All Terrain G Force Landing Gear Upgrade for Monarch Butterfly Gyroplane

[Greg Mitchell]

I am running a Blog on Rotor's Forum (the other Oz Forum other than the ASRA site) and will add links here as updated.

There is written info and pictures.

Mitch

http://www.rotorcraft.com.au/blog.php?14-Mitch&blogcategoryid=-1

[GyroDoug]

Looking Good Mitch!!!

[Greg Mitchell]

Cheers Doug.

I hope the link is not to inconvenient. Generally I post on 3 forums but this becomes labourious and time consuming.

Had hoped to put in a full day on it today but not to be. I will probably end up doing an Over-Nighter.

Mitch.

[Greg Mitchell]

This is a link to the first post of the 2nd day, scroll on for the others.

http://www.rotorcraft.com.au/entry.php?8-2nd-Day-All-Terrain-G-Force-Landing-Gear-Upgrade

[Greg Mitchell]

All Terrain G Force Landing Gear Installed.

http://www.rotorcraft.com.au/entry.php?13-3rd-day-(18-hrs-)-All-Terrain-G-Force-Landing-Gear

Just underneath the post you can click on 'Next' to advance to the next post.

Mitch.

[choppergabor]

Wow beautiful job! Now that will be a smooth landing every time. Even in a case of drop ins. Looking good Mitch. Thanks for the photos I really appreciate them. :)

[Greg Mitchell]

Thanks Gabor, I am especially pleased that you enjoyed the pics.

http://www.rotorcraft.com.au/entry.php?18-4th-Day-Brakes-removed-from-old-axle-stubs

[Greg Mitchell]

http://www.rotorcraft.com.au/entry.php?21-All-Terrain-G-Force-Landing-Gear-Release-Cables-made-and-installed-21-1-2-hrs-Total

[scottessex]

Just out of curiosity, what is the weight difference with the G force?
Looks like it uses a shock absorber on each end.

[choppergabor]

It did come out really nice Mitch. I can't wait for you to try it out. I am wondering how long it will take for you to swap the cables to eventually nothing and just let the full 16" completely out. :) It's pretty exciting. Looks as if all the parts were manufactured very professionally and were all snug "no further messing required". What size of prop are you turning?

[Greg Mitchell]

Scott,

Yes the motorcycle shocks are the 'All Terrain'. The main shocks provide the long stroke 16".

The G Force adds approx 24 lbs.

My composite blades at 23 1/2 foot are 76 lbs.

My new alloy blades at 25 foot tip weighted with 1 1/4 lbs are 59 lbs.

I will increase the disc size, reduce the disc loading have the All Terrain G Force all for a added weight gain of 7-8 lbs.

G'Day Gabor,

Thanks again. All of Larry's parts are top shelf and his gyros have options like no other.
I wont rush it with the testing and getting proficient. I will advise and post info and video.

Perhaps some other Butterfly owners might be able to advise how long it took them to get a handle on the G Force operations. Chris Wilson or Tim Veroi and others all seemed to be up and running and loving it in good time.

Cheers,

Mitch.

[Kingchocolate]

Hey Mitch,
Did you get a chance to try out your new landing gear?

Scott

[Greg Mitchell]

No not yet Scott,
Been helping a mate 'side' his kit home this last 5 days or so, got a couple days left in it.
Plan on taking the Monarch out to the airfield next week.

I'll post something when I do.

Cheers,

Mitch.

[choppergabor]

Mitch I am awaiting with pregnant anticipation on your test runs with the new suspension......wink wink ..... :)

[GrantR]

Mitch,

Are the main shocks air shocks that you pump up? I didnt see a fitting in the pics.

[Greg Mitchell]

G'Day Fellas,

Attacked it today and came home having done the job.

Well no doubt as a longtime Butterfly owner and Australian and New Zealand Distributor, you will expect me to rave about the All Terrain G Force Landing Gear:director:

I was at the airfield for 5 hrs and got 2 1/2 hrs in the saddle, went from gear up position to 3" extension thru to the full 16" extension.

There'll be more on the Blog soon.

Here's a static pic of the Blue Monarch at Cranbourn today.

Did I mention I played with the G Force today;)

[Greg Mitchell]

Grant the shocks are sealed gas filled.

Cheers,

Mitch

[Greg Mitchell]

Scott,

I just noticed your new Avatar, Awesome!

[Greg Mitchell]

http://www.rotorcraft.com.au/blog.php?b=22

[Kingchocolate]

Hey Mitch,

Thanks for putting your experience into words. It brings back memories. Doing the drop landings is like hitting your hand with a hammer and it not hurting. The hole time you are coming down your thinking this is going to hurt and thin your on the ground and nothing happened. Got to love it. I'm so glad Larry thought of this.
My Avatar I was lucky that a friend of mine was able to capture me doing a drop landing with photos. When he showed them to me I thought it was so cool.

Thanks
Scott

[choppergabor]

Great reporting Mitch I really appreciate it mate :) The most important thing is that you do like it and you experienced the added safety it provides to you. Every now and than we all do flare a bit high ...... and oh just how handy this baby can be at times like those :)
Thanks
Gabor

[Greg Mitchell]

Scott and Gabor,

You are both most welcome and I thank you for your interest in my upgrade and new learning curve.

Ole Mate Nudge flew his trike out to the strip this morning to shoot some video of the Blue Monarch All Terrain G Force Landing Gear in action.

I'll do up a Youtube video tonight and post it.

Secured a 40 foot High Cube in excellent 'nik' today...$1600

Transport mob want $400-$480 to move it 10 kms (6-7 miles) up the road.

I will be moving to a new airfield on a private property, less than ten minutes from home.

Looks like it's all comming together...touch wood!

Mitch

[Russ Hobbs]

Greg
Thanks for sharing all the photo's and your test flight, enjoyed it all.
Thanks, Russ

[Greg Mitchell]

Hey you are welcome Russ.

I reckon Nudge did a good job of filming.

There's a little blurb on the Blog with the Youtube link.

This has been great fun and an extremely rewarding aviation experience.

New blades to test next.:tape:

http://www.rotorcraft.com.au/blog.php?b=23

[Resasi]

Looked good Mitch. You just couldn't get yourself to slam it in though. You persisted in doing greasers then sinking down. Works a treat though

Very last landing looked like you managed to sort of gingerly drop it.

It's a good piece of kit. How heavy? Can you retract it in flight from the drooped position?

[GyroDoug]

Can you retract it in flight from the drooped position?

Resasi,

I noticed Greg hadn't replied to your last question, (I'm sure he just didn't see it) but since I know the answer to this question I thought I would answer it for you.

There is no way to retract (or bring up) the gear in flight. It starts out in the up position when you take off. Larry has designed a system that will hold it in the up position until you release it. At that time gravity will slowly pull it down (takes about 30 seconds to fully drop) after which it is ready to absorb the maximum energy in landing.

That way the gear stays in the up position for cruise flight, keeping drag down below the center of gravity minimized for normal flight and then allows you to drop the gear to the lower position when ready to land for maximum energy absorbtion in landing. It is a pretty simple design and can not be manually repositioned by you in flight so it can't be classified by the FAA as a retractable gear system (this would take it out of eligibility for an LSA category aircraft).