fabulous job describing your work. Your ship is beautiful! My wife even said so. If you have time, I have a couple questions about your Helicycle. How long is the Turbinator with the rotor blades for and aft? What is the rotor diameter? And how wide are the skids. I tried to find this on the Helicycle site but had no luck.
Thanks Stan,
Chris

[StanFoster]

Chris- Thanks for the comments. The rotor diameter is around 21 feet. The skid width is 56 inches. Overall length is 24 feet.


Please ask anything you want...I am here to answer.

Stan

[Grubb]

Hi Stan, I have followed your build for the past few months only. I am anxious to see some video of you flying your ship. When and where might you post any videos of your new adventures. Good job, by the way and I bet you cant wipe that smile of your face everytime that turbine spools up.

[animal]

Grubb go to this thread Stan has several good video on here already.

http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27166

[Grubb]

Animal, thanks. I just check them out and I "THINK" he is having fun.

[BobK]

Stan O' Man! Stan THE Man! I just started reading this thread, but took the peek at the finished heli & I am more than impressed with the fine looks & quality workmanship. And thanks for all the pictures with why & how. I also am liking a jet over piston (or rotary) powerplant for flight. How is flight testing going? Have you had signs of wear on any parts at your TT yet?
Those off road wheels must make it much nicer to (push or pull)? Can you use old fryer oil & fly over my house?:o

[StanFoster]

Bob- Thanks for the kind comments. Glad you like reading the 'book' ha. There are no parts wearing out yet, but just breaking in nicely. Everything is working great, even my radio is getting out clearly! I will no longer avoid controlled airspace simply because I can now communicate clearly. I have had a few drops of oil that I have been tracing down its souce. When you have all that downwash from the rotor, any oil migrates down from its source. I found it was coming around my oil filler neck on my oil tank. I cut a cylinder shaped piece of cushion foam and stuck it inside the filler neck, and that stopped the trace of oil that would leave a few drops on my hanger floor. It really wasn't much an issue at all, but it was about the only glitch I had to mess with. I feel I am on a good start to joining many other Helicycle owners who are finding this machine to be a workhorse. I always have it checked over and ready for its next flight. That flight will be later today after I get my quota of stair tasks done in the shop. Then its K1 burning time. Stan

[BobK]

Hea Stan, DO you push or pull (I'm guessing by grabing the tail boom?) or is there a little dolly too? Is there anything else except K1 you can burn? Happy Flying! Downwash & exhaust what a combination ¿? I will try, if I ever have funds to build, to document with pictures & video (with the description) the dual arch, parafoil blade airbike as detailed as your thread.
How close are you to the 1000hr inspection does the FAA require the full blown weld Xray, total motor takedown & Xray that is required on military & comercial helicopters?

[gyroplanes]

Stan, Your oil leak fix scares me. Will the foam hold up to the turbine oil (nasty stuff IIRC) I'd hate to have the foam shrink or decompose and foul the tank outlet.

[StanFoster]

Tom- Thanks for the heads up. I pull the foam out to check the oil level each preflight....and so far its unaffected. There is turbine oil spraying back into this reservoir, and it must have been working its way up the filler neck.


Stan

[StanFoster]

Tom- I took a piece of the green foam that I hsve stuffed into my oil filler neck, and placed it in a cup of the same oil. I will monitor this for weeks. The foam barely gets wet on the bottom.

Stan

[StanFoster]

I can't believe how steadily this now dormant thread still gets hits. It goes up around 1500 hits per week when no new posts are added. I just now see it went over 200,000 hits. Thanks to everyone here and the many lurkers also. Stan

[StanFoster]

I am coming back into this nest, going to blow some dust out of it....and bring my Helicycle in for some upgrades. I have two up grades to do. The one I am figuring out right now is dealing with the main fuel solenoid....MFS.

The way it is configured now, it takes power to keep the MFS on....so if I lose power to that solenoid.....the fuel gets shutoff....and I go into autorotation mode!

There are several Helicycle guys that have modified this MFS valve so it is NO...normally open.....instead of the standard NC...normally closed.

I have the plans how to modify mine, and was getting ready to do it when Blake from Eagle R&D offered to send me one already converted to the normally open mode, in exchange for a few bucks and my valve. I decided I would be better off exchanging my valve than experiencing the very small springs....seals...etc....plus I have no lathe and would have to use my drill press and a file as a lathe! No brainer...I am exchanging.

What this will do is on startup....I actually have the MFS switch on.....keeping the fuel shut off to the burners. After light off...I will switch the MFS off...and it will then without power....be open and the fuel will flow.

