Hello from Salt Lake City

[Rigidwing]

I've been browsing the forum for about a week now, WOW What a great site!
I was lucky enouph to find this place very quickly. I have been training for my Private Pilot for FW aircraft accumulating about 12 hours now. Not having a whole lot of extra money, I do alot of trade work for flight time, as a mechanic and as an A&P apprentice on the weekends. But unfortunately I seem to be spending alot more time under the hood than in the pilot seat. The A&P work is very interesting but these guys are really taking advantage.


Sooooooo, I have decided I want my OWN aircraft. Something I can afford and fly whenever I want to fly. I believe there is no better choice than a Gyrocopter. I think it is the next best thing to being superman. Other than the old Bell Rocket belt. A 20 second flight might be practical to service your rooftop air conditioner but I think I'll use a ladder. I have already experienced the prejudice and ignorance people have about theese machines. And I myself have been skeptical as if I might be making a terrible choice. The more I learn, I don't think so. The A&P Tech I work with (30 year pilot) said "don't do it, it's far to dangerous" I asked why and he said "If your transmission fails your rotor will stop and your going to go down". Hmmmm rotor transmission huh, never mind. (lol) I have been a Whitewater Kayaker since 1996 and the first day I brought home my new kayak everyone was quick to tell me "Your crazy and ya know your gunna die in that canoe". "It's not a canoe you boneheads and I am going to learn to use it properly". That was about 800 river miles ago. I believe learn all you can, minimize all possible risks the best you can and go freakin do it!

Anyways, It may take me a very long time to get myself a Gyro operating but I will eventually. I hope to learn alot from you guys and look forward to sharing posts with you soon. Thanks for reading.

Jason

[KenSandyEggo]

Welcome aboard, Jason. Wish I would have found the forum BEFORE I bought my first gyro, but I paid my tuition.

[PW_Plack]

Jason, welcome!

Hmmm...if I lived in SLC, had my A&P, and was excited about gyroplanes, I'd be knocking on the door of Groen Brothers Aviation!

[Timchick]

Welcome aboard Jason. Find a gyro instructor and go for an introductory flight. It'll let you know if gyros are for you and get you really hooked.

[Cobra]

If you havn't already made contact, you will probably end up here for your training: http://www.lettherebeflight.com/ They operate out of the Spanish Fork airport and are the local Sparrowhawk (Groen Bros) dealer.

[Bob Simmons]

Wecome aboard. i am glad you found this site. its a real god send of knowledge and wisdom. keep getting excited and let us know if you decide to go the gyro way. as far as not having any money, thats rough man. i hate to be the one to tell you this , but this sport cost alot and its all about the training. look around this forum and see how many pilots are tuned into the gyro related accidents and deaths. most of them are big time fix wing pilots that assumed or became complacent. you keep being excited and read all you can. let us know when you've had your first ride and keep us posted on your progress because we care about each other. i rode my training out untill i proved myself worthy. now i fly with the best. love you man. :cool:

[Rigidwing]

Hey guys, Thanks for the warm welcome.

I will defintely be visiting Groen Brothers aviation for a introductory flight. Unfortunately Paul I do not have my A&P yet. I'm just an apprentice. I'm quite sure that apprentice in aviation terminology means "free slave labor" he he. I've spent some time in Hillsboro. I'ts very nice there. I lived in Vancouver Washington for about five years and worked in Portland.

Thanks for the link Cobra. That is so cool that you live in Bountiful. Guess where I do my A&P work. Bountiful Skypark! Small world buddy. I noticed Falcon lives in clearfield Utah. I pass through bolth places every work day driving to Hill Airforce Base. Some pretty interesting aviation going on there and it's quite nice to be able to work around it all.

Believe me I know all about how exspensive anything with aviation can be. I do have a private FW instructor at KSLC. Eliminating the aircraft rental is what really made it affordable. I make pretty good money as a Heavy Equipment Mechanic for the military bases here in Utah. Tooele Army Depot and Hill Airforce Base. Just don't have an extra 30k laying around for a new toy right now lol.

I think that is great how you guys look out for one another like brothers. I have noticed that you all argue like bothers quite often LOL. I realize that my Fixed wing training may be a hanicap when learing to pilot a Gyro but I will do my best.

Ah Shucks Bob, :rolleyes: Love you too Man!

[Falcon]

Jason,

I have about 12 hours in the Sparrowhawk now and love Gyro flight. The guys at the Spanish Fork airport are great. Mike their flight instructor is really great and makes me feel at ease in the cockpit. Nate runs the shop and is a great guy and will answer all of your questions. I would highly recomend a introductory flight, that will give you the oppertunity to see if this is the thing for you.

I am working on a enclosed single place and I am in the same boat as you as far as money goes. The family comes first,but flying runs a very close second! If you would like to see my project and maybe talk sometime let me know. I love aviation and I am always in the mood to talk gyros and planes.

Take care, Gary

[Cobra]

Ridgidwing-
I visit the Skypark quite often- mostly to help/visit friends building planes there. You might consider joining the local EAA chapter 23; we meet every second Friday at Airport #2 at 7 PM.

