RAF still has my confidence

[StanFoster]

Even though I am switching my RAF blades to SportCopters...I still have total confidence in my RAF.

I dont know if I knee jerked reacted to desiding to buy SportCopter blades...but I had been desiring to buy a nice set I had seen this summer. I have really liked my RAF blades....and I feel I would have had no problems with them as long as I maintained a rigid inspection schedule that I feel they need. I have heard so much about Sportcopters being baby butt smooth...more efficient...and just looking at the hub bar leaves no doubt which is the better design. However...Jim Mayfield had some excellent points and I respect the mannerism in which he posted them. With some inspection..some modification....they should be ok........but.,.....and I will say but again...

...I want total confidence in that rotor...and if the money I spent getting it is not really needed....the extra comfort level will be worth it anyway.

If anyone here tires of my positive posts about my RAF...all I can say is I am just giving as honest an evaluation as I can. If I hated it and it was squirrelly in the controls...I would be just as quick to post that as well.

I feel RAF has done a lot of good for the rotorcraft community...and the more I fly my RAF and test it in different conditions...the more I am convinced that a lot of the negative press I have read is not turning out.

I am just an average pilot and I cant for the life of me say I have had any bad experiences in learning to fly my RAF,....and in the worst way....self-taught. I will never condone self teaching ....but this rotorcraft was so pilot friendly .....it was a rewarding experience to say the least.

I have never contacted RAF or have been contacted by them...except for their excellent care I have received from them...and I bought one of their kits second hand.

There are so many of them out there flying,,and sure...there will be more instances. What convinced me to buy one in the first place was noticing all the RAF;s with hundreds of actual flying hours. Then...contacting several of these high timers just further reinforced my decision to go with RAF.

I am so impressed with my confidence in the rest of the machine..that the money I spent on the Sportcopter blades just proves I want to keep flying the rest of it....but under sportcopter blades. I intend and I will have many years of continued enjoyment flying in N500SF...and have never ever had a fleeting thought wishing I had never bought it. It is a wonderful flying machine..and I will continue posting pictures of my enjoyable times in it.

Stan

[GyroRon]

...I want total confidence in that rotor...and if the money I spent getting it is not really needed....the extra comfort level will be worth it anyway.
Stan



Stan, your logic concerning the rotorblades is sound logic. I quoted you because what you said above -although it concerns only the blades - is the best way to describe MY logic in why I would want the AAI retro kit on my RAF if I had one..... for that extra comfort level!

I know I have said If I were lucky enough to have a machine like yours I would probably leave it that way - cause I am too cheap to spend the money and too lazy to want to butcher up my machine to do the work - but I would never have that "extra comfort level" without the mods. After all I have learned about RAF blades, I couldn't see how anyone could have any thing close to " extra Comfort level " and still fly those blades.

Stan, I do enjoy your posts about your excitement for your gyro. I wish I could fly as much as you do! Haven't seen the sun here in over a week... Nothign but foggy mornings and low ceilings the rest of the day, no end to this pattern in sight either :mad:

[Rotornut]

Ron, You can always come on down here to Florida and Fly. New Years coming up. MJ :)

[GyroRon]

MJ, save me a spot! I am coming along with Shannon and Kasey. right now were planning to fly down in the Piper, but we will see. Shannon is concerned the plane is too small for her to be able to bring all her " Stuff "....... lol But either way I am a coming!

[StanFoster]

Ron: If I felt uncomfortable flying my RAF with just a stab...and not the AAI modification...I would do it.

Keep working on me about Bensen days. If I come down...it will only be by airlines. I fly enough that it would be just relaxing to sit..and watch others fly for once...and be a "surface dweller" for once. :D

Have they set an exact date yet?

