Sparrow Hawk owners list

[Steve McGowan]

It would be great to have knowledge of the owners, addresses and phone #'s.

There's a lot of information that we could share and resolve a few problems.

Atleast I think so..

Steve McGowan
Macon, Georgia
478-461-1451

[Russ Hobbs]

Steve

I'm still in the build stage, I have an the SH-1, with a 2.5 Suburu motor and most of the upgrades.

Russ

[romanav8r]

Hi, I'm Roman, and my flying partner, Mike, and I recently purchased a completed Sparrowhawk I from the builder. We live in the Memphis area, and I'm about to complete my training w/ Ron Menzie in Searcy, AR. We're both new to the airplane ownership/gyroplane arena, and would welcome all the help/advice we can get. We've joined the local EAA, and will be based @ the same airport as the builder. So, that's a big bonus for us. Our main questions concern the avionics (Skydat), and engine performance on our 2.2L (currently 6.5 gph). No apparent issues w/ the fuel tanks. I'm absolutely ecstatic about flying this machine. After spending 18 years flying fixed-wings, this is just what I've been looking for. Looking forward to any insight from other owners...

Roman Greene
Memphis, TN
901-491-2009
roman.greene.63@gmail.com

[Greg Lockhart]

I purchased my SH1 kit about 5 years ago. I haven't made much progress on it so far.. but I hope that's about to change. I recently retired and finishing the SH is going to be a priority.

Greg Lockhart
Parkersburg, WV
304-863-8915

[mgoroff]

N320MG first flew on November 18. 2006. It is an SH1 with most of the SH2 upgrades. It also has an Ivoprop inflight adjustable prop and an MGL Enigma EFIS. I now have around 180 hrs in it.

The fuel tanks are the old style uncoated fiberglass tanks and are holding up well - I just opened them up for inspection as I did the annual. It has been a very reliable and trouble free machine, though I've never been able to get it as smooth as my Bell 47G2.

Marc Goroff
Livermore, CA
925-606-8672

[romanav8r]

N320MG first flew on November 18. 2006. It is an SH1 with most of the SH2 upgrades. It also has an Ivoprop inflight adjustable prop and an MGL Enigma EFIS. I now have around 180 hrs in it.

The fuel tanks are the old style uncoated fiberglass tanks and are holding up well - I just opened them up for inspection as I did the annual. It has been a very reliable and trouble free machine, though I've never been able to get it as smooth as my Bell 47G2.

Marc Goroff
Livermore, CA
925-606-8672
Hey Marc, What are the SH2 upgrades? When/why did you go w/ new instruments?
I worked as an Air Traffic Controller @ SCK 1988-1993, and we handled the instrument approaches to LVK. Is that where you're based? I'll be in the Bay area @ the end of the month, and would love to see your machine, if you're available. Let me know...Roman

[Steve McGowan]

my e-mail is SteMcgwn@aol.com

makes it a lot better to communicate, that way pics can be sent etc..

Steve

[mgoroff]

Hey Marc, What are the SH2 upgrades? When/why did you go w/ new instruments?


Most important for me was the switch from guide tubes to pulleys in the rudder pedals. It makes the pedals much smoother. I also have the high output alternator. I think there were a few other small items, but can't recall right now. :confused:.

I flew the GBA trainer with the Skydat monochrome display and wasn't very impressed with its capabilities, readability or screen layout. The Enigma has a vastly better color display, great flexibility in the screen layout, and a built in GPS with moving map. It also has a builtin tach whereas the Skydat required a separate tach. It was just coming out when I was doing the panel in my SH, so I returned the Skydat to GBA and they gave me a $500 credit towards the Enigma. I think it was a very worthwhile upgrade, though not without its share of problems. Mine was the second beta unit in the US and the software was all pre-release beta with lots of bugs. My favorite was that when the oil temp exceeded 100C/212F, the display would peg to the max and the oil temp alarm would go off. That made for some undesired excitement during my first flight!