If I have a power failure right now, such as a broken battery wire or my main switch gets bumped off say......my Key West regulator will keep the MFS valve powered and also power the governor. The fuel will be delivered by the manual fuel pump, and the turbine will keep running. The turbine still needs that MFS working with 12 volts supplied...so either the 12 volts getting shut off or the MFS failing....I am going to autorotation.

The fix is to change the MFS to normally open....one that does not require voltage to keep the fuel on...but rather needs the voltage to shut the fuel off. The governor will have a small 12 volt battery that will be wired such as to constantly be charged by the electrical system, but also will have a diode wired in line so as if a major short in the electrical system occurs....the governor will have a diode protected path from this backup battery to keep the governor and overspeed circuits running.

When I shut down the turbine...I will have to turn the power on to the MFS to shut the fuel off....thus testing the MFS each flight.

The only negative to all this is that when the power is shut off...the MFS is now on...and some could siphon fuel into the burner can...and out the drain onto the hanger floor. But in my case...I have a main fuel selector valve in my cabin which I always shut off after each flight anyway....so that wont be a problem.

After I do this upgrade.....my dependency on havng a constant 12 volts to my MFS valve is now removed, and with the battery backup wired with a diode....I could have not only complete power failure...regulator failure...and shorted out electrical system, my turbine will be fed fuel and have its own backup power instantly there to keep the turbine running.

My 2nd upgrade has to do with strengthening my landing gear. More on that later.


Stan

[dragonflyerthom]

'''''''''Experimental means always on the cutting edge of new technology."""" Isn't it great to learn your a tinkerer like the rest of us Stan. I too have enjoyed this particular thread.
Still learning to fly my little speed demon. I didn't realize I was so use to low and slow. I still love it tho.
How is your new grandbabie?

[animal]

cool deal Stan,that is one thing I Like about my Commuter,it has dual magneto ignition an a gravity feed fuel system, to bad I am just not flying it still. Right now it is in Va. at the Guys place that has the Chadwick balancer.

he is making some new TR blades and a few other mods and going to get it all dialed in to fly.
we may just see this classic fly again yet. but in the mean time I am living my heli flights thru you and the Helicycle.

[RotoPlane]

The one problem I can see is if you would ever shutdown the main electrical power relay right after activating the MFS valve, you could end up restarting the engine again and possibly get a hot start. I think I would turn-off the shutoff selector valve first….? I see problems with the MFS either NO or NC.

[StanFoster]

Ed- Exactly. I have to alternate my shutdown procedures as you mentioned. It has happened, but only an embarassing puff of smoke was the outcome. I drill myself on procedures....so I will just have to readapt and change my shutdown a little. I feel there really isnt much argument that changing my MFS to NO is much better though.


Stan

[StanFoster]

Mod # 2. Landing gear reinforcement.


There is a weak area in the landing gear on the Helicycle. It doesnt handle runon landings the best as its designed to collapse upon impact to absorb energy. Its a good idea, but several feel it is too easy to collapse. There have been a couple of gear collapses during an auto that wasnt brought down slow enough, and gear folded on forward in the direction its leaning.

They are making the rear landing gear stiffer now...and I have heard of a few guys using cables to reinforce their gear. Thats all I needed to hear and came up with this cross bracing. I made a model frame out of soldered copper wire just to test this before I did the real thing. I would butt the front of the model skids into something solid and feel how much pressure it took to start folding the gear forward.....or pushing down on seeing the skids spread. I then took some safety wire that represented the 1/8 inch cables here....and tied them diagonally across the frame. I could feel the frame much stiffer...and when I pushed forward on the top of the rear frame leg....the skids would actually pull inwards instead of spread.

The one pictures show the turnbuckle I used to tension the cables. I know the gear is a lot stiffer now.....and less likely to collapse should I ever have a hard run on landing. Some autos you end up with no choice but to have a runon landing. It was simple to do...light weight...and the cables are completely out of the way as they criss cross over to the opposite side to the front landing bow. Those are 1/8 inch cables rated at 2100 pounds...and the turnbuckles are equivalent.


Stan

[StanFoster]

I changed the turbine oil and filter this morning. I went up to NAPA....which I call NAPA automotive and helicopter supply to buy a filter for my Solar turbine. I was a little more than surprised that they had one in stock. They cross referenced it and its the same filter on a certain model of Honda motorcycle. I was skeptical so I wasnt satisfied till I took my old one out and compared. It had to have a relief port should my filter become plugged...the oil would bypass the filter. It had one as the second picture shows me operating it by pushing it open. I was satisfied...so all the oil is changed...it looks very clean...and the filter and the oil are good to go to my 100 hour mark.

I have a cross country mission today.


Stan

[All_In]

...

I have a cross country mission today.


Stan
Cannot wait to see the video...:hail:

[brett s]

Are your cables just looped around the front crosstube? If so I'd worry about them wearing on it & damaging it from vibration/movement, acting just like a cable saw.

