Someones gota do it.

[birdy]

Spot the gyro.

[birdy]

more gyro spotting.

[birdy]

From my office chair. :)

[birdy]

"clocking off ",[land'n on the G spot. :D]

[mrford61]

I just got airsick looking at the ones from the "office chair"

[Jazzenjohn]

Great pix !
I've got a newby question though. In the first picture of the first group of pix the mast and body of the gyro don't seem at all perpendicular to the rotor. is that because of the angle of the photo, uncoordinated turn, because it takes a second for it to swing out after the turn is commanded or something else?

[Aussie_Paul]

Great stuff Birdy, you're getting good with that camera, or is it that simple to use!!! LOL

Thanks.

Aussie Paul. :)

[ventana7]

Hey Birdy,

Have you ever heard of a manuver called straight and level?

Rob

[Vance]

Birdy, I was impresed when I watched a vidio of mustering in a Robinson 22, but you seem to be even wilder. How does your ship do compaired to a helicopter? We are having a small discusion about helicopters vs Autogyros in builders corner. Thank You, Vance

[barnstorm2]

Birdy,

Great picts! I had to hold on to my 'office chair' while viewing those.

Your altimeter seems to indicate you stay at a very consistant altitude!

[scottessex]

Do you get dust in your eyes from flying so low? :eek:

change air filters often? :D

[bowns]

Jazzenjohn:
In my point of view it's probably an illusion made by the blades occasionally 'fixed' somewhere,somehow from the plane.Often in a pix we see blades and no plane.
But gyros can have a slope plane as long as we have cyclic stick on them?

[Harry_S.]

Now, that is good flyin' Birdy. *HANG IN THERE* :D


Cheers :)

[Alan Coats]

Birdy,

Do you always wear such nice shoes to the "office"?

I work with a cattle rancher on my daytime job. He can't wait for me to get advanced enough to help him spot cattle from my gyro. I guarantee it will be from a much higher altitude, though.

Great pics!

Alan

[Glenn D]

Birdy,

Could you ever get somebody to video You masterfully muster'n cattle? Either from the ground or camera mounted to your gyro, That would be a kick to see you in action!


Glenn

[stuart]

Birdy, Thanks for the pictures--how many acres does it take to raise a cow down there anyway?

[bones]

Birdy i gotta come for a lap over there with you, you got no trees, envious i is

[rotor]

geez birdy,

you were flyin a little higher than usual ... have to climb over a few fences ??

[birdy]

Hmmm............Thanx all,I thought I woz going to get some negative responses with that but not one.........yet.
John J,I reckon it mite be an illusion[well ,I hope it is].The control rods are close to the mast,short cross tube,and they maybe mak'n it look cockeyed.

Paul B.,my fly'n hasn't improved ,but my photography has. ;)

Rob,S/L is reserved for the TO roll. :D

Vance,if you want a scg's oppinion,a gyro will piss all over a chopper for mustering in just about every aspect.I'v doubled with choppers when mustering big paddocks and at the end of the day it cums down to the experiance and "cow sence" of the pilots.
But of corse,if your talk'n economics the gyro is a country mile in frount.

Barnstorm,the alt meter don't work too good,if I want to know how high I am,I look at the ground.[if I kick the dash it'll indicate better but it's usualy stuck between -100'and+100'.] The ASI is bout the same,it gets stuck on 60k.

Tim,you'd be supprised wot I get hit with .Cattle will kick up small stones,****,piss,sticks and anything eles that they step on when theres a gyro up their ass.They also stire up small birds and plenty of bugs for me to hit.Dust usualy isnt a problem coz I'm not so close most of the time.It's only when yarding up ,when I gota "hover" bout close that it can be a hazard .

Alan,they is my town,yard,welding, fencing ,driving,sleeping and even flying "shoes" when it's hot.

Depending on the "temperment" of the cattle you'll be work'n Alan,you'll be supprised how easy it is. ;)

Glen,all those pix were stills taken from a digital vidio camera.I'v got bout 2 hours of footage so far and when I can,will try to edit it onto 0ne tape.A couple of blokes here have asked me to do it,it's just tak'n longer than I thought to get some decent footage.It's not the best camera setup.

