Air Command nostalgia

[StanFoster]

I was going through my Air Command cd and just had to post some much more colorful pics of Illinois. I loved that machine after I got the engine outs solved....'new 582" :eek:

Its a shame its now destroyed. Dang it.

Stan

[StanFoster]

gyroJenny wanting a ride.

Stan

[StanFoster]

local bed and breakfast. This place had water right up to the stairway I had built for it.

[StanFoster]

This is about my favorite picture. I just arrived at Mentone 2003 after a cross country flight of 121 miles. It was the most memorable flight doing what was for me my first big cross country flight...my wife was relieved when I called her telling her I made it.

The second picture was just about as memorable. Lake Shelbyville enroute to Shelbyville 2003.

Stan

[ben]

stan how get in that pod you are all legs lol lol lol

[StanFoster]

Ben: Heres how.....pack em in... :D

What was neat about going to Mentone...I had to stow away my duffle bag. It went into the pod first...then I had to elevate my legs over it...and ended up with it under my knees.

The panel was custom made with those notches. I bought this gyro without even being able to sit in it. Tom Milton showed it to me....but I had to see it fly. Mark Malek did a real good demonstration flight in it for me.

I got it home and took the dash out just so I could sit in it. After the dash was done and I was flying it...it really wasnt that bad. I had some wiggle room at least.

Thats why I feel my RAF cabin is huge.

By the way....that machine is wrecked now. Makes me sick. I wish I could have afforded to keep it...

Stan

[WindRyder06]

Stan,
What did you do with the Blue head?

[StanFoster]

more pictures. I am not proud of these. I had instruments going out on me like crazy. I seldom will fly if they arent working...but the egt probes, water temp gauge and rotor tach had a mind of their own.

[flightexpress]

Stan how did it get wreck...Kurt

[StanFoster]

I sold the Air Command with the bluehead. It went to Baton Rouge...and the guy was having a lot of fun with it. He sold it to raise some funds for a business and the next guy wrecked it. He is ok...but not the machine.

Stan

[GyroRon]

How did he wreck it? Did it happen in the air or on the ground?

[animal]

gyroJenny wanting a ride.

Stan
gyro Jenny looks good in the ole air command...Oh wait she looks good anyway.
Stan do you think she will learn to fly one?

[animal]

[QUOTE=StanFoster]more pictures.

those are some great pis, i love the view over the nose.
I flew in a SXS air command a few times and really liked that machine,it was the one ED aldefer (sp) had with the subaru EA-81 and reduction drive,it was the first Gyro I rode in and took the controls of, at that time i had been flying my freinds TH-55 hughes, and i was suprised how effortlessly the gyro was flying at 75 m.p.h., that the same as top speed on the hughes,I did some turns and loved it.
there was an Air command like yours for sale at ROC for $7,500 that had a Subaru on it,Ron took it up to demo for a guy.

[StanFoster]

Ron: I heard that it rolled over because of the blades flapping and then it just got all twisted up. No one was hurt and thats the main thing. I dont know if its been repaired or just parted out. I had planned to fly it for several years...but Mentone 2003 had me seriously thinking of going to an RAF. I soon had one late that fall and the rest is history. :)

Stan

[pbool]

b A few years ago I trailered my bensen to the chapter fly-in at shelbyville and one of the events was to fly around the lake.We were warned to get plenty of altitude in case of engine outs and I really took them literally. I think if my engine had quit, I could have glided to milwaukee. It was really a gorgeous flight though even though I had long since lost contact with the rest of the herd. Pbool

[GyroRon]

Ron: I heard that it rolled over because of the blades flapping and then it just got all twisted up. No one was hurt and thats the main thing. I dont know if its been repaired or just parted out. I had planned to fly it for several years...but Mentone 2003 had me seriously thinking of going to an RAF. I soon had one late that fall and the rest is history. :)

Stan

I thought those Low Riders were not supposed to tip over! :eek: ;) :p

Oh well It happens.....

[StanFoster]

Ron: I said they were "harder" to tip over. Its one of the few advantages it has with its low CG. :D


It will "tip" over easier in the air. Remember? :D

Stan