Monarch Butterfly Rotors?

[ctdaily]

Does anyone happen to know if the Rotors/Heads, etc. on the Monarch Butterfly are of their own making or from other manufacturers?
I think I read that they are Air Command Dragon Wings?
What about the Mast and Rotorhead? Are they also Air Command?
I can't seem to get over the G Force Landing Gear...
I was all set to get something else and as an old Huey driver I can really appreciate those last two feet when you run out of ideas quickly...
I can see me falling in love with that landing gear!
Thanks for the help!
Charles

[GyroRon]

The Butterfly uses Rotorhawks I believe and the Monarch uses DragonWings

Both are built by other companies and are used on many other brands of gyroplanes.

[ctdaily]

Thanks for that info...
What is the educated opinion on the best Rotors if you were building something and wanted to use off the shelf rotors? SportCopter? What?
Or is there only one or two makers of the best Rotors that everyone else buys?
I have been reading the posts and it looks like maybe there are at least 3 or 4 different guys who are flying or are in the process of flying Monarchs...
I may just be the next...
I e-mailed Larry and he seems really great to work with...
It looks like Carter licensed the G Force to Larry for the Monarch...
I wonder if they will do the same thing for other manufacturers...
I ask Larry but he said that they were not available without the Monarch...
Thanks again for the help Ron...
Maybe as more folks see that the site is back up I can also get some comments from some of the Monarch builders/flyers...
Charles

[GyroRon]

Dragon Wings are very good blades. Sportcopter 7 inch chord blades are very close in performance but have a better finish - painted blades and coated straps and hubbar -

Dragon wings costs from around 1500$ up to 1800$ for the sizes you would need for a single place gyro. Sportcopter charges 2000$ flat price for their 7 inch blades and it doesn't matter the length. Both charge about the same for crating and shipping.


Both blades are basically the top of the line as far as light single place gyro blades go. I really don't think one is better than the other. I personally like the appearance of the sportcopters better and feel like it may be worth the few extra bucks, but then again if you can save 500$ then polishing the Dragon wings twice a year may be worth the savings.

I tested both brands on my gyro last summer and besides the " feel " of the blades the only detectable difference I found between the two brands was the Dragon wings flew at a slower rotor RPM and they gave me about 5 mph faster top speed.

[Jazzenjohn]

I was told the Butterfly uses Brock/Bensen blades in the basic form when I called and asked a few months ago. I think That is the only legal ultralight version, however, I think they offer Dragon Wings and a Prerotator as an upgrade. I haven't seen any pictures of Butterfly's with Brock's though.

[Allantat]

Charles. I,m just up Hwy 99 from you in Fresno and currently building the

Monarch Butterfly with the G-Force gear. Project is about 65% complete. My

rotor blades arrived recently and they are 22ft Dragon Wings. As to the rotor

head...you do assemble it yourself. So far all the parts fit like a glove with

only minor reaming to remove powder coating in holes. After watching the

G-Force gear video over and over..I went that route.

Working with Larry Neal has been a pleasure and often Larry will call just to

see "how things are going" and to see if I have any questions.

Next week I'm heading to Ft. Worth,Tx and will spend a couple of days

with Larry. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

[scottessex]

It looks like they use the "standard Bensen rotorhead" Chris Wilson's Monarch is in My hangar, and we compared it to a bensen head and it is practicaly the same thing. Slightly different than an aircommand. The teeter towers bolt on differently.

