CLT Gyrobee

[atcmannm]

Was wondering of this mod is worthwhile or not. The standard Gyrobee seems to defy the current thories about design and wanted to know if this is a good idea, a bad idea or simply an idea. Thanks

[CLS447]

Looks real good to me!!!

[rehler]

Looks like a great idea - well worth the effort.

[Doug Riley]

Looks like a nice mod. The extra metal will add some weight... possibly enough to bust the Part 103 weight limit. One has to watch the almost irresistible temptation to add weight.

"Current thinking" varies, depending on who is doing the thinking. Fortunately, the laws of nature don't. The stock 'Bee does not defy the physical principles that govern gyro stability. It has (built to plans) 1-2" of vertical thrustline offset. It is designed for a 447 or 503, nothing larger. The horizontal tail plans included on Ralph's Web site result in a HS powerful enough to overcome the small nose-down pitching tendency caused by the thrustline position. The HS must be set at 2.5 - 3 deg. negative in order to accomplish this.

Any version of "current thinking" that doesn't take HS down-load into account is incomplete.

[rframil]

are there any specifics available on how this 'Bee was modified to be CLT ? Rick

[Gary_in_Orygun]

Wouldn't you want to raise the weight of the gas up more towards the center of thrust too?

[AKA]

Was wondering of this mod is worthwhile or not. The standard Gyrobee seems to defy the current thories about design and wanted to know if this is a good idea, a bad idea or simply an idea. Thanks


Where did this CLT pic come from? Was it on the web? Do you have a source page?

[MattPearson]

The gyrobee definitely does not defy physics as Doug said. This gyro was built by one of our club members ,Darry Goerdel, as you see here. When we did the VCG determination, the thrust line was still high by like three inches(as best I remember), so Darryl removed the lower fuel tank and mounted a root tube tank above the engine which made the gyro CLT.
I did the test flight on this bird and other than a fuel issue which was resolved, the gyro flew great and flew just like any other CLT Aircommand, Monarch, Butterfly, or SuperFly that I have flown, just with A LOT LESS available power!
There is no prerotator and no incidence in the tail. He made the tail from wood. I believe Darryl is on the forum, so hopefully he will jump in here.

[KDOG]

Nothing wrong with stock bee.

Nice bird, though. Tail is kinda small....