Gyroboat..

[Jens]

Wonder if the gyroboat is alive somewhere?
Or worth bringing to live?
I think Bensen also was into gyroboats.

Could be a solution in some places and ad safety to it as water softer than land.

[phantom]

I hope that a gyroboat is worth the effort as I am working on one, not a glider like in the photo but a powered version, I have used gyroboat glider but did not have much luck with power but with this new one I am trying a different approach to overcome the problems of the past. I will post results here when it has flown or failed.

[Dean_Dolph]

Anyone considering a gyroboat needs to read Dr. Bensen's experience flying one; it wasn't good!

[phantom]

I did read about Dr. Bensen and the uncontrolled dive but as he said there were no tail surfaces on the boat as he never was going to relase the towline.If you are going to build a free flying gyroboat all of the rules of building a stable gyroplane must be followed and there are some other problems of making a top heavy boat stable when the rotor is not turning.

[PW_Plack]

You may also want to build a boat with a closed top.

[phantom]

a boat with a closed top will need less power.

[Heron]

When "the mouth" goes wide open, all goes to shut!
Fairings will be necessary and maybe enven some kind of cannard. (tweek it)
Heron

[phantom]

my gyroboat has a large HS and two rudders , power is a rotax 583 with a warpdrive prop. I would not put a canard or anything that could provide lift or a downward force in front of the rotorhead on any gyro, with a boat the challenge is to get the tail feathers back far enough to stablize a long and wide hull that presents a lot of aera and force that can be positive or negetive if it is not lined up with the slipstream.

[Heron]

Yep! that can become tricky!
Heron

[Luc De Keyser]

This ground effect craft flew well in the X-Plane simulator. During testing did not get any pants wet ;-)

Luc

[phantom]

I don't think that the ground effect machine in the photo would work in the real world because the small wing will need more speed than the large rotor will permit without a lot of power and with enough power it would be a really poorly designed gyro but I could be wrong as I have never tried to mix the two types of craft.

[Luc De Keyser]

Phantom, classically you would be right, except, this is a high inertia slowed rotor as invented by Carter (and the wing is not as small as this shot from this angle would suggest).

[Mike484]

my gyroboat has a large HS and two rudders , power is a rotax 583 with a warpdrive prop. I would not put a canard or anything that could provide lift or a downward force in front of the rotorhead on any gyro, with a boat the challenge is to get the tail feathers back far enough to stablize a long and wide hull that presents a lot of aera and force that can be positive or negetive if it is not lined up with the slipstream.

Do you have a picture of your gyroboat?

[Heron]

The wing is sized according with the speeds desired.
They will allow for lighter load on the rotos and reducing drag, thus causing . . .thus causing . . .etc
Carter knows his stuff!
Heron

[WHY]

If one wants to scoot around water country the Spratt Controlwing is probably a better choice than a gyro

Tony

[Frank Rawley]

Anyone know where I might be able to find an old set of Benson Gyro-Boat plans. I am interested in the towed version that performed at Cypress Gardens for many years in the 1960's. Information on any museums that may have a Gyro-Boat on display would also be helpful. Is there a Dr Bensen archive or collection of his papers somewhere? Thanks