My First Chapter Meeting!

[Brian Jackson]

Hey PRA gang,
I attended my first Chapter meeting yesterday at the Mentone airport & PRA headquarters. What a treat! I got there late due to weather, as did most whom attended, but it was well worth the drive.

We met in the Museum area & workshop where a new Hornet was being fitted for a seat & pedals. Later in the day we retired to the PRA office where a lot of design discussion was taking place for some new innovations, etc. And good pizza was had by all.

Toward the end of the day we migrated back out to the shop area to continue work on the Hornet, and did quite a bit of very informative Q&A. Glenn Bundy, Tim Blackwell & Don Shoebridge were among those who really took the time to explan many things in detail.

Being new and rather uneducated in the field of gyro design, I did a LOT more shutting up and just listening than I did speaking. It's amazing what can be learned from experienced builders by keeping quiet and paying attention. When I did speak it was usually to ask intelligent questions, which were answered in kind and, in some cases, were the seeds of some great dialog.

Overall, I'm glad to have had the opportunity to participate, and learned a great deal of practical knowledge as a result. Can't wait for the next one! :D

Respectfully,
Brian Jackson

[barnstorm2]

Sounds like a great time!

I would like to hear more in the forums about what is going on at the chapters.


You did'nt forget your TPS report did you?

Did you get the memo?

[Brian Jackson]

Sounds like a great time!

I would like to hear more in the forums about what is going on at the chapters.


You did'nt forget your TPS report did you?

Did you get the memo?
Yeah, I got the memo :mad:

[donshoebridge]

TPS Report?

Brian,

If I had to single out one fault that you have... It would be that you are too gracious.

I hope you can keep making the trip each month.

[gyroblackwell]

Brian,
It was a pleasure having you with us at saturdays meeting. Your attention to detail helps all of us build better machines!

Chapters need a boost sometimes to help get the projects back on track and closer to being finished. Having a fresh set of eyes, and thoughts helps get things going!

When you get ready to build that tail, you had better include us in the Fun
or the chapter 81 mafia wil come lookin for you! HA! :D

Hope to see you at next monthes meeting!

[Brian Jackson]

Brian,
It was a pleasure having you with us at saturdays meeting. Your attention to detail helps all of us build better machines!

Chapters need a boost sometimes to help get the projects back on track and closer to being finished. Having a fresh set of eyes, and thoughts helps get things going!

When you get ready to build that tail, you had better include us in the Fun
or the chapter 81 mafia wil come lookin for you! HA! :D

Hope to see you at next monthes meeting!
Thanks, Tim.
But the Ch. 81 Mafia... now THAT's scary! I'll bet Glenn & Don could bust a few knee caps :eek:

Thank you for the composite tail education during the meeting; I'd never seen one in progress before. You bet I'll seek your assistance in the QB tail layup, lest I get my lower legs immobilized by blunt force.

I also wanted to express my sincere thanks to everyone there. I was honored to be among such talent, and appreciated the warm welcome. As I learn more about gyros, hopefully I can contribute of my time helping others as well.

By the way, Tim, is there a part number to the substrate foam you're using? And is there a difference between the pink foam and the blue foam, other than gender? :D

Your friend and protégé,
Brian Jackson

[gyroblackwell]

Nope ..... Just the gender! I used the blue foam and Don :eek: used the pink foam! I would have said Brian, but Brian Sherwood is over 6 feet tall
and 250+lbs :D

Seriously , the foam density is the Important thing to concider.

You can pick this stuff up at your local Lowes, or Home Depot store.

It cuts well with a thin sharp blade or a hotwire.

[Brian Jackson]

Nope ..... Just the gender! I used the blue foam and Don :eek: used the pink foam! I would have said Brian, but Brian Sherwood is over 6 feet tall
and 250+lbs :D

Seriously , the foam density is the Important thing to concider.

You can pick this stuff up at your local Lowes, or Home Depot store.

It cuts well with a thin sharp blade or a hotwire.
You've chosen your words well, young Grasshopper :D
I can see where Brian Sherwood could be an imposing figure in a dark alley :eek:. What a cool guy though. His Hornet progress is amazing for the short time it's been under construction.

Regarding the hotwire approach, I'm not sure how well its modeled form lends itself to that since all of its surfaces are tangent compound curves. But several years ago I read about a prop maker that uses a spoke shave and a draw knife to produce some amazingly high-performance props. Wish I knew his name or could find the articles. But his talent was saught after by many. Proof positive that complex shapes can, and are, produced by available tools in the right hands.

During my employment at Whirlpool, the model shop used a CNC foam that I thought might be perfect and met all the criteria except one... weight. Once I started researching the density it became apparent that CNC-grade foam is quite heavy and thus would defeat the purpose of experimenting with tail designs.

So I'm anticipating throwing some low-grade foam on the table using high-speed bits to see what happens. If anything it'll be a learning experience. Who knows... it might just work.

