Over 3000 hours gyro time

[Mayfield]

I made a statement in another post that "we" know everyone that has 3000, or more, gyro hours. I'm not sure "we" do.

Duane Hunn
Jimmy Logan
Steve McGowan
Terry Brandt (probably)
Jim Mayfield
Steve Graves
Jim Vanek(?)
Ernie Boyette(?)

This doesn't include John Potter or Don Farrington.

Who else can we think of?

Jim

[craigjackson]

Ron Menzie

[LGoodhind]

In a lifetime and still living: The DeGraw's? Chuck Beaty? Doug Riley? Carl Schneider? The Magni's?

Shucked off the mortal coil: Igor Bensen? Ken Brock? George Townson? The Camden-Philidelphia mail delivery guy?

Maybe the guys who were on the forty-eight state drunkard's walk (I mean that in a nice way- it's a classic computer science thing- scout's honor)

Hard to see anyone getting in this kind of time unless they were a CFI, were into making lots of really long trips, or simply have been doing this in one hour increments for a verrrrry long time.

[Fiesty]

Towson was a gyro crop duster in 1937:lalala:

[Joe Pires]

I wonder how many Dave Seace has, betcha he has that and more.

[Mayfield]

Aaarrggh! I can't believe I missed Ron Menzie.

Even more embarrassing; I missed Marion Springer.

Gary Goldsberry(?)

Thanks for the input folks.

Any more?

Jim

[automan1223]

Not sure but

Maxie Wildes and

CFI Rick Abercrombie have been flying gyros since the 1980's

good chance they have a load of hours.

J

[Vance]

Marion Springer comes to mind and Wing Commander Wallis.

Dennis Fetters certainly has a lot of time.

Ken Brock probably had more than 3,000 hours in a gyroplane.

Thank you, Vance

I didn't type fast enough. I am sorry to be superfluous.

[C. Beaty]

A NYC taxi driver could have well over 40,000 hours behind the wheel but that doesn’t make him any smarter or a better driver than the young bucks driving NASCAR or the like.

I have a harebrained theory that the longer someone spends performing a repetitive task, the dumber he becomes.

[Doug Riley]

"Include me out" of this list. I had long non-flying hiatus in my 20's when I was too broke to own a decent car, never mind flying anything.

[Steve Osborne]

Chris Burgess
.
.


I have a harebrained theory that the longer someone spends performing a repetitive task, the dumber he becomes.

How long you been messin with Gyro's Chuck?
.
.

[Mayfield]

Chuck,

I don't think I would bet against you.

An observation:

1. Piloting skill after a few hundred hours seems to be independent of early learning speed. Phrased another way; learning to solo in 6 hours Vs 30 hours does not mean the quick learner is a better pilot at 100 hours.

Jim

[Steve McGowan]

Ah,,, we all missed the Alarm Clock...

Brother Dave Prater ...... and last but not least Bull brown..

forgot to tell ya................. Menzie Don't count and

Rick Abercrombie goes by the mile

[tailrotor007]

Aaarrggh! I can't believe I missed Ron Menzie.

Even more embarrassing; I missed Marion Springer.

Gary Goldsberry(?)

Thanks for the input folks.

Any more?

Jim

Don't forget about Jerrie Barnette over 3 k

[C. Beaty]

Many things go into making a “better pilot” besides stick skill, Jim.

Soundness of judgement, following the rules and staying away the edge are all things we can agree go into making a better pilot.

But generally, the quick learners are the ones with the higher degree of innate skill whether it’s a skateboard, a unicycle, a piano or a gyro.

[Harry_S.]

How 'bout,

Dofin Fritts and Curtiss Patten.


Cheers :)

[Mayfield]

I think we are in agreement Chuck.

I think the quick learners have a leg up on folks without the same motor skills in the early going.

I know, however, that I have flown with some very good pilots that took a little longer to "get it" than other folks.

There's also another sub-group. People with native talent that can fly the box it came in, but who lack judgment. Some of these folks mature and develop judgment to match their stick skills. These folks are probably capable of becoming the best. These are the Yeager types. The Scott Crossfield type pilot becomes good through determination.