Stan

[GyroRon]

MJ should know? Maybe I will start a thread asking for the dates. Fly to charlotte and ride down with me! I will let you fly the Dominator while your at the fly in, cause I know it will be hard not to fly at least a little while down there. Don't worry my dominator has a side step to assist in entry and exit! :)

[StanFoster]

Hey;;;let me fly your Pacer down....I promise I wont ditch it like the last guy.. :D

Stan :D

[Russell]

Stan do a search for a thread on changing blades. You will need to get a new Torque tube With a different offset to fly the SC blades. You can do it with the RAF Torque Tube but you will have a lot of trim dialed in just to fly it level.
Russ :eek:

[automan1223]

Stan,

Some of us try to be level headed give an honest opinion. I think from what I have heard that Raf has burned a lot of people that spent good money with them. ALL of Their complaints cab not be without merrit.

There is just one thing Stan, that does bother me. You can be the best pilot in the world, you can have lightning fast reflexes and maybe you can even see the wind.

However, one day you will fail one of the above points. If your thrust offset is as bad as all the gurus say with the stock config of the raf.... If the gyro goes negative g for any reason there is a good chance you are going to tumble. Even a high inertia blade may not save you in time. You can rationalize it all you want with add on kits and stab options. I just feel ( from my heart ) that if its wrong, its wrong. Fix it, change it but dont do what RAF has done and ignore so many fatals and say pilot error, pilot error, pilot error. Fix it. make it safe or safer and then watch your profits climb. I predicted Jim Mayfield would do well. There is a market for an enclosed machine, but its not a huge market. Believe me, I do not hate raf, I bought their blades, I am a happy customer. I feel I was treated well. I feel with some tweaking they could have had the whole market to themselves and kept the turmoil out of gyros. but thats not what happened. Now there are a lot of hard feelings around. some things just happen ending up that way.

The bottom line is everyone should stay safe, pay attention to trends, tsb's and even the b.s. Sometimes you even learn something from the b.s.

Are you interested in selling your blades ?

Jonathan

[StanFoster]

Jon: After I am satisfied with my new blades...yes..I will sell my RAF blades.

I will do so only after advising the potential buyer of the hubbar situation.

Stan

[GyroRon]

Stan I would LOVE to find a way for my gyro to get down there so we could fly the Pacer.... It may be a possiblity. When we get closer to that point I might be able to arrange for Barry K or maybe one of the other Chapter 13 guys to take my gyro down with them so I can fly there. It would be a blast. But either way even if we drive down, I am a few minutes drive from Charlotte Douglas international - you should easily get a flight to there - and then another 8 hours to Bensen days. If you try to fly there, you will still have a 2 hour drive from Orlando and rental car crap to deal with.

[Cobra Doc]

Stan;
I have to give you credit, you are doing exactly what experimental aircraft are all about. I believe at some point you also noted that your tail isn't the one your gyro came with? Keep experimenting!
I'm in the enviable position that I am actually paid to think. With my ATC background I change my decisions in a hurry. You almost have me convinced. I'll make a deal with you: You keep flying and I'll keep thinking. In the mean time, I've got to buy some motorcyle parts to finish the restoration on the Thumper.

[Rotornut]

Stan, Lots of CFIs, and BFIs to get flights with at BD Days. And the family seems to always share their gyros with others.

Ron dates are not set in stone but after the New Years Elections and all we should be able to post the Dates at that Point. April for Sure I do know that. Hoping to Elect Ernie Boyette as the New Sunstate Prez! And me hoping to give up Secretary position and just be the Treasurer, but so far no one seems to want Any Positions!

The Weather is Just Wonderful Down here and Great for Flying. MJ :)

[StanFoster]

Ron: Keep talking... :D That offer of riding down with you in your truck or Pacer sounds like fun in itself.

Now would you fly your Pacer just a little out of the way...say Paxton, Il. and pick me up? I promise only a light duffle bag....ha.

Oh...when I get to altitude....the lower pressure makes it hard for me not to fart.....just warning ya.... :eek:

Stan

[birdy]

Ha ha,Stan,your a crackup mate.Bloody ell,I fart enough down here,I'd probably explode if I got too high.
You just keep fly'n mate,you obviosly enjoy it.

[bones]

Bugger you guys i'm not game to fart in case i follow through :)