Might take a long time to do any real harm, but it might not!

[StanFoster]

Brett- I got to hand it to you.....excellent advice. I wanted to go flying...but then I find myself undoing the tension on my turnbuckles...so I could wrap several layers of electrical tape both around the cables...and the frame tube. I then hooked my cables back up and retensioned them. I also wrapped electrical tape at the intersection of the cables. That I was going to do anyway....but I never even considered the cables gnawing on the frame. I tried to talk myself out of it thinking it probably would never do anything....and I could check it each annual....but I hate that word "probably"....so I grunted to myself...and went after it.

Thanks Brett.....


Stan

[ylf]

Stan,
When you coated your windshields and doors to protect them from dust during the build did you use Discoat from AircraftSpruce? If so how did you apply it, sprayer, brush etc?

I currently have mine covered with painter's tape but am afraid to leave it on there too long.

Thanks,
Mike

[StanFoster]

Mike- Yes, I used the Discoat. I brushed it on. A pet peeve of mine is someone running their fingers across a dusty windshield. I learned having my SparrowHawk in my dusty shop that it seems to be a genetic thing seeing dust on a windshield and wiping your finger through it. I put the Discoat on my Helicycle and that cured that problem.


Stan

[ylf]

Stan- Thanks for the fast reply, I'm the same way about wanting to keep my plexiglass scratch free for as long as possible.

Mike

[StanFoster]

Mike- I use microfibre towels on my windshield. I always rinse the dust off with water, and apply a spray cleaner just for plexiglass. There's liquid ones that work as well. Buff in long up and down strokes, never in circles, and they should stay pristine a long time. Stan

[hillberg]

A note with electrical tape on wire rope (Cable) Enstrom had the rudder cables corrode when covered with pvc electrical tape, use spiralwrap.....

[StanFoster]

Hillberg- I looked for spiral wrap for 1/8 inch cable but no immediate luck. I wanted to go flying so I used electrical tape for now. Thanks for the heads up on the corrosion possibility. Mty cables are stainless steel also. Were those Enstrom cables staimless steel, and were they possibly near coastal areas with salt spray. Part of my annual will be checking such stuff, but I found some very small spiral wrap that I am going to replace the tape with. Stan

[StanFoster]

Mike- I missed where you mentioned not wanting to leave your painters tape on very long. I totally agree! I had some blue tape that I picked and picked and picked on until the cows came home. That tape bonds more with time, and it starts to dry out. Tape within 2 weeks is fine, but 2 months and mine was coming off in pieces. By the way, the green painters tape is better .................................................. ........................While this hatchery thread is resurrected, one of my yet to do projects is to add on a main transmission oil cooler. Some have one, some don't. My Helicycle fortunately had an 85 degree day during my factory checkout, and my oil temp gauge was reading around 170. This is ok, but if I wanted to fly and possibly be hovering for awhile on a 90 degree plus day, I should have a little more cooling. Right now I have the oil running through a 3 ft. length of tubing . I will add either coils to my tubing , or more than likely just add a lightweight rectangular oil cooler. I would like to keep the oil temps around 160 max. There was a case where an earlier Helicycle had an oil seal pop out due to higher than desired oil temps on the turbine gearbox. This caused the turbine transmission case to expand just enough that the seal popped out. My oil seal can't pop out because of 4 factory applied seal retaining washers on this one seal. The whole deal is to not have the transmission heat to over 180 degrees, as the integrity of just a pressed in seal gets challenged. Thats on the turbine gearbox. Mine has the retainers, and I am going to assure much cooler than 180 degree oil temps on my main transmission with the addition of extra cooling. I love to hover! Stan

[laflyboy]

Hi Stan, after you fly next time, check and see how much oil is left in the transmission by disconnecting the line at the lowest point. Blake says that you should only have 3 to 4 oz. If you see that you have more than that, he says that this is usually the cause of the higher temps. He designed an external pressure regulator with a bypass line for mine, and had me set the oil pressure to around 30 psi. By doing this, the scavenge pump can keep up with the main pump and not allow the oil to build up in the transmission. This past summer with OAT around 95 and 80% humidity and no oil cooler, I never saw temps above 145

[StanFoster]

David- Thanks for mentioning that. Hap Miller had told me that he thought that each scavenge pump should have its own return line into the oil reservoir, instead of Teeing into one line. I have been thinking of adding another return point into the tank. Stan

[laflyboy]

I did the same, and I to think it is a good idea. In at least my case, it was not enough to get the oil down to the 3 to Oz level. Blake said that on some engines the small pressure relief valve that is on the planetary gear lets oil dump back into the front part of the case and the scavenge pump can't keep up. originally they used to put a needle valve on the supply line to restrict the oil flow to the transmission, but Blake said he had never been a fan of that method, but had not come up with the pressure valve idea until my issue had happened. You may not have any problems at all, but just wanted to let you know what the possible solutions were if you did.

