Norm's MT03

[lanichol]

Just listened to Norm's interview (http://http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007cpt4) 4/27/2010 [52.25] on BBC talkback.

He mentioned flying over the desert at 100 mph. Anyone have details on his prop or how the gyro is fine tuned? He is consistantly making good time.

I know Chris & company flew around 85-90 across the U.S., but that is because they had some problems with the in-flight adjustable IVO.

[ckurz7000]

100 mph is pretty darn fast for a continuous cruise speed but achievable in an MTOSport with a Rotax 914 and IVOprop -- if it isn't loaded too heavily. I would think that Norman is enjoying some tailwind component, though. Because, personally, I wouldn't want to push the machine that hard consistently if I still had 75% of the globe's circumference ahead of me.

A good, fast annd sustainable cruise would be 85-90 mph. Don't forget, though, that on our flight across the US we were going east to west into the prevailing winds.

-- Chris.

[Resasi]

This time of the year he may well still be getting help from the low level jetstream across N/Central Africa the ME and Asia.

We used to get a real push flying eastbound at certain times of the year and he may well have factored that in to his planning.

[troed@aon.at]

Unfortunately the story ended in Thailand:

News - Latest - 3 May 2010 - Norman is well but the autogyro is damaged.

Thank you for all your patience. Norman is well but the autogyro has been damaged a will not be flying for the immediate future. Here is a message received from Norman by mobile / cell phone text in relation to taking off on Saturday morning.

"Apologies to all for the delays - a combination of high air temperature, heavy aircraft and variable cross wind resulted in a poor climb out by the aircraft on take off. Obstacle avoidance resulted in a forced ditching in to a shallow lake. Thankfully I was not injured and the aircraft is now being assessed for possible repair. There will be more on this as soon as I know all the options. Regards, Norman."
End of text. We have no other information at present, communications with him is difficult and as you can imagine he is occupied with 101 things.

Sorry for him but at least he is fully unharmed. Next time maybe better in a Magni :)

[lanichol]

Norm has had some help.

Disaster and triumph
http://gyroxgoesglobal.blogspot.com/

"The aircraft too, received the same treatment, recovered, unloaded into hanger, engine drained of water and restarted barely two hours after the incident."

[Chuck Roberg]

I really hope Norm is able to carry on. Sounds like he has some fantastic people helping him.