I worked as an Air Traffic Controller @ SCK 1988-1993, and we handled the instrument approaches to LVK. Is that where you're based? I'll be in the Bay area @ the end of the month, and would love to see your machine, if you're available. Let me know...Roman

Yup, that's my home base. I've done many practice approaches at SCK (not in the gyro of course!). I'd be happy to show you my gyro and the rest of my collection of aviation toys. Send me a PM and let's go fly!

Marc

[Hoges]

Just as a matter of interest Roman, was the 6.5gph 2 up or solo?
Marc, do you have any figures on your fuel consumption, and are you happy with the Ivo Magnum in-flight adjustable - do you think the adjustable is worth the extra $$$, and I guess it's a 72"?
I'm rebuilding a SH1 after an accident (by someone else) and we are about a weeks worth of solid work away from it being tested.
We have fitted the bigger large pulley and the gearing is now 2.37:1 instead of the higher gearing which should make it a lot quieter.
In real time it's about 2 months away from being ready.
Does any one have a spare expansion tank they would like to sell, or a rotor head sensor for the Skydat rotor tach?
Cheers
Scott
________
Buy portable vaporizer (http://vaporizer.org/portable)

[Colin Gibson]

My kit is a SH 1 and has 005 written inside the instrument pod. Its flying in New Zealand and I'm hoping to be able to solo in it soon.

[Steve McGowan]

The SH I head was 2' forward and 18' to the rear, SH II/ III is 0' and 20' to the rear. both have 2' left angle on the head.
Seat tanks in the SH I sat on two pedistol blocks, have approx. 1 3/4" to the keel on either side on the tanks where as the SH II sits ona 2x4 aluminum square tube and the tanks are approx 2.5 inches lower than the SH I.

That also gives the II a lower center of gravity . The SH II / III tanks are also about 3/4 inches clearance from either side on the keel..

The floor/foot plate on the SH II / III was glued in and has a shelf for the instrument panel for .. (NOT much fun gluing those in either)
the SkyDat or whatever panel you wanted to personally use.

The original SH I tanks had a mess of hoses running between the keel and tanks for venting and fuel cross over equilation.. Again NOT much fun to install or work on..

There's many differences that evolved from the original SH which was an RAF Mod. to the SH III.. the Landing gear also had changes..

the Quik Build Kit, believe it or not, only took me 94 hours to build...except paint and electrics.. "Really"

Once you've flown in the II or III... Your a spoiled person for the roomy ness and headroom and the way the machine flies.. Needless to say..


I love It !!! I truely HOPE that GBA comes to life again.. It would be a shame to lose the Sparrow Hawk after it came so far in it's development.

Thanks Jim Mayfield, for giving me the chance to be a part of it..

Steve

[mgoroff]

Marc, do you have any figures on your fuel consumption, and are you happy with the Ivo Magnum in-flight adjustable - do you think the adjustable is worth the extra $$$, and I guess it's a 72"?


I generally figure fuel consumption to be 6.5-7.5gph on average.

I have mixed feelings about the Ivoprop. It does not track well and there are some RPM ranges where it vibrates uncomfortably. Most annoyingly, I rarely get more than 12 hrs out of a set of brushes before a lead breaks off. OTOH, it is very nice having the ability to adjust the pitch in flight. I'm not sure I would buy it again, though I do prefer it to the warp drive prop that came with the kit.

Marc

[skyking]

SH1 Slow Builder
Andrew Peters
25 Stoneridge Drive
Elverson, PA 19520
gyrodude@ptd.net
610 416-8982 cellular

[Colin Gibson]

Solo now.
11 hrs of solo flight completed.
All exams passed.
X countrys to complete now

[Canadian Rhino]

Still here !
Phil now in PEI Canada

[JimGyro]

Built Sparrowhawk II N622SH

James Genotte
10224 E River South Rd
Momence, IL 60954

Home Phone: 815-472-6108
e-mail: jimgeno2@sbcglobal.net