[StanFoster]

There has been a little bit of interest shown in this thread, so anytime the Helicycle is back in the Hatchery, I will post pictures of anything I am doing to it.

We have been talking about the scavenge pumps this machine has. There are two...and are the round aluminum units bolted together with the oil lines coming out of them. I needed to reprime my scavenge pumps, so I came up with using a fuel line that I could pump oil into the fittings at the top of each pump. I had to swell the end of the line over a socket...then heat it with a lighter. They slip on and are oil tight. I just pump oil into the lines till they are full....and spin the turbine backwards. This draws the oil down into the pumps and primes it. I repeated filling these lines and running the turbine backwards by hand because it was fun to do, and satifying having a clean way of knowing the pumps are primed.

The thinking is that right now both of my pumps are going into a T, and then one quarter inch line is returning all the scavenged oil from both scavenge pumps, that this may be restricting the oil return. So, I am planning on having each pump have its own 1/4 inch return line to my tank.

I think this shouldnt take more than "about 2 weeks" to do once I get the parts! ha

Stan

[ylf]

Stan - I think there's some confusion here between talking about the main rotor transmission and the engine transmission (gearbox). As I understand it, you're talking about adding a cooler to your MR transmission not your engine oil correct? Most don't have a cooler on the engine oil as it only gets too hot when there is too much oil getting left in the gearbox due to higher than normal oil pressure, insufficient scavenging, etc as in David's case, and once that is sorted the temp should stay down.

On a separate subject, I see you've added some sealant around the left tank access cover. Was the large o-ring leaking or leaking around the screws? I'm working on my tanks now and trying to have the best shot I can at not leaking as I see/hear many having seeps in this area. If my tanks had not already been drilled for the 5 access cover screws I would be doing it differently, but short of buying two new tanks I will be doing it like everyone else.

Thanks,
Mike

[StanFoster]

Mike- Yes...I was talking about my main transmission oil. It needs to have extra cooling. My turbine oil temps were fine.

That left tank access cover would just stay slightly damp, but would never run a drip down the side. I just got tired of looking at the dampness. It was seeping around one of the screws. I took it apart and mixed some proseal and just hit it all. Stays bone dry now.


Stan

[hillberg]

The upper drive sheve has the mounting for the fan that was used with the piston engine, How about using the fan to cool the TXSM add a few blades on the sheve and a fibreglass duct to control the air....might weigh less....?

[StanFoster]

I have been out onsite all week and decided to run my 2nd oil return line from my scavenge pumps. The first picture shows how they were both Teed into one return line going to the oil tank. I never though much about it until one Helicycle owner said he ran two lines back for better oil flow. Made sense and I saved this for a 0 degree day.

I love working with these AN fittings and aluminum tubing. Those fittins weigh NOTHING at all.

In case some havent messed with this stuff....I have a tubing cutter and 37 degree flaring tool from Aircraft Spruce. You can flare one end of your line and just remember to put your fittings on and in the correct order before you flare the other end. I would like to say I have never forgot to do that, but that would be a lie. ha Not today though!

The last picture is one line done. I have to install a fitting into the tank next, and I am draining the oil out of it. My plan is to drill the hole, then keep flushing as needed so as to minimize getting debris in the system. It would go directly to the filter first..and I am sure there will be a particle or two.

Hillberg- I hear what you are saying about the fan blades. But its all balanced right now, and all I need is either a handmade coil of aluminum tubing or a small oil cooler. I probably will go with a Moroso oil cooler.


Stan

[StanFoster]

I went to Radio Shack and found me the perfect micro switch for telling me when my fuel control lever is maxed out for fuel flow. This switch had to have very light activation and be a momentary switch. The switch is mounted now, and I like the looks of it. I will post some pictures when I get back to my shop in a couple of days. My wiring harness already has wires run for various warning lights that I may need someday. The lights are already in my instrument panel, and labeled in the wiring harness. Again, when I am applying a lot of collective, so much that my turbine has its fuel control arm maxed out, this microswitch will turn on a light in my dash. I can't wait to go test it. Stan

[ylf]

Stan - Glad to hear you're giving this a try, I think it should be a useful addition and plan on doing the same. I'll be awaiting your flight test report, just don't test how far you can pull after the light comes on. Ha.

Earlier this evening I talked to another builder named Dave who's just a few hours up the road from you. Wish I was closer to come take a look at your ship but that'll probably have to wait 'til Homer's.

One other question for you Stan, do you still have the parts list you ordered to add the cables to your landing gear? That would save some of us some measuring and searching.

