View Full Version : ROC 2005 Pics
Here are a few from yesterday (rainy) and today (cloudy)
Four more pics from yesterday and today
Another two pics,... more later
GyroRon
10-08-2005, 09:41 PM
got anymore of me? :)
Rotornut
10-09-2005, 02:32 AM
Ron, I am sure glad John was there with the people he endjoyed.
Soorry for a great lost, Also his Son and Dougter. Please Erine keed us al
Dont Wont to bore you just want to let the family to know We Care.
I wil foreever remember my my Firend and honor to be one MJO :
Heron
10-09-2005, 05:14 AM
Thanks Plane Bob
Hope the rain did not dampen the action.
Anyway, rain was not the highlight of this fly-in.
Heron
GyroRon
10-09-2005, 05:19 AM
MJ, have you seen the gyro on the right in post #4? that is Catfishes old machine! The new owner brought it there and I tried to test fly it for him.... Not enough power
Aussie_Paul
10-09-2005, 05:57 AM
.... Not enough power
....man, you just gonna hafter go on that diet!!!!!!!!! :eek:
Aussie Paul. :)
C. Beaty
10-09-2005, 06:37 AM
Dave DeWinter and Barrister Holmes used to fly direct drive Soob EA-81s. Rate of climb would have been measured in feet/hour and both were featherweight pilots.
But the Japanese pickup EA-81 does very well as long as the gyro isn’t burdened with superfluous plunder.
GyroRon
10-09-2005, 07:45 AM
This one was the japanese version Chuck.... but it had stuff like electric starting to weight it down. It also may have not been producing the right rpms - maybe timing was off... or carb wasn't set right..... Needless to say all I could do was get it maybe a inch off the ground before it settled back onto the wheels. I thought Catfish and me were about the same weight.... But I am sure when Catfish had it, it was in a better state of tune.
C. Beaty
10-09-2005, 07:58 AM
When Catfish had it, he was in a better state of tune also.
The pickups weren’t imported into the US but used engines were available from exporters.
That Soob gyro has another 30 lbs of thrust easily available, I would suspect. It had not had a tuneup in ages, and had just been sitting -- the carb probably needs to be degummed and adjusted, and the timing needs to be set. The intake manifold looks like a rat maze -- an EA-82 manifold would be worth a few hp. The prop had some interesting tips on it -- shaped by impact with small hard things.
If the starter were removed and the battery made smaller, it would lose a lot of weight too.
The Starbee Gizmo Recoil prerotater (total weight around 5 lbs) would help some, as well. Dana and Laura Linn (Starbee Gyros) had one of those at the fly-in. It sure looks well-made, and the idea of getting over a hundred rrpm for an insigificant weight penalty sure sounds elegant. They come all the way down here from Massachusetts each year (Bensen days too). They are good folks to have around.
I would refer to Dave DeWinter as a featherweight only in comparison to Ron Awad. ;-)
On another subject (to un-hijack this thread): I'll be adding some more pics shortly. The pic limit on the forum is 150kb, so I had to cut the size (and therefore resolution) way down. I have the originals for those who want any at about 2mb per pic -- with much crisper resolution.
Also, I am lousy with names. For those pics where the filename refers to the machine, I'd appreciate it if those who know would tell me the name of the owner and/or pilot. Thanks,
Rotornut
10-09-2005, 09:38 AM
Catfish did not sell the original engine off that machine he bought from Bob Boisvert, he removed and bought one of Ora Cook. Still has this engine on his Soma.
MJ :)
Sonnyj
10-09-2005, 06:37 PM
Here's a few more of you Ron, doing what you enjoy most.
Eatin and flyin.
