View Full Version : Sportcopter 2 Videos
Nate Oldham from Airgyro Aviation recently went up to the Sportcopter factory in Oregon. Things are progressing on the Sportcopter 2 Gyroplane. I just posted a couple of videos from his visit. Now these aren't Shawn Adams type videos. They were only taken with a point and shoot camera, but even so, they are pretty cool. Here are the youtube links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a2RI3CJC1o
&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMCIi8L7Rtk
So check em out.
Brent_Brown
10-15-2008, 04:36 PM
Ok I see the tall tail is gone. What happened?
Jim did some re-engineering. Apparently this new tail allows it to go faster! It tracks better especially at high speeds. It also allows for better control.
Rotor-Head
10-15-2008, 05:27 PM
Nate.. good to see you.... Nice Machine hey????
Good job.... nice videos.......
Friendly
10-15-2008, 05:42 PM
Ok I see the tall tail is gone. What happened?
That was the same question , I had.
Thanks for sharing the videos.
The machine is incredible. I am jealous that Nate has been able to go and play around in it two different times. The only problem I can see in the Machine is that the production ones aren't finished yet, and we don't have ours! I can't wait for it. I know that will only be for a short while more. They have some production kits being built right now.
hjajr
10-16-2008, 11:29 AM
these are fine ship. don't they go for $40,000to 80,000?
Ya, the basic kit is $59K. The engine that it is set up for is a Lycoming. So that will be in the 20k range somewhere. So you will be looking at about 85K. That's a lot of money, but if you talk about value, this is a good deal. This is the type of machine that will get the general aviation people to check out gyros. It has the quality and superior engineering that will allow it to become LSA certified. The performance is awesome as well. And most importantly, you won't find a safer flying machine.
hjajr
10-16-2008, 12:17 PM
What aircraft manf.engine are they using? HP?
I would like to see some real good manuvering videos in these.
The engine is a lycoming IO 360.....220 HP. We are going to use the aftermarket beefed up experimental one for some of them. But it will also have the 180 certified version available. The one in the video still has the Subaru though. The flight testing hasn't been done with the Lycoming yet.
Chuck_Ellsworth
10-16-2008, 12:56 PM
Are they going to get the engines built by Lycon?
Master Roda
10-16-2008, 01:04 PM
Are they going to get the engines built by Lycon?
Yes. The engine is georgous. Lycon does a great job.
hjajr
10-16-2008, 01:05 PM
is the sub one for sale?
Master Roda
10-16-2008, 01:12 PM
The machine is incredible. I am jealous that Nate has been able to go and play around in it two different times. The only problem I can see in the Machine is that the production ones aren't finished yet, and we don't have ours! I can't wait for it. I know that will only be for a short while more. They have some production kits being built right now.
Jake,
Were almost done :wave:
Master Roda
10-16-2008, 01:13 PM
is the sub one for sale?
NO! :)
............
hjajr
10-16-2008, 01:21 PM
what rotors do you build?
Master Roda
10-16-2008, 01:26 PM
http://www.sportcopter.com/sport-rotors.php
I been building them for Jim for about 6 years.
GyroDoug
10-16-2008, 01:38 PM
I know these are a lot of money but that's not much different than what you would pay for a Magni Gyro and this one will have a lot more power than a Magni with a Rotax 914. I think this will be a real winner. Unfortunately it's going to be too expensive for my budget. However the good news is there will be one of these a little over an hour from me that I can always go flying in and just pay by the hour. I can't wait to get a chance to fly this with a Lycoming. This is a great Gyro from everything I have seen and read about it so far, it will just be a Gyro for those who have a little more discretionary cash available than the average American family.
Gyro Doug
Hey Jon,
We are definitely excited to get one so we can start doing training in it. We appreciate you guys working hard on it. I can understand why you wouldn't want the Sub version to be sold, Jim probably has too much fun in it, and I guess he probably wants it to test components of the craft.
Chuck_Ellsworth
10-16-2008, 04:38 PM
It is nice to see jim is going with the Lycoming.
Getting them built by Lycon is even better, for those of you who are not familiar with Lycon they build about half of the engines used in the Red Bull racing machines...and Shawn Tucker has been using their engines forever.
When I am ready for the engine in the Cub I'm building Lycon will be building it.
Rotor-Head
10-17-2008, 10:05 PM
Good stuff Jon.. Tell Jim we need to shoot some updated videos of the SC2.... Cheers...
As I have said before.... it seems on the heavy side. watch when it lands, dead give away.
not knocking the maching but it may need a bigger set a rotors.
Timchick
10-18-2008, 01:30 PM
As I have said before.... it seems on the heavy side. watch when it lands, dead give away.
not knocking the maching but it may need a bigger set a rotors.
He may be landing like that to show off the suspension.
He may be landing like that to show off the suspension.
That's what they said when I commented about it before....:ohwell:
Timchick
10-18-2008, 08:06 PM
With as much flying experience that Jim has I find it hard to believe that landings like that are his normal landings. It doesn't matter how heavy a gyro is, the heaviest gyros can touch down light as a feather by an experienced pilot. My opinion is he's got a new gyro to show off and he's showing off the capabilities of the suspension.
now this is the landing I would expect from Jim. (much better in this one)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9gj9XG4Nv0&feature=related
Gyro_Kai
10-19-2008, 10:21 AM
Hello,
Fantastic machine, the world needs more :D
I would like to come back to the change of tail. Let me put it in blunt terms:
Do I understand correctly that they traded in the torque neutralizing effect of the crizifix tail for better overall performance, i.e. less drag/thrust deteriation?
I'm flying an MT03 with a similar tail setup, and I found the torque effect to be the hardest to learn, because it keeps kicking in, when you are just busy with whatever made you change the throttle in the first place. I imagine a torque free machine would be much easier to learn.
Kai.
reelmule
10-19-2008, 02:47 PM
Have they flown the Rota Max on the Sportcopter yet??
Fly Army
10-19-2008, 03:04 PM
While the I0-360 is a very nice engine it is also rather thirsty. Having owned a Grumman Tiger with an 0-360 and a fixed pitch prop I recall on the order of 11-12GPH and that engine does not like car gas either.
Master Roda
10-20-2008, 12:08 PM
As I have said before.... it seems on the heavy side. watch when it lands, dead give away.
not knocking the maching but it may need a bigger set a rotors.
Heavy? No heavier than a SH or RAF. It does have more power though.
It's running 31' rotors right now. With the more powerful Lycon it might get bigger rotors (32'). Not because it's heavy. In fact it will be lighter.
The machine will probably never see a rotary engine.
Seriously dude, you can't tell what it weighs from a video. You never will. Unlesss it's hanging from a scale of course.
The change in tail design IS for better overall performance. I personally don't have a problem flying it with this tail. All of our previous designs including our current trainer has this tail and it works very well.
Ok, it's not exactly the same.....same concept though. Besides, it looks better. It's also half the weight of the other one.
BTW, bigger rotors aren't the answer for everything. Have you heard of "power to weight" ? I suggest leaving the engineering to someone else.
Master Roda
10-20-2008, 01:41 PM
Good stuff Jon.. Tell Jim we need to shoot some updated videos of the SC2.... Cheers...
As soon as we paint the updated version of the new tail we'll need to shoot that video. (I have to put caps on it.)
I also want to talk to you about shooting a new tracking video to put on DVD. Maybe we can do that in the same trip.
Anyway, I hope to see you soon.
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