Stuart,I run between 5000/6000 cattle on 750,000 acres depending on the season.[not many cattle,but they are all easy,maintanance free,free range]. :p

Rotor,I'm gradualy get'n accustomed to this altitude thing. :D

Steven,Sometimes you gota go higher than 50',like 51' to clear a 50' tree.I'v even been to 1900' once,to clear a 1899' mountain. :D

Bones,you welcome over ere anytime mate,just make sure it's at the start of the season and BYO gyro. ;)

[bones]

Birdy not too distant future i'm just gonna have to do that :)
( one condition is you supply the rum orrr and abit of tucka)

[StanFoster]

Birdy: Your pictures are fantastic. And your response a few posts back had me in tears.

I mentioned months ago about wanting to buy a video. I want one bad.. :D

We used to have cows back when I was young....but we mustered them up with the bumper of a 67 chevy truck :D .

Way to go Birdy...your unique and practical use of a gyro is awesome.

Stan

[Gidgee]

Awesome photos Birdy, thanks for postin em. Look forward to sitting on the edge of my chair watching the feature when it's released.
Great inspiration
Thanks
Marc.....

[JohnEvans]

Alan '
The footwear is important! Dave is wearing his special snake - proof flying boots. We call these thongs, and they have to be pink.
A CD or DVD is going to be produced - sometime - of activites at the Nationals back in April.

John

[Sonnyj]

AMAZIN INCREDABLE and all them other good words !!!!!

[birdy]

Saw the Gidgee[by the way,it's spelt gidgea.] name and thought 'this sounds like an isolated ozzy',then waited for you to post.
How ya go'n Mark,I reckon I know you from somewere.[do you grow grapes or cows??]

[Vance]

Birdy, Do you feel that an Autogyro can turn tighter? Climb faster? Go faster? Than a Helicopter. Do you feel safer? There are people on this forum that may beleive that the only reason to fly an Autogyro instead of a helicopter is cost. You can't measure fun, but it would be fun to straighten them out with some amunition from an expert with pratical experance. Thank you, Vance

[Ted Eggleston]

Birdy,

Have you considered selling your photos to the Tourism people. Man I'd imagine they'd pay heaps for some of those shots. I know Aussies and thongs are one and the same, but mate.... as a ultra light weight footwear for gyro's???

If you come down a few miles from home, its a long way to walk in them considering the country your in.

Ted

[birdy]

Vance,don't git me wrong,I'm no expert[drip under pressure :p ] but theres some things a chopper can do better than any gyro,but mustering is not one of them.
Most choppers could out climb and out run most gyros,but mustering is not about speed and hight.
Most gyros could turn tail faster than a chopper.[ever chopped power and pulled into a 90 degree bank?? Be careful,you'll turn so fast theres a risk of your head go'n up your ass ;) :D ].

Horses for corses,and for the corse I'm on the gyro is the most practical horse.
And as far as safty gos,the gyro,with it's constant autorotation,usualy better power to weight and overall simplicity is much safer...........at any altitude or attitude......except -Gs.Not to mention ,less damage to the pocket. :rolleyes:


Ted,mate,I don't like tourists. :mad:

[Greg Mitchell]

Top shelf Birdy. ;)

Mitch.

[quadrirotor]

Birdy, are you really the owner of 750 000 acres?
if so you are the King of a country big as almost 1/10 of Suitzerland!!!!

[Victor Duarte]

vance you got good amoo from birdy, and birdy, you have good ammo indeed..
you both make me starve to have one... damn attractive gyro

[Vance]

Thank you Birdy, you have answered my question in your usual funny fuzzy way. I didn't mean to insult you with the term expert. I was pointing to the respect you have gained on this forum with your thoughtfull, well informed posts.

