Wooohoooo! Soloed the soma!

[scottessex]

WHOO HOOO! Well I just got back from Macon, went down late this afternoon to fly the Soma, I was just going to do some crow hopping and get used to it, Well I ended up flying it around for better than 30 min, I was getting cold. But I was having Too Much Fun! It was a little windy, but it was blowing right down the runway, and steady, Fly's great! Those Dragon wing blades are awsome, incredibly smooth, the thing climbs like a monkey, I was able to bring the rpm's back to about 5000 and still maintain good level flight at 60 mph.

I went down with a friend from work, and I picked up Phil Ruffin on the way, Dan Leslie met us out there, and he flew for a little while too.
I was worried I would have forgotten alot, but I could still hear Steve's voice, "power, pedal, balance, don't look at the ground, power, balance"
SWEEET!
Man I am so happy! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[MattPearson]

Congrats Scott. Glad you were able to "get back on the horse" so soon!

[skyguynca]

Congrats Scott!!!!!!!! Sounds like a great gyro!!!!!!

[GyroRon]

Alright!!! :) :) :)

How was the pump stick for ya? How did you like the stability? Seemed to need a good bit of rudder at slower speeds but was pretty solid otherwise, but it has been a while since I flew it.

[scottessex]

The pump stick was a non-issue, flew very sweet, nice and stable, no nose-up pitching like the old kb-3, just all around NICE, might fit it for a trim tab, But no complaints, The engine purred, all temps were right in range, no stick shake, and nice soft landings. everything went very smooth. I am a happy camper now, Now to get Phil back up in the air......Then John Stevens.

[Greg Mitchell]

Good Onya Scott. Glad you're back up there.
Mitch

[Jerseywing]

Fantastic Scott
Well deserved...
Enjoy!!!

[CLS447]

Man ... I am happy for you! You got a rare bird there, try to keep this one in one piece. Just kidding!

[ToddP]

Great News Scott. It sounds like you've found a great machine there. I'm sure you've got a fantastic summer ahead of you!

[Screw]

Screw-Out

Chris aint kiddin :D

I am so glad everything went so well. Scott was as giddy as I've ever heard him over the phone. For the first time, I wasn't able to get a word in edgewise. I can't think of anyone who diserves a break more.

Good on you Scott. I am so excited for you.

Screw-Out

[GyroRon]

Scott, next project is to fill in the holes on the runway and make it smoother.

[Brent_Brown]

Happy Happy Joy Joy.

[Timchick]

Scott,
Congrats on getting back in the air!

[scottessex]

Ron you are right about the runway maintenance, The only problem is that I have been trying to get ahold of the property owner about repairs. I don't mind doing them, but I don't think I should have to be the one to pay, if it is comunity property out here, But I will see what I can do, and save receipts, if nesesary.
I did take the tractor out the other day and ran over all the ant hills I could find.

Looks like rain today, But I will put the blades back on the soma, so it will be ready when the weather is nice this week.

[Timchick]

Scott or Ron, What's a pump stick?

[GyroRon]

It is hard for me to explain. Basically the stick goes to a universal joint under the seat and then goes on to become a fork behind the U joint, and the control tubes go from the fork to the rotorhead.

Maybe someone can post a pair of good pictures of a pump stick and how it works. Also a normal stick to compare it to....

[Greg Mitchell]

Pump Stick and Pivot tube (universal Joint).

[Greg Mitchell]

Try again. Last two pics show for and aft attachment points ...stick to pivot.
We now have a long bolt carry through the attachment encased in a alum tube.
Cheers.
Mitch.

[Brian Jackson]

Great photos and nice looking parts, Mr. Mitchell. Do you happen to have any photos that show a side view of the cyclic assembly in 1 shot? The close-ups of the hinge points are nice, but without seeing the control yoke in relation its difficult to get a visualization. I visited the Butterfly site which has been moved here (http://www.thebutterflyllc.com/). Nice money-shots but couldn't really perceive much detail from the highly JPEG compressed images.

Thanks,
Brian Jackson

[Greg Mitchell]

G'Day Brian,
I prefer Mitch and Mr Mitchell...well, that would be my Dad. :eek: :D Truth is I'm already a Grandfather. :confused: :cool: :D I see your approaching the Big 40...Mr Jackson. :eek: :p All in good fun....taking the 'mikey' that is, not turnin 40, that's no fun at all. Guess that's why we 40 plus mob are into gyro's. :cool:
This pic should give you more idea. Let me know I can take some pics tomorrow of my Butterfly if you like.
Scott, I have a few pics of Soma gyro, nice Mate. Happy Days, Fly Safe.
Mitch.

[scottessex]

Sure, Mitch I'd like to see some pics.
I flew again yesterday evening, off of my grass strip, Had no trouble at all, just have to get used to those floaty landings with the Dragon Wings, I overshot my landing spot, and had to turn around and taxi back! Usually I land right in front of the hangar.
Mary says it's quieter than the old one, and said the blades make a different sound.