Jim

[Harry_S.]

You gonna count dem Aussie guys and how 'bout Eben M. Sr.?!


Cheers :)

[Mayfield]

So far we have

Duane Hunn
Jimmy Logan
Steve McGowan
Terry Brandt (probably)
Jim Mayfield
Steve Graves
Jim Vanek(?)
Ernie Boyette(?)
Ron Menzie
Ken Brock?
George Townson
Dave Seace
The Marion Springer
Gary Goldsberry(?)
Maxie Wildes
Rick Abercrombie
Ken Brock
Dennis Fetters
Chris Burgess
Dave Prater
Bull brown
Jerrie Barnett
Dofin Fritts
Curtiss Patten
Vittorio Magni
Carl Schneider


Jim

[Chuck Roberg]

Greg Gremminger must be close to the 3000hr mark.

[MikeBoyette]

Jim,
Dad probably can double that mark. He's been doin it since 1971. As a hobbie till 1989. Then for a living since then.

[birdy]

Theres plenty over ere that cant remember wen they only had 3000 hours.
I know one who has over 30 000, mustern, not just puttn round the sky.

But i agree with CB, hours mean jacksh1t if your refern to knowlage, or even ability.

[billygyro]

Larry Banks 5000 +

[PW_Plack]

John Miller? Or does the counter reset after a 70-year layoff? :)

[ventana7]

Chuck Feil who did the 48 states in his gyro has also used it for aobut 10 years in making aerial photos. Don't know what his hours are but it may be alot.

Rob

[Harry_S.]

You know, 3000 gyro hrs. is a heap of time for one person. More so when you consider the gyro as a recreational vehicle. Aside from the musterers, the only person close to 3000 gyro hrs. would most likely be a very busy instructor or a CFI.

I have "booked" maybe 700-800 gyro hrs. and probably a like number not in the books. So, for over a 40 year span, I may have 1500-1600 gyro hrs....considerably less than even 2000.

Let's take for example a recreational gyro pilot who say, averages 60 hrs. per year for 30 yrs. of flying. My handy calculator makes the total at 1800 hrs. For 40 yrs. the total is only 2400 hrs. A real zealot who averages say 100 hrs. per year recreational flying for a period of 30 yrs., would just make the the magical 3000 hr. mark.

Like I said, you know, 3000 gyro hrs. is a heap of time for one person. ;)


Cheers :)

[GyroDoug]

I know of a name that didn't come up. I asked Larry Neal (designer of the Butterfly Gyro line) because I knew he had been flying for a long time but he doesn't instruct or take a lot of cross country trips that would build hours. He said he had logged well over 3,000 hrs and had countless hours that he had failed to log. I know Larry doesn't spend his valuable time here on the forum as he is a man with a mission and no time to waste. He also isn't the kind of man to brag or talk about what he has done, so unless you have an interest in the Butterfly Gyros and take the time to research him and his accomplishments, you would never hear about some of the things he has accomplished. But, let me share some of the things I have learned.

Besides flying Gyros for 30 years, he has been instrumental in helping bring thrust lines closer to centerline thrust (and safer to fly) in both existing lines like Air Command and designing his own line of aircraft that are revolutionizing Gyro flight. (thebutterflyllc.com) He has designed the first "Fly Drive" vehicle that has actually flown since Molt Taylor's SkyCar, 50 years ago, and is currently working on a 2 seat model. He has developed landing gear that has capabilities far beyond anything else available on any aircraft flying. (again that can save lives) He was the Test Pilot on "Carter Aviation's" Gyro that broke the Mu Barrier (a historic and important event for rotary winged aircraft). Only time will tell how history remembers the pioneers and people responsible for developing Gyro flight to what it will someday be. However, I find it interesting that on a list of people with thousands of hours of flight time in Gyros, all the well known names come up except for the man that (arguably) may have done more to change Gyro flight than any other person of our time.

