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View Full Version : Brandon Evans, Parks, Az


route66
11-25-2004, 11:40 AM
I am an addict! Where do I go for help?

Hello All! My name is Brandon and I live in beautiful Northern Arizona. I have been a private pilot for 25+ years and have enjoyed my many aircraft from my first Tri Pacer to my favorite C-182. For years I made sure I could find an excuse to fly every day although times changed and I stepped back for a few years as flying was not as convenient and the fun was not there. During my Hiatus I still had a passion for aircraft and have picked up a few projects which others had given up on or some that had been built and did not perform or. Crashed. While I might not have made them perfect, they were good usable machines when I finished. Did I say I am an addict? I was sure I had this flying bug out of me until my into flight in a gyro. WOW! Flying is fun again, I always thought you all were crazy, I'm sorry I was wrong. You all have been having all this fun without me knowing it.
In my quest to feed my addiction I ran into you folks here and have enjoyed learning from your posts and am always learning more. I now realize my first impression might have been right on, “Some of you are Crazy!”, but your forum is Great and everyone’s input is greatly appreciated, keep up the good work!
I have been training with the friendly professional folks at AAI in Buckeye. Not many better crews than Terry, Steve and everyone I have met at AAI. Last week I followed my addiction to Florida to look at a Gyro for sale and met a genuinely Great Guy, Terry Eiland who offered his insight and expertise in my quest to find a suitable bird for me. While the purchase went bowling, (another story), Terry made my trip worthwhile by sharing his expertise and even took me for a tour of his area in his exceptional SparrowHawk. Seeing Crystal River by air, the migrating Manatees in the bay and great people made the trip a bargain for the price of an airline ticket. I will try to post a couple pics I took from Terry’s flight if I can figure out how! They might be boring to some of you who have seen Manatees from the air before, but to this inlander I thought it was neat! Enjoy!
I realize most of you are at low altitude airstrips although I am sure there are a few that have high altitude experience and I look forward to picking you brain and experiences in my quest to feed my new addiction and quest to pick the right machine for high altitude safe operation. Keep up all the interesting Posts, I’ll be reading & Learning. Happy Flying

gyromike
11-25-2004, 11:58 AM
Welcome aboard, Brandon!

Be warned however...we cannot cure your addiction, we can only feed it. :D

GyroRon
11-25-2004, 02:21 PM
What machine did you go look at?

And are those Manatees in the water there near the boundry rope?

route66
11-25-2004, 03:27 PM
Ron,
Yes the log looking things next to the pontoon boat are two and there are over 20 just beyond the roped area. Not the best photos, but was really nice in person. The machine I went to look at just didn't work out, rather not mention names to create controversy. Was a beautifull area though.
Thanks for the welcome Mike, I am hoping to feed my addiction, must have come to the right place!!!

GyroRon
11-26-2004, 04:46 AM
Well Cool Brandon, Glad to have you as part of the forum. and just a little hint, if you think a big heavy two place gyro like a Sparrowhawk is fun, you need to get your lessons and get soloed and try out a light single place like a Dominator or Monarch or Aircommand and then you will see real fun! Good Luck

TomCarlisle
11-26-2004, 10:51 AM
Brandon: I live on 66 (three miles inside the western New Mexico Border) Gallup is 6520 MSL and 8000 DA is routine. I fly a Dominator with a 65 HP Hirth and 25' blades here and it works just fine. My wife and I just bought a place in Topack (on the AZ-CA border just off I-40) and we will be going across AZ on I-40 almost every weekend for the winter. I will probably take my Dominator over in the near future and fly it over there (400' MSL). Let me know directions to your place and your phone and we will stop and see you in our trip over. We can talk light and heavy gyros (I have flown the SH with Steve and I got my gyro rating from Terry and Jim) so we can compare the two types. My e-mail is carlisle@cia-g.com here in Gallup but we are only here Tuesday thru Thursday. Friday to Monday we are at Topock and we don't have internet access there yet.

TomCarlisle
11-26-2004, 10:52 AM
Brandon: I live on 66 (three miles inside the western New Mexico Border) Gallup is 6520 MSL and 8000 DA is routine. I fly a Dominator with a 65 HP Hirth and 25' blades here and it works just fine. My wife and I just bought a place in Topock (on the AZ-CA border just off I-40) and we will be going across AZ on I-40 almost every weekend for the winter. I will probably take my Dominator over in the near future and fly it over there (400' MSL). Let me know directions to your place and your phone and we will stop and see you in our trip over. We can talk light and heavy gyros (I have flown the SH with Steve and I got my gyro rating from Terry and Jim) so we can compare the two types. My e-mail is carlisle@cia-g.com here in Gallup but we are only here Tuesday thru Thursday. Friday to Monday we are at Topock and we don't have internet access there yet.

GyroRon
11-26-2004, 04:16 PM
Hey Tom, hows it going? Hope to see you at Bensen Days

TomCarlisle
11-27-2004, 02:58 AM
Going good Ron. I don't know if I will get to Florida again, it's a long drive, but if I do make it, I will sure see you.

Jerry Carter
11-27-2004, 03:51 AM
Hey, wait a minute! I went down there twice this year and didn't get to see any manatees! :mad: Guess I'll have to go back!

teiland
11-27-2004, 04:07 AM
Jerry, you just purchased the "Standard Tour" ticket. To see the manatees you have to upgrade to the "Deluxe Tour". That is $2.00 extra...........You might could have seen them when you flew out of here heading home, but you would have had to slow that little speedster of yours down a bit.

Jerry Carter
11-27-2004, 04:13 AM
Two bucks?! Guess I'll have to be satisfied with looking for big catfish in the muddy Mississippi! :rolleyes:

StanFoster
11-27-2004, 04:43 AM
Brandon: Welcome to our world. It still amazes me how many people have never seen or heard of a gyrocopter. I like to fly to little airports all over and I usually get asked a dozen questions.

It seems when they find out that the rotor is not powered..that really knocks them off center.

You sure picked a heck of a nice guy...Terry Eiland...to go flying with. I was fortunate to have met him at Mentone 2004. Lots of nice people in the gyro world..but he is one of the best.

Stan

route66
11-27-2004, 09:09 AM
Terry, Thought you told me I was a Manatee Magnet! You burst my bubble when I found out it was only a $2.00 upgrade. Hey, it was a delight, Thanks, Hope to see you again.

pwendell
11-27-2004, 02:24 PM
Brandon,

I'm glad you found this 'place'. It was reall nice meeting you at Buckeye a couple Fridays ago. I hope we run into each other again.

Keep having fun.

route66
11-27-2004, 11:31 PM
Peter,
It was fun talking with you also and look forward to seeing you again. I am just amazed how small and close this Gyro world is. Having just begun my journey 3 months ago I have met so many that enjoy and live for Gyro's, it boggles my mind. Everyone I have spoken with has an open heart and wants to share the experiences they have had and seem to want to make it better not just for them, but don't mind helping a newbee with their addiction. While I am excited and jazzed up over my newfound addiction with gyros, I have a feeling the people are even better! I'm glad I found this place.