Clearence beteen rotor head and top of enclosure?

[dapartlow]

Is there a set rule on the disantance between the bottom of the rotor head and the top of the enclosure? I am thinking with the longer mast my encoslure might fit.Thanks for any input

[rehler]

The only requirement is for the rotor blades to avoid hitting anything (tail, ground when landing, prop, etc.) when they accidentally flap in the wind while on the ground. To check this pull the rear blade down and flex it fairly hard to see if it hits anything (with the pilot in the seat). If the mast is taller there is no problem, other than needing a taller door to go through. The flight is not adversly affected if it is tall or short.

[dapartlow]

Thanks Ken, I really like your gyro and I am going to give it good check out and even use a tape this time ( see other posts).

[Harry_S.]

The only requirement is for the rotor blades to avoid hitting anything (tail, ground when landing, prop, etc.) when they accidentally flap in the wind while on the ground. To check this pull the rear blade down and flex it fairly hard to see if it hits anything (with the pilot in the seat). If the mast is taller there is no problem, other than needing a taller door to go through. The flight is not adversly affected if it is tall or short.

I don't know as this a good guideline, Ken.

When my RAF is *disabled* static, on the ground, with someone in the seat...gust lock off...stick full aft...and you flex the rotor blade down...it will contact the rudder before it would touch the ground.

With no one in the seat and the above conditions...the rotor would contact the ground.

With the rotor rotating at RPM...straight out or coned up, none of the above would happen...even with a properly executed short field takeoff or landing.

[Bob]

I have a tall mast on my gyro...

you can't touch anything with the Rotor ... even flexing it hard...

However ... I am extending the rotor diamator 4feet with a new hub bar
and that may well change things .... i expect it to touch the ground easy !
.... so I may well be raising my mast as well ! <grin>

C ya !
Bob...

[rehler]

Harry,

Lots of gyro blades touch the ground and/or the tail and some the prop, but that does not make it good. It is bad. On a well designed gyro the rotor blades will not hit anything. If they can, some day they will.

I want my blades safe while flying and while on the ground.

However, having gust stops may solve the problem. I have never had them on a gyro, but I had them on a helicopter and they worked pretty well - except on a windy day when one would come down before the other and rack the blades each turn for a short while.

[Harry_S.]

Ken R.,

The RAF has a *Gust Lock* which locks the stick full forward and centered...rotorhead cannot move in either pitch or roll.

The RAF also has *Teeter Stops* atop the towers, which keeps the rotor blades from teetering.

The RAF also has a *Rotor Brake.*

Normally...all three are engaged while on the ground and when taxiing. When in position for takeoff...all three are released...the stick is kept in the forward position for the pre-rotation. Coordinated throttle and rotor control will eliminate rotor flap.

[rehler]

Harry,

I was talking about "teeter stops" not "gust stops". Sorry for the error.

I can only agree completely with you. Having "gust lock", "teeter stops" and "rotor brake" certainly will keep the rotor blades from hitting anything.