At this time, Ive decided to go the kit-plane route (Vans RV-7A OR 9A). Why? Mostly because fixed-wings provide better performance and cross-country capability at high altitude (lift capacity, shorter rough-field landing/takeoff, much faster cruise, etc)- all at similiar initial cost. The way I look at it, most flying around SLC occurs between 8000-13000 ft, which is pretty much at, or beyond, the performance limits of most rotorcraft in summer.

I WILL build a gyro later on if we move to lower ground in a few years when the wife retires (she works at Hill AFB too). FWIW, I personally prefer the Dominator and Littlewings over the very nice Sparrowhawk/ RAF update (COST, weight, landing gear, performance).

[Rigidwing]

Hey Gary,

I can't wait untill I can take a flight with Mike in a Sparrowhawk. That must be great! Keep at it man, those hours will accumulate in time. I just made 12 hours myself flying a Skyhawk. I spent a little time in a Cessna 150. That thing was so dang light an responsive it was a blast. I hope to solo in the next few months. Just waiting around for the seat time. It's Maddening!

I would absolutely love to see your RH Falcon. That is the exactly the gyro I was interested in when I decided to find a forum. I found the pictures you posted earlier, very nice. It should make a great project. It's to bad that my CFI discourages Gyro Flight. I think he just has never considered it. He thought I was joking around when I told him I would like to fly one. He is a good friend of mine and says he'll stick with me as long as it takes to get my Private. I just need the aircraft. I guess maybe I will have to rent eventually even if its only a couple hours a month.

I was wondering, how does your family feel about that aircraft in your garage. My wife doesn't like flying what so ever. She won't even take a ride with us. But she doesn't discourage my training because she knows it's something I really love to do. She just says to keep the insurance paid up! My kids fly with us on occasion, they absolutely love it (of course) kids have no fear.

Jason

[Rigidwing]

Cobra,

All kinds of cool projects going on at Skypark isn't there. It's been so dang hot out there lately. I wish I would have thought about joining the local EAA chapter 23. I lived right next to airport 2 for five years. Thats where I have flown most of my hours. We have actually moved to Stansbury Park just a few months ago. Finally was able to buy our first home. I list as Salt Lake cuz nobody would know where Stansbury is, 23 miles west of SLC. So Bolinder Field (TVY) is my closest airport now. It's great to fly from, nice wide open valley out here. I really need to get some class B radio time though. Those guys in the tower still intimidate me lol.

I checked out the VanGrunsven aircraft you mentioned, very nice. I love a good cross-country cruise myself. The Pilots I know have all been saying to be very carefull of the density altitude lately because of the heat. Something
to consider when building a Gyro in this area.

Jason

[Falcon]

Jason,

My family is supportive just like yours because they know I love planes. My wife hates to fly but I got her up in a freinds Dragonfly last year and she seemed ok after the ride. When ever you want to get together give me a call. My number is 926-0005. Good luck with your flying and keep at it.

Gary

[Cobra]

"I checked out the VanGrunsven aircraft you mentioned, very nice. I love a good cross-country cruise myself."

The thing that really impressed me regarding the RVs: they are also exceptional short/rough field aircraft and among the best designs for harmonized handling- they only need 300-500' to land/takeoff, stall ~40-50 mph. Shorter T/O distances than most gyro's, yet capable of near-200 mph cruise speeds. They are also capable of, and rated for, acrobatics.

I figure abt $20K for airframe/tools, $6K for motor (Mazda rotary, redrive, fixed prop), another $6K? for VFR radio/ transponder/GPS etc. The cost:benefit seems a bargain to me at a similiar cost to any of the two place gyros currently available, and not much more than the single place, open cabin kits. Finished RVs are always under demand- easy to sell, generally at a big markup.

Im very familiar with the Tooele valley- lived at Dugway once upon a time. Lots of new growth there these days. Ive played the golf course at Stansbury, too much water for my skill level :eek:

[PW_Plack]

At a recent RV fly-in nearby, which attracted about 80 of the various models, I spoke with a guy who's one of the first to complete and fly an RV-10. He says he knows of two others which have been built specifically for resale, and they're expected to go for about $225,000. Yes - I guess you could say they're in demand!

[Rigidwing]

Gary, That sounds Great.

I will contact you on a free weekend soon. Or maybe you work weekends, I dunno. Some perks for working for the government I have Fri, Sat & Sundays always off. We usually have a free seat open in one of the Cessnas if your interested. If ya don't mind flying with a bunch of Mainstream FW pilots. You would probably want to go on just a cruise flight since my landings are still "a wee bit bumpy", he he!

I'm still very excited about gyro flight and can't wait to visit Groen Bros, I look forward to hearing all about your training there. See ya Bud.

Jason

[Rigidwing]

Cobra,

Still a bit pricey for me bud, but what a great fun investment. Fly the hell out of it and resale it at a killing. It would take me years to put that baby together and I have been a mechanic for 15 years. Be sure to log all your construction steps, we would all love to follow the progress when you begin.

A construction boom is going on in Tooele Valley. I would sure like to own some of that farmland that is selling. Not much more room in Salt Lake I guess. So ya like all those water traps on the Stansbury course do ya! I can't play a lick of golf but I plan to learn soon. Next time your on the 5th hole (worst water traps) and ready to tee off, stop you backswing, turn around 180' and wave to me, thats my house. 229 Country Club. Now ya know why I can't afford to freakin fly LOL.

Jason