Aviomania Single seat, very stable Gyro, Video

[Aviomania]

Whell.... i got the time to put together some video footage from the early flights of my AVIOMANIA G1sa gyro.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pq3gHKeg6w

You can really see the stability of the gyro in this video. it flies 1 foot off the ground, it does wheelies, hands and feet off, sideways... etc.

At the beginning i am flying it.. later on you can see Giorgos (Scandtours) doing his wheelies. At the end some air to air video i took from the gyro of Giorgos flying George's Aircommand, as well as some on board video of a very low, dirt road following.

Not a professional video but i hope you will enjoy it.

Thanks goes to George Christodulou (gdoulou) for taking the video.

[WHY]

Hi Nicolas

I know that this will rub some Bensen fans the wrong way but I am getting older and a lot less plesant, this is what Bensen "should have built in the first place". that's one fine machine.

Tony

[All_In]

Thanks for sharing and that is one sweet ride!

[Passin' Thru]

Hi Nicolas

I know that this will rub some Bensen fans the wrong way but I am getting older and a lot less plesant, this is what Bensen "should have built in the first place". that's one fine machine.

Tony
Tony, While I agree that what Nicholas did with that gyro was sheer genius, saying that Bensen should have done that in the first place is like saying Henry Ford should have never bothered to build Model "T"s and Model "A"s, he should have built LTDs and such in the first place! :D
.

[scandtours]

Nicolas,
I didnt like the video, very bad quality. Of course not everybody is like Shawn.

If Jack Beaty will watch this video will say: Flying hands off, feets off or
(whatever you have off) doesnt mean a gyro is stable and its very true.
What I can say, this gyro is ecxeptional super stable. Its easy to notice it in strong gusting winds. It doesnt need any help from the pilot to fly level.
Next time Nic and me will make a video with this gyro taking of f leveling and land only with the throttle without toutching the stick.
Flying 360 degrees on one main wheel you need a clean hard surface without stones. Even marks from motorcycles, cars on soft soil the gyro will jump.
Giorgos

[C. Beaty]

Great job, Nicolas. If all gyro “designers” had mastered stability as well as you have, we would have no more smoking holes.

If you ever get a modern, low drag rotor on that machine, you’ll think you’re in Heaven.

[GyroRon]

Where is dudes helmet?

[gyromike]

Very nice!

[greg spicola]

Great Flying and looking Gyro Guys I like It!

[scandtours]

Where is dudes helmet?

OOOUPS...In the car....
But did you notice of what the reserv wind sock is made of Ron???
From toilet paper. The most sensitive.
Giorgos

[Udi]

Beautiful work, Nicolas! It appears this gyro is built to meet your mission - flying low level off of sand runways. I can see you guys are having lots of fun. There are only two things that separate this gyro from perfect - IMHO. They are - a tall tail to minimize prop rolling torque (a safety issue), and a couple more feet of moment on the stab for added pitch damping and improved response with no power. Both can be done with same structure and minimum, if any, added weight.

Good job :wave:

[Aviomania]

Hi Nicolas

I know that this will rub some Bensen fans the wrong way but I am getting older and a lot less plesant, this is what Bensen "should have built in the first place". that's one fine machine.

Tony

Tony, While I agree that what Nicholas did with that gyro was sheer genius, saying that Bensen should have done that in the first place is like saying Henry Ford should have never bothered to build Model "T"s and Model "A"s, he should have built LTDs and such in the first place! :D
.

Tony & Pete, thank you.

Bensen is the father of gyros as we use them today and his early designs were very good, even CLT. the only thing that he could add to make them better it was a bigger, airfoil section, ruder and HS, a bit further back.

The problems started when people started putting bigger props, raising the thrust line and converting his design with out considering the stability problems that came with those modifications.

We owe a lot to bensen, delasiera and all the rest that ponder on improving and understanding gyroplane stability.

[Aviomania]

Nicolas,
I didnt like the video, very bad quality. Of course not everybody is like Shawn.

