I'm looking for training

[Laurie]

Hi All
I'm looking for full tiime Gyro training, anywhere in the world.
I'm a Flexwing (trike) pilot in England but the weather and the lack of instructors means that I will have to travel if I want to fly a Gyro.

I have already tried e-mailing Paul Bruty in OZ, American Autogyro in AZ, AirCommand in TX, Mike Solano in Tx, amounst others. All with no response.
So far the only reply I've had has been from some guys in South Africa that I found through the microlight forum.

I want to travel to somewhere where the weather is good, the training is proffesional, the instructors are relaxed and interested. I don't want to have to persuade someone to train me.

If you know any of the above people (maybe a current e-mail address) or anyone else who you think fit my needs then please put them onto me or give me their address.

Thanks
Laurie

[barnstorm2]

Laurie,

I am suprized that you did not get a response from these people! Maybe spam has clogged there inboxes and you got filtered by mistake.

If none of the trainers respond to your post here in the next few days I will call them for you.

[chuter]

Laurie,

Try Ron Menzie in Arkansas, USA; Ron's Gyros (http://www.ronsgyros.com/)

Ron is very professional and a pleasure to work with.

[Udi]

Laurie - Since you are obviously prepared to travel a long distance to get quality training, you wouldn't mind making a few international phone calls. Why do you call AAI at 623-393-9451 and talk with Terry Brandt or one of the other instructors. I recommend AAI because 1. They have good flying weather most of the year, 2. They have multiple gyros and instructors, 3. They use a professional training syllabus. 4. Professional mechanics on staff taking care of any maintenance issue pronto. 5. FAA examiner on staff, if you are interested in getting a US pilot license.

The other instructors that you’ve mentioned are also good, but are missing in one or more of the points above.

Udi

[GyroRon]

I reccomend Steve McGowan at AAI or Terry Eiland who is the Florida Rep for AAI. these people are full time instructors and both are good people and take care of their gyros. Good flying weather at both locations.

Terry can be contacted through the forum here, he is a active member along with his Son David who posts here as well.

[teiland]

Ron, thanks for the kind words.

I will email Laurie and help her in any way I can to reach any of the guys mentioned, or possibly offer my services, although I am swamped now. I just had one fellow in from England, and have another from there coming for two weeks starting next Monday. Unfortunately the new Transportation Security Administration rules are making it more complicated for foreign students.

Like Udi says, it is hard to beat the setup at Buckeye. I don't understand the problem with communication between them that she mentioned, but we can correct that.

[Jerry Carter]

I trained with Ron Menzie and have also flown with Terry Eiland. Both these guys are first class. Ron has been flying gyros for over 30 years. If you train with him in Searcy, Arkansas, you'll get to visit an area in the middle of our country with hot summers and mild winters. Ron uses an RAF with AAI conversion for training.

If you choose Terry, you can visit central Florida, which is nice any time of the year. You also get to train in a Sparrowhawk. Good luck!

[Laurie]

Thank you to everybody who has gone out of their way to help.

In order to make this information useful to more people other than just myself I would like to make one point.

I can get a PPL in any country signed up to the world standard (ICOC ? something like that) and use it in the UK just as if it were a UK PPL so that includes USA, OZ, ZA, NZ etc.etc.

I don't know about the rest of the EU but in the UK Gyros are specificaly excluded from the defination of a microlight (ultralight, ULM) so I can only fly one on a PPL, ultralight gyro is no good (it has no meaning here).

"Sport pilot" is too new and no-one knows whether it is OK here. Specificaly in UK I suspect not because of the way gyros are excluded from the microlight definition but no one seems to know yet.

Hope this helps everyone else reading this. Thanks again to everyone who has gone to a lot of trouble on my behalf.

Laurie
Just one more thing - In UK Laurie is a boy's name :-)

[AirgyroAviation]

We just had a Student from the UK that got his PPL for the UK and then came here and got signed off on his US PPL. AAI has some info on the status of the gyros in the UK, or they can get you hooked up with Robin Wilson at their Headquarters who is very familiar with all of the obstacles gyros are facing there in the UK. Best of luck!

[Cobra Doc]

Terry;
There is something wrong with the e-mail address on the AAI website. I mentioned it to Terry B and Jim a couple of times. Somebody in Yewtaw was supposed to look in to it. As for great flyin' weather all year, why do ya'll think I live here? I guarantee, it isn't for the snow! (The only snow in these parts gets sprayed on our windows at Christmas!! :D )

[teiland]

Cody,

Thanks for that message re. to email address. I will look into it.

[landman]

Aloha Terrie,

Are you booked solid with training in your sparrow hawk in the last part of January this year?

Martin Oliver

[teiland]

Martin, I am through the 26th. I'll email you. Thanks.