Thanx for a great time
C'Yun's
Sonny
bartc150
10-10-2005, 04:13 AM
Looks like someone was getting interviewed by a reporter. If so, can someone post the article. I've never seen a gyro in the newspaper, not even the classifieds.:)
GyroRon
10-10-2005, 06:27 AM
Yeap we were in several local papers and also on the evening news, I don't know who has any copies of it though.....
enewbold
10-10-2005, 08:10 AM
MJ, have you seen the gyro on the right in post #4? that is Catfishes old machine! The new owner brought it there and I tried to test fly it for him.... Not enough power What kind of machine was it, Ron. A Gyrobee?
GyroRon
10-10-2005, 11:44 AM
No it was bacially a one-off, spin-off of a Basic Bensen except powered by a direct drive Subaru EA-81.
Factory built or better to say Factory built kits are probably out numbered 2 or 3 to one by all the one off's out there that someone built from scratch in their workshops.... Especially in Florida where there happens to be alot of people with alot of time on their hands to tinker - and scrounge for parts
Aussie_Paul
10-10-2005, 01:45 PM
Especially in Florida where there happens to be alot of people with alot of time on their hands to tinker - and scrounge for parts
I bet Chuck Beaty takes that as a compliment Ron!!
Aussie Paul. :)
RayPierce
10-10-2005, 02:09 PM
Looks like someone was getting interviewed by a reporter. If so, can someone post the article. I've never seen a gyro in the newspaper, not even the classifieds.:)
I don't know if this will work but I'll give it a try.
=====Begin article=====
Pilots bring gyrocopters out for spin
Flying enthusiasts land at airport's rotorcraft show
By Betsy Gilliland | South Carolina Bureau
Saturday, October 8, 2005
AIKEN - The contemporary gift for a 10th wedding anniversary is diamonds. Tom Clark hinted to his wife, Tammy, on Friday that he was more interested in the traditional metallic gift of tin or aluminum.
The Lexington couple celebrated their 10th anniversary with a visit to the ninth annual Rotors Over Carolina "rotorcraft" show at Aiken Municipal Airport.
Ron Dobbs, of Foley, Ala., attaches rotor blades to his gyrocopter as a tandem craft lands during the Rotors Over Carolina show at Aiken Municipal Airport. The event is one of four annual gyroplane shows in the United States.
The event featured gyrocopter and gyroplane demonstrations. The helicopter-airplane hybrids are equipped with propellers and can land almost straight down, but they need a runway for takeoff.
"I think I'd have just as much fun building them as learning to fly," said Mr. Clark, an engineer for South Carolina Electric and Gas.
Danny Wood, of Milledgeville, Ga., built his own gyroplane.
"I used to be a machinist, so I know how to work with metals," he said.
His gyroplane, "The Beast," can fly up to 120 mph, he said, but 70 mph is a typical cruise speed. He said his two-seat gyroplane holds two 10-gallon tanks of gasoline, enabling him to fly for four hours nonstop.
Ron Awad, the president of the Rotors Over Carolina club, said this event is one of four annual gyroplane shows in the nation.
"A lot of the people here are from different parts of the country, and it's just a way for everybody to get together with their rotorcrafts," said Mr. Awad, of Fort Mill.
Tim Verroi, of Beaufort, took his Dominator 582 gyrocopter, "Angel Baby," to the skies for a short flight.
"It's the safest machine flying. Doesn't stall. Doesn't spin," he said after he landed. "In the hands of a competent pilot ... it's more fun than a human should be allowed to have."
======end of article=======
You may be able to get past the username password thingy by using "baseball" (without the quotes) and "baseball" again for the password (without the quotes). At least that's what Bugmenot.com sez will work.
If you can ...you will be able to see the pictures....
RayPierce
10-10-2005, 02:12 PM
Rotor rooters take to flight in Aiken
Section(s) Front Page
By JOHN MOORE
Staff writer
Gyroplanes and rotorcraft filled the skies Saturday over the Aiken Municipal Airport during The Georgia-Carolina Rotorcraft Club's Rotors over Carolina.
Rotorcraft enthusiasts from around the country came to fly in the event, and many spectators were introduced to the unique aircraft for the first time.