If Jack Beaty will watch this video will say: Flying hands off, feets off or
(whatever you have off) doesnt mean a gyro is stable and its very true.
What I can say, this gyro is ecxeptional super stable. Its easy to notice it in strong gusting winds. It doesnt need any help from the pilot to fly level.
Next time Nic and me will make a video with this gyro taking of f leveling and land only with the throttle without toutching the stick.
Flying 360 degrees on one main wheel you need a clean hard surface without stones. Even marks from motorcycles, cars on soft soil the gyro will jump.
Giorgos

Maybe Shaun will come for holidays in CYPRUS to fly our gyro and shoot a professional video for us:)

well... at least we have some video to share the fun and stability of the gyro. Later maybe we have a prof. videographer to film it.

P.S. When i return to Cyprus from the UK (mid October) we will try again our video skills :)

What shows the gyro is stable is not the hands and feet off but the Way the frame follows the rotors and that when flying the gyro maintains its attitude
with out the pilot correcting anything. No up & down, no left & right oscillations on the frame, no balooning....

The only Way to really FEEL the stability is to fly it. you are all welcome ;)

[Aviomania]

Great job, Nicolas. If all gyro “designers” had mastered stability as well as you have, we would have no more smoking holes.

If you ever get a modern, low drag rotor on that machine, you’ll think you’re in Heaven.

Thank you very much Mr. Beaty.

You are right. We have tried it with Macuchen Blades and the performance was grate. I did not like the feel of the heavy blades thought.

I just used what Giorgos had available to build that gyro.

I asked Mr. Ernie for the smallest hub he has so we can convert the 28' to 25' Dragon wings... so hopefully soon we will try them out. We will need to install a prerotator on it though.

[Aviomania]

Beautiful work, Nicolas! It appears this gyro is built to meet your mission - flying low level off of sand runways. I can see you guys are having lots of fun. There are only two things that separate this gyro from perfect - IMHO. They are - a tall tail to minimize prop rolling torque (a safety issue), and a couple more feet of moment on the stab for added pitch damping and improved response with no power. Both can be done with same structure and minimum, if any, added weight.

Good job :wave:

Thank you Udi.

If you look closer we have a tall tail.. it is mounted at 90* :)

The HS is almost in the center of the prop. accelerating has no effect on roll axis. Decelerating has a very soft "kick" to the direction of prop rotation because of the inertia from the slowing down of the prop as well as the decelerating helical airflow on the HS doing its job only now.. the engine does not produce any torque.

It is only a soft kick lasting under a second.. no correction necessary.

A construction of a tall tail ( as well as more option) are under way. i will report when tested. I do not expect much deference since the current vertical fin is 4 feet tall 3 feet wide STARTING 14" back from the prop and the HS is 6.5 feet long. starting 20" back from the prop. the overall effect is more than 3 times grater than a Bensen vert. fin.

To everybody... thank you for your nice words.

in other worts... it has a huge tail!!!! but... i will test other option :)

[Russ Hobbs]

I think you guy's did great with the filming and your mean machine. Enjoyed the ride, it was fun watching you play in the sand.

[scandtours]

Its true Nic, as you mentiomned above a long HS ( which in our case is long)
and behind the prop wash acts as rudder (rudder fin) too. The air doesnt know it it hits the fin or stab to act differently. A long HS is in prop wash, I believe, it does more work than just pitch dampening, it also stabilises prop rolling torque (a safety issue as Udi said)
giorgos

[scandtours]

I think you guy's did great with the filming and your mean machine. Enjoyed the ride, it was fun watching you play in the sand.

Russ
If small children dodnt play it seems they are sick:lol:

[gdoulou]

Thanks for acknowledging my efforts as a cameraman Russ, I really appreciate it because Nikos and giorgos were too busy having fun to say thanks

Gdoulou (George)

[Aviomania]

Thanks for acknowledging my efforts as a cameraman Russ, I really appreciate it because Nikos and giorgos were too busy having fun to say thanks

Gdoulou (George)

George... read thread no. 1..... last sentence says..... 'thank you' to you!!:boink:

[Aviomania]

I think you guy's did great with the filming and your mean machine. Enjoyed the ride, it was fun watching you play in the sand.