In trying to bridge the language/style gap I am left hearing you say that changing direction, both vertical and horizantal, and safty are where the autogyro excels over a helicopter in mustering. Add costs, and the autogyro is the clear choice. Please corect me if I am not understanding. I know that you have the comunication challange in the other direction and I am not able to speak your style

I was also wondering about maintanence. It seems to me that proper care of a Robinsen 22 is about one hour for each hour flown. Is that about normal for a mustering Robinson and how does your ferral compare? Thank you, Vance

[Vance]

Victor you have my point exactly. This is where I have come to. I like rotors better than fixed wings. I like the Autogyro better than a helicopter for many reasons. In the flying society that I interact with, Autogyros are at the bottom of the pile of flying devices. Most fixed wing guys have a certain respect for Helicopters because they are so expensive and complex. Most pilots believe that helicopters take great skill to fly and they admire skill. They don't like helicopters because of cost, efficency and complexity. If I can get them to admit their admiration for helicopters and then show them how an Autogyro is better for some of the reasons they don't like helicopters, I feel better after the encounter. I have found that my EAA chapter had many closet autogyro enthusists that were afraid to speak for fear of losing status. They are starting to emerge and they have a great deal to offer in knolledge and experance. The more smart people that get involved in Autogyros the better Autogyros will become. They seem quite willing to help me with my conundrums. Thank you, Vance

[bowns]

Fantastic aerobatics!Mind telling me how slow can you sustain a level fly?
Wish i could do the same oneday but for the time being,a model with chicks at my backyard. :D

[Victor Duarte]

If I can get them to admit their admiration for helicopters and then show them how an Autogyro is better for some of the reasons they don't like helicopters

vance, perhaps i m a little undecided ;) gyros gained my admiration while helicos did the same... aand what i saw in gyros was the "little helicopter" i could easily build and fly vs the costy and costy high pilot rate needed...

i told you yet you have the talent to get me confused at a high level ;)
experiience and patience vs youth and impulse...it works great !

really, but i keep my dreams you cannot fight that, but as i said in one post maybe i ll begin with a gyro... i m really close to that since i know my work doesnt get lost... you gained more chances to see me become another member of the brotherhood... ;)

thank you again

[Vance]

Victor, Your welcome.

I am trying to raise Autogyros, not lower Helicopters. I was drawn to helicopters because they flew low and slow and didn't need airports. I found out that you shouldn't take off straight up or land straight down. I was taught that you shouldn't hoover at altitude, but fly in circular patterns. Hoovering near the ground isn't very exciting and to hoover taxi only means you don't need smooth ground. I asked myself what am I giving up to be able to hoover and it is cost, saftey, complexity and pilot work load.

I use Helicopters in my discusion with fixed wing people because, to them, a helicopter is higher on the food chain than an Autogyro so I don't have so far to move them. Generaly they condem cost, complexity, saftey and required pilot skill. It is not hard to elevate the Autogyro concept starting from their position and some of the Autogyro entuusats are coming out of the closet. In truth I don't feel that either one could replace the other and I love them both. I feel less defeated if I take a position I can defend. I don't expect to change anyones mind. I do see gradual progress though. Thank you, Vance

[Victor Duarte]

oh yeah vance ..gradual progress thought and thats why i came here.. you re succesfull, i know you dont lower helicopters dont worry they still have my admiration... but the noise of a rotor really exites me! i still dreaming.. but my life is not over, time for anything , dont you think ?

well as i like design i would like to have a machine i ll be proud of...
the only think that scares me is the non forgiving behaviour in some contitions, wonder why i created a tread about BSR chutes here ? to try to secure as far as possible the flight or the accident...

thanks vance

[Vance]

Getting hurt or dead can take the fun out of any activity, but no activity is the same as being dead. You have plenty of time to chase every dream. Life is short and I am sure that there will be many challanges for future generations.

My father, same name, was in the middle of aviation at a very exciting time. Unfortunatly, he was not able to comunicate that love to me while he was still living. Now I have to learn about him on the internet or from realy old people. It was his love of women that killed him, not his pursuit of aviation. Thank you, Vance

[Victor Duarte]

vance, funny or not funny, depends who says it, women are a delicious but sometimes deadly poison... some say the children reproduce the same their parents did, i donk think so, i dont feel so..
vance, picasso, and other very famous persons were terrible parents, the other side of the golden medal...
a buddhist proverb says "loving is a reward by itself", i hope i translate it right..
ok is skid out the thread again, life is short as sadly proven recently..
lets live it..
cheers

[birdy]

Andre,only lease it off the crown.