Thanks,
Mike

[StanFoster]

Mike- Just knowing that my fuel control lever is maxed out will be interesting info and another way of knowing I am asking the turbine to do all it can. I expect normal flying will never see it go on except for a momentary light on while the governor adjusts to new loads beig applied. The landing gear cables were very easy. I just had Aircraft Spruce swage some 1/4 X 28 studs onto two seven foot 1/8 inch cables. Two barrels were ordered along with two left hand eyebolts. It was literally a one hour total bolt on project. Stan

[StanFoster]

Here are some pictures of the micro switch install. I found it at Radio Shack. I simply made me an aluminum bracket that holds the micro switch. This switch fits right into a 3/16 hole, and has a small nut securing it. I designed it to take thin shim washers for future adjustment. I already placed some behind the bracket so that I move the switch for and aft for precise setting. Right now when the fuel control arm is at max fuel, the switch is on and the bracket flexes just a tad so I can tell the switch is bottomed out.

The two pictures with the switch installed shows first the fuel control arm at idle...and the next one shows max fuel being delivered to the turbine...and the switch is activated by this arm , lighting that light in the dash.

I checked in my wiring schematic where I had left notes of potential unused wiring and my idiot lights in my dash. My note said to take the spiral wrap off the wire bundle right in front of my clutch actuator motor. I unwrapped it and there was my wire waiting to be hooked up. The lights in my panel are already wired hot, and these are switched grounds. I chose the light next to my engine oil temp/pressure gauge and next to my rotor tach. I should have good data now to observe .


Stan

[Doug Riley]

Stan, is that bracket flexible enough so that, if something moved out of place, the switch assembly wouldn't block the throttle from going wide open?

It looks thin and soft enough to be fail-safe in this way, but I had to ask.

[StanFoster]

Doug- The switch gets contacted only when the fuel control has hit its mechanical stop. I should have mentioned that. The fuel control arm bumps a set screw that is set for how much power you want. I could back the set screw out if I needed 160 horse, but 100 is what we are going after. My bracket is flexible enough that I can tell the switch is bottomed out just when the fuel control arm hits its stop. There is no way it will interfere, plus on every startup, I will be able to see my idiot light come on until the governor backs off the fuel. I also designed my bracket and the switch to be fail sake should either become loose. If the bracket bolts were to work loose, the bracket will move away from the fuel control arm. Likewise if the nut holding the switch works loose, it will also back away from the fuel control arm. I put a lot of thought into that simple bracket. I try to think through all the scenarios that Murphy will try to throw at it! If this weather ever straightens out, I am anxious to test it. Its going to be nice to know when I am at full power. Stan

[StanFoster]

I called Blake at the Helicycle factory today, and told him about my micro switch. He wisely was skeptical at first, but after some careful questions to me, he liked the idea. He of course was concerned with how much pressure the fuel control arm was having to deal with operating the switch. I told him it was miniscule, and I have it exactly set to come on just the slightest movement before it hits its stop screw. I went on to explain that I mounted the bracket failsafe, meaning if the bolts were to loosen, it willfall away from the fuel control arm, not into it. Also if say the micro switch came loose, likewise it will fall away from the fuel control arm. I went on to tell him that at least now I will know when I am asking the turbine to do all it can, and then if I see the light come on, simply back off a little. This could be very beneficial should I be in a tight spot on a high density altitude day, and know when my turbine request for fuel is 100%. It was like I gave myself a nice birthday present today testing it! Stan

[ylf]

Stan - How did the max fuel light work out? What it did it take to make it come on? Did it ever light up when you weren't expecting it would?

Mike

[StanFoster]

Mike- The light came on during start up as expected. My flying is much more conservative after my flameout, as it should be! I gradually increased the aggressiveness of my collective pull during yesterdays one hour flight, but never had the light come on. That showed me I never asked the turbine for 100% fuel. I love it because I am back using more collective than I have been before my flameout, but that light is waiting to tell me when I am. I am not the same pilot, and it may take me awhile to pull enough collective to get to 100% fuel flow. By it not coming on, I am using more of my envelope with confidence, and staying away from any more extreme collective inputs. This Helicycle is very euphoric, and it brought out a weakness of mine that has to know where my envelope boundaries are. I pushed the envelope once, and learned a big lesson. I am glad it happened as I know I am a better pilot because of it. I had my wakeup call, and I won't forget it. Still a fledgling helicopter pilot for a long time! Stan

[ylf]

Stan- Glad to hear that it's working as expected. I'd long thought that we needed a way to tell how hard the engine is pulling since there's no torque gauge and the micro switch on the fuel control was the simplest thing I could think of to at least let us know we were up against the stop, pedal to the metal as it were.