Thank you Russ.

This is what sport flying is.... having fun!!! Let us all Have SAFE flying fun

[Resasi]

Congratulations Nicolas you appear to have done a fine job and built a great machine.

It was good to see you really enjoying the flying. Certainly a very convincing demonstration of faith in the stability of the design.

I would be most interested in your search for a good light prerotator for the Dragon Wings

[Aviomania]

Congratulations Nicolas you appear to have done a fine job and built a great machine.

It was good to see you really enjoying the flying. Certainly a very convincing demonstration of faith in the stability of the design.

I would be most interested in your search for a good light prerotator for the Dragon Wings

Thank you Leigh (Resasi).

I have few ideas that i will try for a light prerotator (time permiting... i am to busy :( now)

[Greg Mitchell]

Ive been following you guys for some time now and as a manufacturer of Larry Neals T tail, I must say, I personally love the tails you guys produce.

I have watched and enjoyed all your videos.

Congratulations it is a fine ship.

Mitch.

[Aviomania]

Thank you Very much Mitch. I always try to make something which is functional but.. to look good as well.

[scandtours]

Beautiful work, Nicolas! It appears this gyro is built to meet your mission - flying low level off of sand runways. I can see you guys are having lots of fun. There are only two things that separate this gyro from perfect - IMHO. They are - a tall tail to minimize prop rolling torque (a safety issue), and a couple more feet of moment on the stab for added pitch damping and improved response with no power. Both can be done with same structure and minimum, if any, added weight.

Good job :wave:

The long HS, as can be seen from attached photo, acts as tall tail too.
The rolling torque doesnt exist since air doenst know if it hits tall tail or long HS. (Acktually the HS is longer than a tall tail)
As you can see from the video ( the first twenty seconds) where Nic flys the gyro att high attitude and almost at zero airspeed, throttles back and later full throttle again theres is no signs of prop rolling torque. The body follows the rotorblades harmonically and continues to fly straight and level. Of course this is not the correct way to check the rolling torque.

[flygaren]

Helo Nicolas and Giorgos..!
Is that a gyro good for beginers as me.....and other newbees..?
We are some friends in swedish rotorflygklubben building the "Humla"...bumbelbee.
I like the stab on your gyro...and would like to build the same on my bumblebee.
Is that recomendable...?
regards...Peter from Sweden

[Aviomania]

Helo Nicolas and Giorgos..!
Is that a gyro good for beginers as me.....and other newbees..?
We are some friends in swedish rotorflygklubben building the "Humla"...bumbelbee.
I like the stab on your gyro...and would like to build the same on my bumblebee.
Is that recomendable...?
regards...Peter from Sweden

Hello Peter.

I have been flying George's aircomand a lot before we built this gyro & after couple of months flying this Aviomania GS1sa, Today I flew Georges airocammnd gyro again........

I have to say that it required much more work to fly it accurately than the GS1sa.

So.... yes, this gyro is very suitable for low time pilots. i have made plans for it and we will built another one from the plans to see how everything fits together.

Do not misunderstand me..... this gyro will not teach you to fly.... YOU NEED PROPER DUAL TRAINING. It is just VERY easy and very comfortable to fly. It is very firm in its flying path, the nose does not wonder left and right or up and down, it just flies with the stability of a FW.

Only if you fly it you can really understand the deference.

if you use our tail on a bee then you will need to change the AOA of the HS (very easy to do) according to HTL offset of your gyro.