Victor,what's "ammo' or "amoo'???

Vance,you are understanding me right.

[Victor Duarte]

david, ammo= ammunition , i thought it was in english common slang, sorry
cheers

[Gidgee]

How are ya Birdy, sorry it's taken a while to get back to ya, yeh cows mate, was with the Fogarty's from 95 to 99, will be back in ti tree mid march to give Lindsay Moran a hand to grow some scrubbers!! May have met u back in me wei days (don't know if spelt that one right!!) at the races or 'school of the air' doo's. Ummm don't know.
Was wondering if ya got the email I sent you through the site a couple of weeks ago. Might have got lost in the junk!!!
Gotta run mate, hope all is going well and look forward to catchin up with ya over a bottle of bundy
Marc...

[birdy]

Nope,never got a E mail,[not that I'd know.don't know how to use these E mail thingys.]Do you know Neil Bowman???

[Gidgee]

No worries Birdy, yeh know Neil and Alan, great fella's. Ain't got the time to go into it now, but wanted to ask you a couple questions about flyin in the red centre. If you have the time, could you post your email address or drop us a quick note at outbackrat2001@yahoo.com and I will get back to ya in the next week when I get caught up with whats goin on around here.
Ave a good one Birdy
Thanx
Marc....

[gyroplanes]

I was also wondering about maintanence. It seems to me that proper care of a Robinsen 22 is about one hour for each hour flown. Is that about normal for a mustering Robinson and how does your ferral compare? Thank you, Vance

Vance,
We operate a small fleet (4) of Robinson R-22s. we seldom have any unscheduled maintenance. Our normal inspections 50 hr (oil change) takes 1 hr and our required 100 hour inspections average 12 hours labor. Counting the occasional unscheduled maintenance we average around 1 hour maintenance for each 7 hours flying. Our ships vary in age and hours. Frank Robinson did his homework.

Years ago, Prerotator manufacturer, Dick Wunderlich and helicopter designer B.J. Schramm tried to put together a helicopter and gyro showcase for the EAA fly-in at Oshkosh. Dick & BJ tried to do a mirror image routine and it just didn't work out. The gyro was always waiting for the helicopter to catch up.

Also, Vance, was your dad the famous test pilot of the same name?

Nice meeting you at Mentone !

[birdy]

Gidgee,mate,I don't know how to work the Email thingy or the address,[will have to wate till the "boss" gits home to do that].If you click on the "birdy" thing on me last post I think the address is in there somewhere.

[birdy]

"The gyro was always waiting for the helicopter to catch up."

Now thats a statement every gyro pilot should be proud of.
Concidering it's from someone who owns 4 helicopters that each cost 10 times as much as a good gyro.

Your honesty should be commended Tom.

BTW Tom,wot type of chopper was it??

[Vance]

Thank you Tom, that is helpfull information. When I was training in a Robinson 22 and a 44, I could never get my preflight below 20 minuets or my post flight below 10 minuets. In a Hiller B model it took me 30 minuets pre flight and 10 minuets post, mostly because it was old and had wooden blades. I couldn't get to a lot of things on an Enstrom so pre flight took about 15 and 5 for the post flight but I was uncomfortable with my inspection of the swash plate. With an AAI modified RAF I could do the pre flight in 15 minuets and the post flight in 5.

Most people that I talk to with Rotoways spend around three hours on maintainance for each hour of flight. I have yet to find one that I am comfortable enough with the pre flight to fly.

It sounds like my instructor in the Robinsons was over maintaining it. I didn't mind.

Yes that was my father, unfortunatly I didn't have the tools to get along with him and I didn't get into aviation till twenty six years after his death. I have had to learn about him on the back side.

How do you know about him? Most of the better stuff was before 1947 when my sister was born. He used to pretend that he was a business man and didn't talk much about his adventures, except with other old pilots. He wanted me to be an accoutant with a law degree. He was disipointed when I droped out of high school. I didn't tell him that I raced motorcycles and a friend of his showed him a magazine artical about me in 1968 and he was very unhappy. He used to hill climb, but he felt roadracing was espesialy dangerous. Thank you, Vance

[birdy]

Geez Vance,sounds like my old man. :D