Gyro Doug

[C. Beaty]

Driving an automobile is a skill similar to flying. Over a lifetime, the average driver will amass 10,000 to 15,000 hours behind the wheel. Long distance truckers can manage well over 3,000 hours/year.

So what does it all mean?

I was a more skillful driver in my mid 20s than I am now; -better reflexes, better coordination and unmindful of my own mortality.

The hot dogs in racecars are generally under 30 and seldom over 40.

The insurance companies know the low risk drivers; a good credit rating, a clean driving record and 40 years old with 3 kids. They use every gimmick they can to drive up your premium but still, some justification must be given to state regulatory bodies.

Skill and low risk are two different kettles of fish and skill does not continuously improve with time.

[Chris Burgess]

You can take me off your gyro hours list. Of my 3000+ hours, 600 were flying Combat Missions in the UH-1 while doing Vietnam. 1475 are turbine helicopter hours.

[Steve McGowan]

Life expectancy of a Huey driver wasn't much,, all the lil Pa Jammy fellers throwin chunksa lead at Ya..

SO I For One would consider that (10) TEN Fold.. Blade Time

Like Chuck "B" say's , it's All just like Drivin a Truck.... BLADES "R" Blades

thats just my Addiction to Get High ,Thinkin..

The Boats Done Left..... U On It Sir

[JR_T]

Aaarrggh! I can't believe I missed Ron Menzie.

Any more?

Jim

Curtiss Patten

[scott heger]

3,000 hours in a gyro......
you must......
- most likely do it for a living, or have a serious gyro addiction problem
--probably went through at least one marriage, most likely more
---and at least twice as many rotorblades as marriages,and five times the gyros
----if you had a high paying job, you gave it up so you could be a much poorer 3,000 hour gyro pilot
----you probably are a hell of a good stick, with lots of great gyro flying adventures
-----we all wish we could say we had those hours, but spend too much time doing our "flying" on this forum

I am still sneaking upon 1,000 hours total rotorcraft time in 9 years(half in gyros). You 3,000 hour guys are animals.


Scott Heger,Laguna Niguel,Ca N86SH

[Steve McGowan]

Now ya gettin it,, Scotty
I did more than that in the time (almost 2 years)I was in Az.

It's a CAREER No your correct

ADDICTION is a better word..

Les Go GIT HIGH,, show Ya my pet Lizards

[GyroDoug]

I am still sneaking upon 1,000 hours total rotorcraft time in 9 years(half in gyros). You 3,000 hour guys are animals.


Scott Heger,Laguna Niguel,Ca N86SH

Scott,

I think if you look at the list, you'll notice none of these people are particularly young. (No offense meant to anyone on the list and I know you are as young as you feel. Personally I hope to be like Johnny Miller, when I get to his age) These people have spent many years and most of their adult lives flying Gyros to get on this list. I myself and getting a late start and may never make it to those hours, but I think it's a great goal. Wish me luck!!!!

Gyro Doug

[scott heger]

Doug, would be interesting to see who is the youngest 3K gyro pilot. It has to be Jim Vanek if he has the hours.
I have another .7 gyro time more today;
The way it really breaks down
.7 getting to airport from work
.4 preflight and getting the gyro outside and hanger shut
.3 getting fuel
.2 answering questions at the gas pump as usual.
.7 flying
.3 answering questions when I landed
The rest of the day, savoring the great flight.........
Too bad I can't log the "actual" gyro time for a day, I would have thousands of hours! I could not resist the 81 degree weather outside to go kill some avgas. Lets see...err... I have a few more decades to go to hit the numbers of the truly committed here.

Scott Heger, Laguna Niguel,Ca N86SH

[birdy]

I think if you look at the list, you'll notice none of these people are particularly young.
I agree that any rec pilot, or even an instructer for that matter, that has counted over 3k hours inside 10 years would have a serious obsession fetish.

If im not do'n anythn productive wen im in my 'office', bordum sets in before ten minutes is up.

But as for age, your only as old as the one your feeln.
And i know of a few over 3k people, blokes and shealas, that are no older than me.