I'm going to be installing the FS-450 and plan to use it as another way to see engine load based on fuel flow. I can then note that when the Max Fuel light comes on my fuel flow is X and then know that when flow is getting close to X I am getting close to the light coming on again so it will act as a pseudo torque meter to let me know how hard I'm working the engine. I know fuel flow will vary with atmospheric conditions etc. but should be consistent enough to be useful none the less.

Mike

[StanFoster]

Mike- I distinctly remembering you putting this idea in my head either earlier in this thread, or my flameout thread. I gave you credit and a thank-you in case you missed it. I will thank you again for putting that excellent idea in my head that caused me to come up with what I feel is a clean and simple installation. I felt much more confident yesterday as I was pulling more serious collective, and KNOWING I am not at 100% fuel. This is going to be extremely helpful maximizing this machines potential when needed. I am telling you, the more I fly this thing, the more I realize what a great design it is. I don't think I will ever have anything else that my budget will allow that will satisfy me more than this helicopter. I love being able to tinker on it when there is a way to improve it. Mike,I would strongly recommend my cable reinforcement upgrade. Just knowing I have an option of an aggressive run on landing is priceless should that be a NEEDED option like I was presented with on my flameout. Stan

[ylf]

Stan- I fully intend to add the cables, I've always thought the gear looked like it would fold back very easily. If I had thought about it before my frame went to the powder coater I would have looked for a place to weld tabs on the frame to attach the front ends of the cables making it that much easier to put them on. However, your attachment method looks like it works as well as any. My only concern is if the cables will make it too strong, negating the cushioning effect in a hard impact, but I expect that the bolt attaching the rear end of the cable would break easily enough to still let the gear collapse. Mike

[StanFoster]

Mike- I can't wait to hear your experiences of finishing your Helicycle, then flying it. You will have a very nicely built ship, I can tell already. The landing gear won't be as energy absorbing vertically, but I will trade that for one that can handle an agressive run on landing. To me that is a necessity. I can still recall that less than 10 second plunge to earth, and how time came to slow motion. I distinctly remember thinking how glad I was just installing those cables, how I then decided for a run on landing, and then thinking if they would hold. Then as soon as I slid on and was holding up collective my whole 200 foot run on, I was ecstatic that the gear didn't collapse, and that I had kept the helicopter from flipping over on its nose. Best helicopter lesson I ever had. My helicopter and myself bonded with that incident. Since then*n I have changed my main fuel solenoid to NO, have a completely isolated backup battery to run the governor, and this latest micro switch giving me indication of 100% fuel being required by the turbine. I have been thinking of other ways to improve my Helicycle, but right now I am caught up with ideas. Mike, I don't know if you are aware of my different way I plumbed my auxiliary fuel tank, but the way I did it cuts the CG for/aft shift in half. I can elaborate further if you haven't read about it way back in this thread. Stan

[ylf]

Stan - yes, I did read about your aux tank plumbing and am debating what to do with mine. The original builder got the aux tank and had welded tabs on the frame so it mounts to the frame like the other tanks and is independent of the seat pan. I'll be around max pilot weight so I'm not sure if I should try to use the aux tank or leave it out and save the weight.

I just picked up the frame from the powder coater tonight, I went with a pearlescent white and am very happy with how it turned out. I would start a build thread but I don't think I'd do it justice with the little time I could spend updating it and my slow typing.

Mike

[timdrnec]

Hey Stan (and Mike)
Since it's come up here a couple of times I thought I'd post a couple of pics of my take on the cabled landing gear issue. Doesn't help much if you have the powdercoated frame but instead of tabs I welded some tubes thru the hoops at the proper angles and ordered some specific cables with swaged balls on one end and threaded ends on the other to adjust tension. I have a 'hatch' on the bottom of the cabin so I didn't want the cables to cross side-to-side and I also didn't want to take the chance of snagging anything with the cables durring a run-on. Here are some old pics of my solution before I painted the frame.

Tim
Helicycle 4-21

[StanFoster]

Tim- I like your swaged ball idea. However, I would strongly consider the advantages of crossing over the cables. This causes inward pull on the rear skids keeping them from spreading. Straighter cable runs won't hardly pull inward at all. I made a little model out of copper wire and demonstrated my theory to myself before I ordered my cables. Again, excellent idea on the swaged balls! Stan

[ylf]

Tim,
I have looked through all of your build pictures on your site and must say you do some very nice work with all your custom brackets etc and this is another nice example.

Mike

[ms80831]

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm94/ms80831/SportFlying001.jpg

Stan -

Just thought this picture should be part of this thread.