Respectfully,
Brian Jackson

[gyroblackwell]

You might want to repost this over on the QB Tail Section so that the gang that is keeping an eye on the QB tail can comment !

Just a thought !

[donshoebridge]

Nope ..... Just the gender! I used the blue foam and Don :eek: used the pink foam!

Keep it up and I'll send my boyfriend over to strangle you with his feather boa. :eek:

[gyroblackwell]

Just kidd'n Mr. Bridge !!

[Rotornut]

Brian, Thats Great. Now you are ready for your First Big Fly-In!
Come Join Sunstate Rotor Club April 5 - 10, 2005 at Wauchula, Florida Airport for Bensen Days Fly-In. You will Enjoy and Smile. Hope to see you there.
MJ :)

[donshoebridge]

MJ,

He was at Mentone this past year. Does that count? Heck, I'd like to come down for Bensen Days.

[Rotornut]

Yes Don that counts. I took it as if he had not attend a big fly-in. My Mistake.
Will you make it down this year for BD Days?
Hope so. MJ :)

[woodsher]

Brian
I stopped breaking knee capps a couple of years ago when I left the family business!!!! so No worries. :D I don't like walking down dark alleys anymore either. Just because the family still looking for me!!!!! :cool:
It was great having you at the meeting . Hope to see you next month.
Brain Sherwood

[Brian Jackson]

Hey Mr. Sherwood! It was nice meeting you too. I really enjoyed getting to see the progress you've made with your Hornet. It's amazing what you've accomplished in such short time, and quite nicely executed I might add.

I checked out your web site and it's cool that you've included a dated progress journal & photos. Very nice, especially the section detailing your composite tail which I'll be delving into myself in the not too distant future.

Anxious to see you again at the next chapter meeting. You guys have got me hooked!

Cheers,
Brian Jackson

[donshoebridge]

MJ,

Sorry, I can't make it. Too much stuff going on at work.

[donshoebridge]

Brian
I stopped breaking knee capps a couple of years ago when I left the family business!!!! so No worries. :D I don't like walking down dark alleys anymore either. Just because the family still looking for me!!!!! :cool:
It was great having you at the meeting . Hope to see you next month.
Brain Sherwood

The only stalking Mr. Sherwood does anymore is at the Kimo Nationals.

Don't worry... I got your back! :D

[Brian Jackson]

deleted....

[gyroblackwell]

UH-Oh,

Roto pix let the cat out of the bag ! Wasn't me .... I didn't do it .... :eek:

I get to answer the Air reservoir question .....

I (that would mean that it's my opinion) would use the 1X2 tube that connects between the motor and keel tube. It can be capped off right above the keel bolts, and right below the motor mount angles. It is about 30" long after capping the ends.

The system is a closed loop ... so air replacement would be minimal.

The only off the shelf items would be the rod-ends, seals, and 3 inch dia. tube cut to length. The rest will need to be turned on a lathe, and finish machined on a mill.

[Brian Jackson]

Oh sh*t... I'm sorry. I deleted the post. I assumed it was public knowledge but should have asked these questions in a private message. I'm truly sorry.

Brian Jackson

[gyroblackwell]

I was just kidding ... don't sweat it ! :D

I answered the questions I knew ....Don can fill you in on the rest.

At this point it's all Research and Development.

[donshoebridge]

Hey Mr. Sherwood... How far are you from Niles, MI? :)

Just kidding Brian(s).

Mr. Jackson, if you want, we can talk in detail about it this weekend. Just e-mail me your phone number again. I'll drop the dime this time.

[woodsher]

Don
I take it from your last post that I may need to go back into the family!! business? :mad:
HA!Ha!
Buy the way if you really want to know , Iam only an hour and a half away!!!
Just kidding Brian!!!!!!!!!!! :rolleyes:
Talk to you all later. Tim and myself will be working on the gyro sat.
Later

[donshoebridge]

Tim and myself will be working on the gyro sat.

Since my truck is up that way, and since I will not have a chance to pick it up tonight, I have to come up that way anyways. I'll drop in for a little while.

[woodsher]

Don
See you there then. I will be there around 9am :D

[donshoebridge]

Stupid digital camera!!! The new camera that I got for Christmas, I had the wife return it Sunday. Why? Because all of the pictures that I've taken for the past month have been GARBAGE, which includes the couple of shots that I took at Mentone this past Saturday of Brian's Hornet. Every shot has either been blurry, too dark, or washed out by the flash.

So anyways... Brian, take a couple of close up pictures of you wheel breaks, if you could and either post them here or on your site.

[woodsher]

Don
I will do that tonight. I just set the gyro back up in my basement today and I finished mounting the seat. It turned out great. Thanks Tim for your Idea's on the mounting. Don I only have the disk brake rotors on . Tim has the calipers, He is going to mill about a 1\4 of an inch off the face of the front of them to fit well. I will post my pictures on my site and the hornet site.
Later
Brian :o
Don: Pics. are now on my website and hornet site!!!!