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GrantR
07-14-2010, 06:33 PM
Another google earth track for today’s flight. I covered 20 miles and averaged 54 MPH. The video once again turned out too bad to post. I did some low level flying in a field down to 1 to 200 feet at one point. I made a quick turn from 600 feet downwind. I didn’t really consider the wind strength at height to be that much but it was enough to cause me to drop down to about 200 feet. As soon as I made the turn I was going down so I kept my airspeed up and the gyro caught up with the air Then I turned back into the wind with excess speed and traded it for altitude! What great fun.

Now that I am getting used to flying the gyro a steep turn doesn’t seem that steep. The fixed wing guy told me my 60o bank turns looked good! LOL I don’t think they were 60. The ones over the field were modernly steep.

With a gradual turn downwind the gyro does not sink. When it is windy I make very shallow turns downwind when I am low.

The trip was fun! As you ca see I flew around the airport and the fields near the airport and then ventured out to the Local R/c Hobby shop. It has a grass strip and used to be home to a piper cub until it was crashed a few years ago.

You have to save the file to the computer then open it in google earth.

scottessex
07-15-2010, 02:55 AM
Oh crap, you just had to say something about a downwind turn. Way to go Grant!


Glad you have been having fun flying, so does it beat the ol fixed wing?

StanFoster
07-15-2010, 03:10 AM
Yea....you have to watch those downwind turns....it may fly completely different than when turning upwind!! Of course there is no difference...but you had better consult the Baron about this.



Stan

GrantR
07-15-2010, 04:13 AM
LOL guys I know. But you do lose a little bit of altitude if you make a very sharp turn from up to downwind. With a normal fixed wing type turn you don't

Scott,

With the Gyro due to its size and the way it handles wind a turbulence, I am now able to enjoy flying much more than before because I get to keep it assembled for free at the airport and I can fly it in the wind and rough stuff with no problems.

There have been plenty of days I have flown the gyro that I would not have flown the Kolb.

bmoore2156
07-15-2010, 04:53 AM
If there is no difference between flying up wind and down wind, why is my engine rpm @4900 to maintain 85 ias upwind, while only 4500 to maintain 85 ias downwind. (15 mph wind)
I understand on paper there should be no difference.
Brad