[ctdaily]

Looks like I am not quite as far along as you guys...
Allan...I am leaving this Saturday for Ft. Worth myself...I will be around there for a week looking at property...Larry invited me to give him a call on his cell phone and stop by as what he described as "west of Ft. Worth"...
I am not sure what my schedule is going to be...trying to take a "girl" out of LA to an Airstrip in Texas is going to at least be interesting...LOL
If I get a day to myself I may give Larry a call...
I started out wanting the SparrowHawk but the truth is all I really want is a single place that I can get my head back up in the wind as the mood strikes me...LOL
I know that for me personally when I flew Hueys that were always overloaded...the flying part is easy...it's those last several inches that can be a real bitch...
The G-Force landing gear has made me a believer just watching Larry's videos...
I really also wanted something that was simple for an engine...the auto with fuel injection was the way I wanted to go...heck if the truth be know after flying jet engines I don't even really like anything else...but given the size that I think that I am after I think that the Rotax looks like it really gets out there...
Thanks for all the comments guys...
This is exactly what I need...It is so easy to go around and around watching the videos, going to the airshows, taking the demo rides...but nothing beats somones opinion that is going down the same road you find yourself on...
Thanks...
And a big thanks to Tod for getting this place back up...I was feeling lost for those few days the board was down...
Charles

[Greg Mitchell]

G'Day Charles,

Benson/Brock blades on Butterfly and DW's on Monarch. GFLG (G-Force Landing Gear) is Larry Neals design not Carter Copters. Carter Copter were involved with providing a particular strut to be tested on Larry's GFLF system. The system as it stands today runs three different types of struts (shocks) depending on configuration of the craft.

There have been quite a few modifications over the early prototypes and first production run craft. The Monarch/Butterfly has come of age......so get moving, get some time in the Golden with Brad King and have a good look at a Butterfly/Monarch, you will love it.

Cheers,

Mitch.

[ctdaily]

Hey...Thanks Mitch
Nice to hear that the GFLG was Larry's design...
I wondered about that...as in long term right to use the product...but since it belongs to him that is one less thing that I need to concern myself too much with...LOL
I read most of your posts last night...it is so nice to have a place like this where people can learn so much...Again...Thanks Todd!
It really looks like you have had a swell time with your Butterfly...
Thanks for helping me out...
I think what I am going to get is the Monarch with the GFLG...6' or 7' feet???
Wonder what the decision factor is on that one?
I am sure that there are a lot of opinions about the next one too???
I just can't get wild about setting on a seat tank which holds 5 gallons of fuel...
What is it about that picture that bothers me?
How do you get around that one in your head folks...
Opinions Please...
Thanks again for all the shares...
Charles

[ctdaily]

Mitch and all...
I think I got that confused from this link
http://www.cartercopters.com/pr_2004-04-04b.html
Maybe they were just taking license with this...?
"Carter Aviation Technologies (Carter) of Wichita Falls, TX announced that they are working with The Butterfly, LLC (TBL) to test their landing gear on TBL's new autogyro model, the Monarch."
and
"For initial tests, the "Smart Strut" portion of Carter's landing gear was designed to work in consort with TBL's G-Force gear. The patented Carter strut provides 16" of stroke at the wheels."
Looks like maybe Carter owns the "Strut" and Larry...i.e."TBL" the GFLG
Anyway you cut it...
It sure looks like they got it right...
Charles

P.S. Looks like this clears up the G-Force Landing Gear vs. Smart Struts

http://www.cartercopters.com/landing_gear_clarification.html

[Greg Mitchell]

Charles Mate,

You can put 7.5 gallons there if you wish. The 5 gallon tank on Butterfly helps it stay ultralight legal for the US. Most gyros have rotationally moulded plastic fuel seat tanks.
Get in touch with Larry Neal via the web prompts for further info. Good luck and heaps of fun with what ever gets you into the air.
Cheers,
Mitch.

[ctdaily]

Thanks Greg...
I wonder if you or Allen have seen any pictures of the "Pointed nose pod with windshield" that he is listing as an option...
I thought it might look like the twin Golden or maybe a little smaller...
Maybe there is someone else who is building one with that option or has snagged a picture of it...
Thanks again for all the help...
I will be seeing Larry hopefully this next week but I suspose like all Christmas toys it is hard to wait...
Charles

[Allantat]

Charles. I have not seen any pictures of the nose pod with windshield. I know it's offered as an option. Guess we'll both find out shortly as we'll both be visiting Larry shortly. If you have any questions...or just wanna shoot the breeze...send me an e-mail at Allantat@hotmail.com and I'll give you my number.3 week vacation starts TODAY!