Mark

[StanFoster]

I came in early and installed this oil pressure switch. The first picture is my sender for my oil pressure gauge. It was taken off and a T was put in, so that this could be hooked back up along with my new oil pressure light switch. I checked my wiring diagram and again I had handy notes where to unwrap the spiral wrap and find the wire that was already connected to my dash light. I had several loops of wire for it and had plenty to wire into the switch. A red light had already been wired in my dash next to my oil pressure gauge for whenever I wanted to add an oil pressure light switch. I found just what I was looking for....a switch that closes between 3 pound and 8 pounds of oil pressure. If my oil pressure gets down to 8 pounds...the light will come on. I can monitor the light during startup as it will be off until the oil pressure hits 3 pounds, then it will go off when it goes above 8 pounds. This is just what I was looking for, and even though I monitor that oil pressure gauge, having this light from another sender offers me some redundancy and a big bright light if my mind is off the gauge.

I have two more lights wired in my dash. I just decided that my main transmission needs a light also. It only has a temperature gauge. If I were to lose oil, I wouldnt have any clue.

Stan

[All_In]

Dang you do good work!!!
Thanks for sharing!

[StanFoster]

I liked the oil warning light so much on the turbine, I wired up one for the main transmission which only had a temperature gauge. My switch is coming in at NAPA....National Aircraft Parts Association in the morning. Its all wired and the the oil lines are hooked back. I only have one pre-wired warning light left in my dash for a future chip light should I find a sensor that is reliable. The vacant hole in the brass T will receive my switch. You can see the wire waiting for it.

Its going to be nice having these lights, and each circuit automatically gets tested on startup.



Stan

[StanFoster]

My Helicycle is constantly back in its nest preening its feathers.

I have been wanting to change out my filler cap on my oil reservoir. I had to have it double safetied so it wouldnt come off and get down into my drive belts....but I like to check my oil every preflight and post flight and this needed improving. That cap was heavier and it never stayed down in the filler neck tightly.

So necessity is the mother of invention, and I found a pvc plumbing fitting with a cap that I epoxied on to the filler tube. The cap has four small vent holes and not only is my tank vented to the transmission, it also will breath here as well. I glued in some foam to keep any return oil spray from migrating out of the filler neck.

While I was at it I glued in a dip stick so I can check my oil level easier.


Stan

[choppergabor]

That's a nifty solution :) I like it! Now make the damn weather turn nice and go fly a little :)

[StanFoster]

Gabor- Here the view looking out of the Helicycle nest. I have a lane plowed already to pull the chopper out and go fly. I will fly if the winds dont kick up too bad. Today or tomorrow and I will have a skid mounted video....


Stan

[JEFF TIPTON]

Stan; I am a little concerned that the foam might deteriorate and go through the oil system.

[StanFoster]

Jeff- Thanks for the concern, but I have had a piece of that green foam inserted in the same transmission oil for months thanks to Tom Milton also mentioning that. It hasnt deteriorated one bit. I also will be checking the oil level constantly and will keep an eye on the foam.


Stan

[choppergabor]

Awesome! I would love to see that video. I like the scenery of virgin snow but ya know....phuck da cold man! I can't take it. too many cuts, bruises, breaks on this old body and they hurt like hell in the cold :(

[All_In]

I like the part about visiting folks snowed in too!!!
Seem like you are truly free and they are not.

[StanFoster]

I am trying to keep all my modifications to my Helicycle in this thread. I was on the Helicycle pilots forum and I noticed some discussion about the main fuel solenoid being changed to NO...normally open. This configuration has the main fuel solenoid not requiring 12 volts to keep it open. Instead...it is normally open and takes 12 volts to close it. This is a fail safe item and I did this modification myself. Like anything...whenever you change one thing....theres bound to be consequences elsewheres. Now that this fuel solenoid needs 12 volts to keep it closed......several Helicycle pilots were reporting that during startup....the voltage was dropping enough that a few of these valves were opening and sending fuel to the burner can when it should not be. Mine was no exception. I was reading some discussion of some guys running heavier starter cable to minimize this voltage drop.

My solution was to simply operate this main fuel solenoid through my back up battery that runs my governor should all my power fail. The solenoid takes minimal amperage, and now has two sources of power to shut the fuel off.

I posted this on the pilots forum, and now some are going to be installing the backup battery that I have wired into my system. This battery is charged by the electrical system, yet isolated by diodes so as its power only goes to the governor and the main fuel solenoid should the main buss fail. Its a redundant system for the overspeed circuitry as well.

No pictures...but simply cut the main power wire to the main fuel solenoid...and install a diode so as the current can go only from the 12 volt buss to the switch. Between this diode and the switch...simply T in the backup 12 volt power supply. This battery gets charged from the main buss...but should the main buss fail....the diode prevents the backup batteries voltage from either going to a direct short if that was the problem...or running other electrical equipment should the problem have been lost continuity from the main battery. The backup batteries voltage goes to nothing but the governor and the main fuel solenoid circuitry.

