Dragon Wings

[Kingchocolate]

What is the minimum safe flying rpm for Dragon Wings rotor blades ?

Thank You
Scott

[GyroRon]

whatever RPM the rotors are turning the momment your wheels leave the ground taking off is a good place to set your low rrpm limit at.

[Kingchocolate]

Thanks Ron,
One reason I was asking, in another thread it stated there take off RPM with DW was 225 rpms. I don't know if this is normal or a low rpm.
What would be the indication that your rotor blades are to long. I'm assuming that the longer the blades the lower the take off RPM's would be.

Thank You
Scott

[GyroRon]

Best to use all up weight of machine to match " blade loading " to get the proper size of blades for that machine. 225 sounds low.

[scottessex]

Mine takes off at about 280rrpm.

[TomCarlisle]

I have 23' and 25' for my Dominator. The nose wheel comes off the ground at exactly 263 rrpm in Gallup at 6510MSL for either set. I don't know rrpm at take off, I'm too busy flying to look at the tach.

[RockyMeLad]

I've had that question asked several times. When I answer that I'm busy flying and the rotor will always "fly" at the right speed, The next question is always, "So why have a rotor tach?". :noidea: It's cute. ? ? ?

Maybe we could talk some of the guys with movie cameras to let the camera "do the looking" for us. :help:

[Vance]

I like having a rotor tach so I know when the blades are going fast enough to go full back and add power.

I also like to know when the blades have slowed down enough to use the rotor brake. This seems like useful information to me.

I suppose that I will develop a better feel for rotor rpm as I build hours. I like to cross check my impression of how things are going.

I find it useful to quantify rotor rpm.

Thank you, Vance

[mark treidel]

Vance, As you well know; the rotor brake has the ability to place a huge amount of torque on the head & mast. I use mine GENTLY under 30 rrpm and at 0 rrpm to keep the blades fore/aft for taxiing. Only my opinion but I dont like to place more forces than needed up there.

[Vance]

Hello Mark,

I have a bicycle brake on my ring gear for the pre-rotator.

It is not able to put a lot of torque into anything.

I began applying it around 75 rpm.

I like knowing when that is so I can be consistent.

Sometimes as my blades slow down in gusty winds they seem a little unstable.

They are 30 foot RAF blades.

I generally point into the wind while the rotor is slowing down so I can watch the blades path as they cross in front of me.

Please correct me if there is a better way to manage this phase of gyroplane flight.

In a helicopter I was taught to operate the rotor brake intermittently so that it didn’t get hot. This does not seem to be a problem with the Predator’s rotor brake.

Thank you, Vance

[Rotor-Head]

I used to always watch my rrpm but now I don't even use a rotor tach any more. They fly when they're ready and stop when I land and physically reach up and stop them.

[ultracruiser41]

I've never had a rotor tach. You're right Shawn...it will fly when it wants too!!!



Barry (tachless) K

[Jazzenjohn]

I've always been tachtless... ;) I may put a bike cyclometer on my next gyro.

[scott heger]

I like having my rotor tach. In a short field situation, you know exactly when you can feed more power in vs. RRPM to avoid flapping. To me, everything over 150RRPM kinda looks the same until you can feel the drag created just prior to flight speed. Also the rotor tach is useful when taxiing towards the runway to know if you can safely takeoff in front of incoming traffic or you will need some extra runway time to build RRPM"s at busier uncontrolled airports.

SCOTT HEGER Laguna Niguel,Ca N86SH