[Heron]

Hey guys . .. I will miss all the fun in ole Texas when you come!!! :(
Enjoy you visit and get as much info as you can, you will be pleased!
Heron

[WindRyder06]

The rotorhead is very close to a standard Bensen head. Larry had all parts CNC machined and is a very nice piece. Like Mitch said the Butterfly has Brock blades and the Monarch has Dragon Wings. The G-force gear is a blast to have. Here is one of my favorite pictures of one landing I did. It is a real kick in the pants :D

Fly Safe,
Chris

[Greg Mitchell]

Nice 'Touch Down' Chris. Your'e having way too much fun Buddy!!
Mitch.

[ctdaily]

Nice picture...
Thanks so much for the info...
I thought I might hook up with Larry and Allan this last week in Ft. Worth but I spent all my time looking for a house in Austin...
Found One!
Nice House...Nice Hanger...
Should close Oct 31st...
I have been trying to find some pictures of the nose cone that larry is putting on the Monarch...
Anyone happen to have one?
Looks like I am a few months from a build project but a least I may have a hanger to put it in!
Charles

[Heron]

Check the site www.thebutterflyllc.com it is the same one in the Golden, same one Matt Pearson had on the Superfly.
Heron

[Dean_Dolph]

...... but I spent all my time looking for a house in Austin...
Found One!.....

CharlesCharles, where in the Austin area is it located, if you don't mind tellin'?

[ctdaily]

Hi Dean...
Well if my DeLorme Street Atlas program is correct I will be 155.2 miles west and a little north of Katy...
Lakeway is just northwest of Austin...out by Lake Travis...
We started out looking all around the Ft. Worth area...
First at the Pecan Plantation area which is next to Grandbury...A little flat up there with a little too much Wx for my liking...
I went to flight school in Mineral Wells so I know what that area can be like...
Real nice but a lot of Wx sometimes...
We also looked just Southeast of Johnson City where they are developing a strip with 25 acre sites...I loved the idea of that much land but it was a little far out of the way for the rest of the family...
When we got to Austin and there were Whole Foods markets, Fry's Electronics, and Starbucks Coffee houses...the family said OK...
A little shallow I know but with a wife who already survived owning a Mooney and didn't like it that much...life is a compromise!
Don't know if you have used GOOGLE EARTH yet but for pilots it is a dream program and FREE
http://earth.google.com/
You have to download the "Get Google Earth (Free Version)"
Install it and then run it from the start menu
This program will let you travel all over the earth in "not so real time" the pictures are a little dated but not too bad...doesn't show the new hanger on the house we are getting but it sure shows the strip...
It will let you tilt the view and elevation and let you fly all over the country...
I don't think a lot of folks have seen that program yet...
Anyway...We made an offer on the house...they countered...we accepted...
Should close Oct 31st and then the move...Oh man...I hate that part...
Also Dean…
I read your posts about the hearing issues…
I can certainly relate to that problem…
I somehow got a hold of my old medical records prior to me going to OCS at Ft. Sill (cannons…loud noises…no hearing protection)…prior to Rotary Wing Flight School…prior to a year of flying guns in Vietnam…
My hearing was across the board…perfect…
After that experience…a great deal of hearing loss…
What is the exact nature of the “inner ear autoimmune disease”?
If you look at some of my ramblings on my web page you will notice that some of the conditions that people end up seeing me for are labeled “autoimmune”…but rather from an acupuncturists point of view should be labeled “system overload”…
If you would like to talk about this fire me off an email or PM…
I have actually had several individuals that had some improvement with those issues…
I am about to get out of the patient business but I could at least provide some additional insight from someone who has practiced long enough to have another world view of these issues…
Thanks for all the feedback!
Charles