Diodes.....got to love them! Stan

[All_In]

Now see if they had been reading your thread they would have know that!!!

[StanFoster]

I have been flying with right at 50 pounds of turbine oil pressure. Most guys are down around the 35 to 40 pound range. I was told that the higher pressure pumps more oil than the scavenge pumps can return to the reservoir. This extra oil sloshes around and causes the oil temperature to rise. I ran two return lines back to my reservoir, but that didnt do anything.

I had heard that Doug pinches down the 1/4 inch oil line to the pump, basically restricting the oil to the pump.

My first picture shows my vice grips with an aluminum sandwich that will do a slow controlled mashing of my oil line.

The 2nd picture is my oil pressure gauge showing 50 pounds of pressure. My goal was to slowly squeeze the oil line so that my pressure dropped to 40 pounds. After about 6 attempts, my oil pressure was at 40.

Cant test fly it today as it is very windy and gusty...and I have to get back to my stairway.


So, there you have it...a poor mans oil pressure regulator. More mash...less cash....

[laflyboy]

Hi Stan. I highly recomend you speak to Blake asap about having him send you bypss pressure regultor like the one he made me. It is a much better way to regulate the pressure than starving off the oil supply. Any pressure above wht you have it set at, bypasses bck to the tank.

[StanFoster]

David- I talked to Blake and Doug before I did this. I received confirmation that this works. Others have a screw down valve put in the line also. It is working fine. Stan

[StanFoster]

I flew for an hour today, and am pleased that my oil pressure is right at 35 pounds, and the needle doesn't fluctuate at all now. Plus, my turbine oil temperature went down 20 degrees. This was exactly what was expected as my oil pump isn't forcing too much oil into the gearbox. I also replaced my oil pressure light switch with one that kicks in at 2.5 pounds of pressure. The one that I put on a couple of weeks ago was an 8 pound switch. The transmission doesn't have much pressure. My oil light was flickering last week and was annoying to me. Now, all systems are go until I think of something else! Stan

[StanFoster]

I have posted this several years ago about how I made a bleed air valve to make my ASI read more accurately. It worked so well that I am now correcting my ASI in my Helicycle which is reading around 8-10 mph too fast at 100 mph. I simply want it closer than that. Every one of my ASI has always read too high. My RAF read 88 when I was doing an actual 80 mph groundspeed averaged over two runs 180 degrees apart with my GPS.

My SparrowHawk read 10-12 mph too fast when indicating 90. Thats when I came up with this bleed air apparatus. Its simply a well nut with a 10 x 20 screw that I cut a slot in with my Dremel tool. This slot that I cut has an arc to it and when the screw is all the way in ....no air escapes....as you slowly back it out...the slot slowly opens up...letting you adjust how much bleed air you can discharge making your overzealous ASI quit lying to you.

The back of the well nut accepts a 3/16 inch i.d. hose, just push it in snugly.

I mounted it between my ASI and my rotor tach. My next flight, I will do a GPS ground speed average at an indicated 100 mph....and adust the screw until it matches my actual GPS averaged readings.

This does work....and I am not chasing it all the time. I have different readings when I put my doors on or off....thats why I have this. Once I adjust it...it stays. Occasionally I will make two runs 180 degrees apart...one into the wind...and one opposite. I average my GPS groundspeeds...and it should match my ASI reading. If it doesnt...I adjust it till it does...and I am done. Note...it may be exactly on at say 100 mph, but be off maybe 2 mph at 60 mph. I set it for high speed cruise. If I am going somewhere, and my ASI says 108 mph and I am really only doing 100, I want it to read 100 mph.

Just my 2 cents. Its a proven simple, and cheap way to get my ASI reading correctly.

By the way, I just installed this in my Helicycle,and have not made a calibration run. No doubt I will be able to bleed off 8 mph at 100 mph. My SparrowHawk which I mentioned read 10-12 mph fast at an indicated 90 mph...could bleed off enough air to make the ASI read 60 mph. I just turned the screw back in till it was going the true 80 mph it should have been telling me.


Stan

[StanFoster]

The Royal Purple discussions lately need some testimonial pictures. I had the Helicycle back in the nest preening its feathers. I Polished my rotor blades and waxed the cabin and tail. The rotorblades started out a year and half ago getting progressively finer grit before I used the Royal Purple and my power buffer to bring them to mirror status. Since then....just routine cleaning of bugs keeps these blades like mirrors. I swear each time I polish them, they get a deeper shine......probably because they are!

I spent 10 minutes today on each blade, and could not be happier with this product. I havent seen the slightest dulling....I am cleaning just to get bugs and an occasional spot of grease flung out by my rotor head. Rotor blades are the heart of a rotorcraft and should be pristine as can be.


Stan