Solo!!!

[BadAir Express]

Today marks one of the greatest milestones of my life. For as long as I can remember I've wanted to fly. When I was a little kid, I used to get two or three pieces of bubble gum in my mouth and try to blow a bubble large enough to lift me into the air. About 10 years ago I got my ppl. in fix wing aircraft, but today with the help of Mike Burton, CFI from AirGyro, Spanish Fork, Utah (Shameless plug) I achieved what I think is the ultimate flight. I solo'ed the SparrowHawk. The grin should come off in a month or two!!! It was great!

Thanks Mike for helping me carve another notch in my belt!

Enjoy the good air. Whip the BadAir into submission.

Curt

[PW_Plack]

Congrats, Curt!

The next big grin comes when you fly your machine!

[BadAir Express]

Soon, I hope... Soon. Thanks Paul.

[GyroDoug]

Another Gyro Pilot in Utah!!!! We are getting there. Can't wait until I can join this elite group.

Gyro Doug

[barnstorm2]

congratultaions!

[GYRO J]

Way to go Curtis :drum:

[greg spicola]

Great Curt, although I have bad news about that Gyro grin I've been flying gyros for 5 yrs and still can't get rid of it so just learn to live with it! :D

[WHUBBS]

Curt, sure would like to see a photo of your machine, and congratulations.

Wayne

[fiveboy]

Curt - smooth air and beautiful skies to you!

[jcarleto]

Good job, Curt!

*JC*

[GyroDoug]

Curt, sure would like to see a photo of your machine, and congratulations.

Wayne

Wayne,

I'm not sure if Curt has figured out how to put pictures on here yet as he is just learning his way around on the forum, so in order to get you and everyone else a quick picture of Curt's beautiful machine I thought I would post a picture I have of it. I am sure he has much better pictures and can post them as he figures it out.

Gyro Doug

[BadAir Express]

Thanks Doug for the photo and thanks all for the support. I look forward to the dreaded PERMA-GRIN. I was talking to some fixed wing guys today. They were congratulating themselves on the fine cross wind landings. Again I smiled. So little cross taxiways and still so MUCH Room for the gyro!

I'll get some pictures as soon as my seat comes back from getting covered.

Thanks again all!

Curt

[BadAir Express]

To display my newness, whats a guy got to do to get another star? (I know; learn to post photo's, right?)

[JEFF TIPTON]

Nope; just more posts!

[GyroDoug]

To display my newness, whats a guy got to do to get another star? (I know; learn to post photo's, right?)

Curt,

When you see a guys name with lots of stars it just means they are spending too much time on the computer instead of flying their machines. For some of us that is the only thing available to us right now. It may be desirable (to some) to have a lot of stars after their name but I promise you it is much more fulfilling to have that Gyro Grin on your face from being out their flying like a bird. You're on the right track, just keep up the good work.

Gyro Doug

[MikeBoyette]

Nope; just more posts!

You also get more stars when you are a supporter of the forum. This is done by donating some money to Todd to help with the expense of running this site. Todd does this out of his own pocket and I am sure every little bit helps.

[Racer]

Make a donation to the forum administrator Todd Powell and you will get a bunch of stars

[BadAir Express]

At 10 grand a star, Todd you and Mike must be loaded...:) I think what ever it takes to keep this site going.. It's been a lifesaver for me.. And a lot of fun too. Thanks..

Curt

[Joe Pires]

Congrats!!! Enjoy the addiction.

[Gyro_Kai]

Congratulations and welcome to the club!

Kai.

[BadAir Express]

He is a photo of the finished machine. Tell the FAA to hurry the number along. The ship want's UP! Me too.

[Chuck Roberg]

He is a photo of the finished machine.

How about a few more close up photos. Interior also.

[BadAir Express]

I'll be glad to Chuck. I'm leaving for work today and I'll be back on Thursday or Friday. I'll take some then and get them posted.

Thanks for all the support and positive comments

Curt

[BadAir Express]

Here are some of the photo's I took. The top right is the panel. Middle is the Com Radio (Becker) Transponder w/mode C, and intercom with music jack. The radio and transponder would not fit in the panel so I made a box and moved them out 3 inches. The radio system works great. The top left is the RAF Tach's I'm having problems with. The Bottom 4 are the Fuel System.

[BadAir Express]

I've tried to load more, but I'll die of old age before the site lets them load. I'll try some more later. Sorry

Curt

[GyroDoug]

Curt,

You've come a long ways in a pretty short amount of time. I'm impressed and excited for your. Before you know it your machine will be registered and instected and you will be leading the charge into the air, here in Utah. Congratualations!!!

Gyro Doug

[BadAir Express]

Thanks Doug. I always appreciate your positive thoughts. Here are a couple more shots. Top left is the home made door latch. There are three on each door. Top middle is a pilots side. Top Right is the new seat and seat belts. Bottom three are: The heater hose routing. I didn't want to much exposier to hot water in the cockpit, so I ran the hoses on the out side. Next, I drilled and safety wired any bolt that did not have a ny-lock nut. This was also the case for the two bolts that control the fore and aft limit of the rotor head. Finialy I put an extra spring on the brake cable to ensure the brakes would always be unlocked when landing. Probabaly overkill, but it makes me feel good.. If there is anything else someone wants to see, let me know. I'll try to get it.

See ya'll later. Have a great week.

Curt

[BadAir Express]

PS. I'll have this machine at the Rotors over the Rocky's event. I look forward to meeting a lot of you.

[route66]

Nice job Curtis! I really like the simplicity of the door latches. I wish you many hours of pleasure in your fantastic machine!

[All_In]

PS. I'll have this machine at the Rotors over the Rocky's event. I look forward to meeting a lot of you.

Great I'll see you there!

It's does look good!!!

[billygyro]

that's a great looking machine, and I bet it's stable one as well. best of luck to you. fly safe.

[WHUBBS]

Curt, man, you got it going, we are proud of your achievement, because some of us have been in your shoes, and we know how hard it is to get to sleep, once the day has wound down, you will loose some sleep, and won't even realize it for a few days, until your family will say, you look tired.

congratulations Curt.

Wayne

[Falcon]

Curt, Way to go, I hope to be there myself this summer. I should be home from Iraq in time to see your machine at the Rotors over the rockies flyin.

Gary

[skyking]

Congratulations on your solo! It is amazing how many things we forget in the span of a lifetime but we never forget the feeling of that very first solo in anything that defies gravity.

[NoWingsAttached]

OUTSTANDING! Wow, sweet machine, too. Good thing that pod - I had to make my windshield bigger to keep the bugs of my teeth. I yell YEEEEEEE HAAAH!!! an awful lot too....

[BadAir Express]

You guys crack me up!!! Just about the time I start to think of anything else, I either think of that ride or look at your responces and the teeth stick way out front. LIFE IS GREAT!!!

Curt