For Evan Pope, 11, of North Augusta, the event was a chance to fly for the very first time in a gyroplane.
Dan Leslie of Macon, Ga., was offering rides on his two-seat gyroplane to a number of people Saturday, and Evan waited in line with his father, Mike Pope.
Evan got to fly in Leslie's gyroplane over the airport and surrounding area, waving to his father on the ground every time he had a chance.
"For $45, I've made his whole weekend," Mike said. "I know he's loving this. This is his first time flying."
After the flight, Evan was excited about the experience.
"It was fun," Evan said. "I liked the turning and I saw a big golf course. I didn't want to let go of anything. I was scared when we got close to the ground."
Ron Dobbs came from Alabama for Rotors over Carolina with his RAF 2000 gyroplane.
While he has flown fixed-wing airplanes since 1981, he started flying gyroplanes about two and a half years ago.
"If I want to fly for pleasure, a gyroplane is the way to go," Dobbs said. "Gyroplanes are by far the most enjoyable. They are slow flying, and just a joy to fly. You just have to have the love of flying. It is like people who get horses in their blood, you get flying in your blood."
With no cockpit, Dobbs said the panoramic view from the sky is unbelievable.
Sonny Jeffers of Rosman, N.C., has wanted a gyroplane from the first time he saw an advertisement for a Benson Gyrocopter in Popular Mechanics when he was 16.
He has been flying gyroplanes now for about 10 years, and loves it.
"It's a lot of fun," Jeffers said. "With the open front, when you get up there nothing obstructs your vision and you can take the best pictures in the world. It is like a flying lawn chair."
Jeffers is currently rebuilding a gyroplane, and hopes to have it ready to fly before spring.
Jeffers said gyroplanes are also one of the safer types of aircraft.
"I think they have a much better safety factor to them personally," Jeffers said. "One of the safety factors is you don't need much space to land in case of an emergency."
Vince Inzinna drove to Aiken from New Jersey just to learn more about what it takes to fly a gyroplane.
"I have a gyroplane and I am in training. I just want to be immersed in this," Inzinna said. "It is an inexpensive and safe way to fly. This is the kind of flying I've always dreamed of."
More than 20 gyroplanes were part of the event Saturday.
While the weather kept some of the gyroplanes on the ground Friday, the weather Saturday was great for flying.
RayPierce
10-10-2005, 02:31 PM
I sent off an email to the TV station asking they provide a video....
I will post the answer whether it be yea or nay.
If you would like to do so also....send an email here.
Scott Brady
News Director
sbrady@wagt.com
http://www.wagt.com/
RayPierce
10-10-2005, 03:14 PM
George Lambert and John Palmer enjoying ROC.
John is the one on the scooter.
Sonnyj
10-10-2005, 03:21 PM
THE YOUNG MAN DID MAKE A MISQUOTE ABOUT MY HAVEING BEEN FLYING GYROS FOR 10 YEARS. I never said are emplyed that to him. But he did get the rest right.
Cheers
Sonny
RayPierce
10-11-2005, 03:46 PM
Looks like someone was getting interviewed by a reporter. If so, can someone post the article. I've never seen a gyro in the newspaper, not even the classifieds.:)
Here is a link that Jonathan Weis agreed to let us link to. It is of the ROC TV interview that was aired here in Aiken Saturday night.
www.jonathansautomotive.com/roc2005clip.wmv
Or go to our website at http://www.pra13.com/Movies/rotocraft_wagt.wmv
RayPierce
10-11-2005, 05:44 PM
Here's a newspaper picture of Ron Dobbs getting ready to fly.
Text under the picture by the newspaper:
Ron Dobbs, of Foley, Ala., attaches rotor blades to his gyrocopter as a tandem craft lands during the Rotors Over Carolina show at Aiken Municipal Airport. The event is one of four annual gyroplane shows in the United States.
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