[GyroRon]

Yeah Scott, they are making the sounds of turning in the air, not chewing up small pine trees!!! lol lol lol !!!;)

[scottessex]

Ooh! Ya got me there Ron, I should have expected that! :p

[Greg Mitchell]

Scott, I only have two pics of the Soma and I got them from this forum, perhaps you could post some more. If more detail of the Butterfly pump stick is what you wanted, I'll chase that up. I'm flying a 1976 Benson hub bar and blades, Allan is testing Patroney composite blades on his Monarch. Larry highly recommends the DW's. You fellas with your own strips are living the good life.
Cheers,
Mitch.

[Greg Mitchell]

Hey Scott,
I gave you a 'bum steer'. (wrong info). :o
Found several more Soma pics.
Cheers,
Mitch.

[scottessex]

Hey Mitch, those are pics of mine! I know Catfish down in Florida has a soma, but I don't know of anyone else.
Was there ever a 2 seater soma?

[Greg Mitchell]

Scott,
There you go. I just collect all the images I can. Liked the look of this gyro. Scott it's been described as a Sport Copter clone. Is the engine thrust angle in line with the keel or up as with SportCopter. What are your impressions. What did it cost you, if you don't mind me asking. I know nothing of the Soma history. Looks like a fine ship.
Mitch

[scottessex]

Mitch, As far as I can tell the thrust angle is in line with the keel, It is solidly built, but still light weight. Everything is triangulated and appears very strong. I am very impressed with the handling, both on the ground and in the air. It is very stable and predictable. I was flying a KB3 before, and the soma is just so much nicer, I can't tell exactly why, but it just feels good.
The engine is a Hirth 2706 65hp dual carb, with 60" warp drive prop. It seems to have plenty of power, with power in reserve, I have 23ft Dragon Wing blades, It is absolutley a joy to fly, The rubber donut damped landing gear makes a BIG difference in take offs on a bumpy grass strip. I did put softer rubber in it, and it seems to work fine.
Curran3 in Jacksonville Fla was selling it and asking a very fair $6500, But I was able to trade Him some parts for his next gyrobee project, and he kept his rotor hawk blades, So we did some horse trading and some cash, and we both ended up happy.
Curran is a great Guy, Along with Ron Awad who told me about it.

[Kevin_Richey]

Here are some different ones...

Ownership and locations unknown.

The first one has the wheel strut attaching to the engine mount while the second one has it connected to the mast, as was done on the original ones.

[Kevin_Richey]

The next one is unknown (although I suspect it is Scott Malone flying his original Soma at the Astoria, OR airport), and the last one is the one for sale by "Fish" Fisher, of Warrenton, OR.

It's the one he listed for sale here through Gary Kaminski several months ago. He had a bounce-ze-bounce-ze-bounce landing on his mains (sounding similar to the AAI converted RAF in Seattle accident), progressively getting worse until it flopped over.

My opinion: He blamed it as a down-wind landing that he initially thought was into the wind. But when he described it to me, he kept engine throttle on, and I believe that hitting with one main first while keeping the power on makes the bouncing get more amplified with each wheel contact with the runway (with that kind of rubber donut shock system).

Quite possibly, if he had killed the power just before landing ( and, had his approach angle been shallow), it would have been a non-event one, instead of a heartache.

[scottessex]

Well I flew again tonight, it was a little breezy, but I flew for almost an hour.
I had to go to the courthouse to take care of some car tag stuff and I went to the tax office and got a county map that has all the airstrips on it. :)
so I flew over to one to check it out.
Flew over downtown Concord, (2 gas stations and a post office) and just had a great time, when I landed I had a nice headwind, and floated and floated and floated right down the runway.
I had to apply some extra power to soften the landing, but I love the Dragon wing blades. But even with the wind I had NO trouble with the gyro handling, it just fly's great! I tried to keep around 800 to 1200 agl just so I was always over a pasture, (arrow flashbacks)! :eek: It sure is good to be back up in the air! :D

[Greg Mitchell]

Thanks for the detail Scott, Enjoy the flying.
Mitch.

[scottessex]

Flew again tonight, Froze my arse off!!!! I flew for about 15 minutes, had to land, too cold, I'm a puss I know.

[Victor Duarte]

Scott, plug the exhaust into your trousers ! :D
seriously,i feel you enjoy flying, are you addicted ?
What do you think about building , now that you are out of all the ##@@#@@ building problems, in the air with an almost ready to fly machine ?
thanks

[scottessex]

Zeeoo, I love to build, BUT, I would rather build a new machine while still having one to fly, That way I can build at my leisure.
When I have built the motorcycles, I always had one to ride while another was in the process of being built. That way you can always go for a ride and just refresh yourself, and all the building will be worth it.
Same with the flying, if you can go out and fly, it keeps you motivated on the building.
In my case now, I'll be spending more time re-modeling the house. :)

[paraskidan]

It's great to hear that a soma flies that good !~ Just bought one and was feelin a little lost with no factory support

[ben]

scott sure glad you tearing up the sky again!! sure wish i could have worked out seeing you in ga but i didnt have any luck that day , next time