[Earthboundmisft]

Nicolas, your gyro is one of the best designs yet. I for one, would be interested in plans for the frame and tailfeathers. Thank you, Mike Hughes 321-795-0122

[scandtours]

Nicolas, your gyro is one of the best designs yet. I for one, would be interested in plans for the frame and tailfeathers. Thank you, Mike Hughes 321-795-0122

I am not axaggerating but, flying this gyro you have a feeling that it knows to fly itself better than pilot. It corrects itself before any help from pilot.
What I want to say once more is just how right Jack Beaty and Dog Reley are regarding tails.
Giorgos

[Aviomania]

Nicolas, your gyro is one of the best designs yet. I for one, would be interested in plans for the frame and tailfeathers. Thank you, Mike Hughes 321-795-0122

Thank you Mike.

The tailfeathers will have to be purchased ready because it will be difficult to be built easily with out a mold. you can choose to build an aluminium ruder if you don't want to buy the composite one. ( as the prototype)

pod, fuel tank, welded nose wheel assembly, control stick) will be optional because there will be details on the plans for DIY. nose wheel, stick and everything else on the plans will be bolted aluminium, no need for welding.

As i said before we are building ( a friend of mine) one from plans so i prefer to Wait couple of months till it will be finished to see if there is a problem in the plans and then supply to other people. I would not like it if i have to say... change that after you started building.

i am building an all aluminium tall tail ( but i do not have the time to finish it now) which will eventually be included in the plans ( after we test it and we are satisfied with it) so you will have an option for the tail.

Price will be as low as possible for everything.. (covering the costs) .....the purpose of this design is to be available as a safe cheap gyro. If i ever decide that i want to make money out of gyros i will be suppling kits.. :)

we are testing deferent rotors now so... we will be recommending suitable rotors for it as well on the plans with details on there handling and performance.

as soon as i will be ready to release the plans i will let everybody know

[Earthboundmisft]

Nicolas, Thank you for the quick response. My search for the best design has been long, so I will be happy to see your plans. I have all the major components already. Thanks again, Mike Hughes.

[gyromike]

Nicolas,

How much does the composite tail weigh?
Also, do you think one of these could be built that meets the U.S. ultralight weight limit?

[Resasi]

It is a fascinating design Nicolas and a very good looking gyro. By the photo my estimate this is over 254 but a good question by Mike, could it be slimmed down to ultralight. I remember Nicolas saying that it was his intention to produce one that would meet those specs and wondering if that is still his intention

Certainly would be interested in finding out about plans when you are ready Nicolas, and that pod looks a very good shape indeed. Not only more comfort for the pilot but could improve the drag of the airframe with a pilot sitting bolt upright with no streamlining.

Have you had any luck with finding a light prerotator design for your DW's yet?

[Timchick]

Nicolas,

How much does the composite tail weigh?
Also, do you think one of these could be built that meets the U.S. ultralight weight limit?

Also, can the tail be mounted on a level keel like a normal Bensen?

[Aviomania]

Thank you all for the kind words.

The gyro was weighted as soon as it was finished and it had the pod, a C gearbox with a 4 bladed heavy warpdrive prop, a small battery, Azusa steel brakes it was about 20-22 lbs above the limit. The tail was a wet lay up with aluminium (.0125in thick) spars as well as filler to fill the cloth weave.

The tails that will come out of the molt should be lighter,

I will know the plans built gyro weight with the tail that will come out of the mold as soon as the other one is finished. I am of to the UK in few days ( i have to go and convert a UK inspectors license to EASA and get a higher instructors rating) and i will be back after the 15th of October, so it will take couple of months (if everything goes well) for the other one to be ready.

I thing that it will be possible to be built as an FAR 103 legal ultralight ( i hope it will include the pod) :)

IF i manage to fly it again before i leave i will weight it now that has the B gearbox and a 3 blade prop and let you know the weight.

[Aviomania]

as far as prerotator i am trying to built an electric one using all the latest technology in brushless motors. What i have on hand is not very expensive and it is very light. i have to machine some more parts and test it out. if it will give me up to ~100 RRPM i will be happy.

[Aviomania]

Also, can the tail be mounted on a level keel like a normal Bensen?

Tim, Yes.

The molds are done with extended mounting flaps so that the fin can be built to fit keels from 0 to 15 degrees.

[Resasi]

And it all started with an annual on the Bensen. Yes that gentleman, John who made Cloud Dancer had an electrical prerotator that then recharged the battery. Sounded a very interesting concept.

[Aviomania]

And it all started with an annual on the Bensen. Yes that gentleman, John who made Cloud Dancer had an electrical prerotator that then recharged the battery. Sounded a very interesting concept.

Well.. i don't like using the rotor to do any other job than flying the gyro.... and i dint like using lithium polymer batteries ( they are very light and give hight current,, but they can catch fire if not charged properly.)

I already have a small battery on the gyro, ... so 1 minute of prerotation will require a ~10 minute flight to top up the battery from the engine alternator.

[Resasi]

Fire close to fuel, bad combo and I agree with you there Nicolas. A light efficient prerotation system for ultrlights or indeed any gyro is a bit of a 'Grail' search it seems.

An idea Don Shoebridge was mulling over and seemed very interesting was utilising exhaust gas to drive a small turbine which one could tap for prerotation.

I quote Don " In an article from Australia a few years back, an engine exhaust drive rotor drive system was tried but no effort made to engineer the system. It was a simple die grinder motor attached to the engine exhaust."

Don was proposing to design a dedicated pre-rotation system that was driven from the engine exhaust utilizing a custom designed turbine with 2-stages of speed reduction between it and the rotor head. He was thinking of using a modified version of a standard Black Beauty rotor head from Star Bee Gyros, and using a J-Type belt, rather than a gear drive. "Like the old style pre-rotators seen on many Bensens it would use a square, telescopic drive shaft between turbine and rotor head. The turbine was to be a high flow design specifically designed to provide a "soft start" to the rotor blades. Unlike an axial flow turbine, the design would make the power band more broad, and less "peaky". Torque output would be fairly flat above a specific RPM for a given inlet pressure."

What was nice was one would be extracting and utilising what was essentially lost or waste energy and potentially a light system. Since I am not an engineer I was not able to determine how practical this might have been but would be interested in your views on such a system.

I have emailed him to check on how things are progressing but haven't heard back.

[Aviomania]

Fire close to fuel, bad combo and I agree with you there Nicolas. A light efficient prerotation system for ultrlights or indeed any gyro is a bit of a 'Grail' search it seems.

An idea Don Shoebridge was mulling over and seemed very interesting was utilising exhaust gas to drive a small turbine which one could tap for prerotation.

I quote Don " In an article from Australia a few years back, an engine exhaust drive rotor drive system was tried but no effort made to engineer the system. It was a simple die grinder motor attached to the engine exhaust."

Don was proposing to design a dedicated pre-rotation system that was driven from the engine exhaust utilizing a custom designed turbine with 2-stages of speed reduction between it and the rotor head. He was thinking of using a modified version of a standard Black Beauty rotor head from Star Bee Gyros, and using a J-Type belt, rather than a gear drive. "Like the old style pre-rotators seen on many Bensens it would use a square, telescopic drive shaft between turbine and rotor head. The turbine was to be a high flow design specifically designed to provide a "soft start" to the rotor blades. Unlike an axial flow turbine, the design would make the power band more broad, and less "peaky". Torque output would be fairly flat above a specific RPM for a given inlet pressure."

What was nice was one would be extracting and utilising what was essentially lost or waste energy and potentially a light system. Since I am not an engineer I was not able to determine how practical this might have been but would be interested in your views on such a system.

I have emailed him to check on how things are progressing but haven't heard back.


Using exhaust gasses are a nice option especially with 4 stroke engines ( 2 strokes are not very happy when exhaust gases are blocked in any way..)

There is an Australian guy that developed a compressed air motor to be used in indoor vehicles, it is light and powerful... if this could be made smaller it would be perfect for prerotator.

normal air tool type motors are not so efficient.

[Resasi]

Guess that rules this out for ultralights then, as most use two strokes.