An RAF is Reborn

[Gyropilot007]

Well Guys, I finally remembered to drag my camera out to the airport so here are some pictures of my new and improved RAF-2000. For those who don't know, I made the following modifications over the winter:

Dropped the keel six inches as in the Larry Boyer modification
Dropped the engine mounts and engine six inches
Replaced the 2.2 liter Subaru with a 2.5 liter and the Delta cam grind
Changed from a 3-bladed to a 4-bladed prop


I'm still flight testing it but so far so good.

Best regards,

Bob McGuire

[Gyropilot007]

Guys:

Here are a few more pictures of the mod.

Bob

[Alan Coats]

Looks good!

That's quite a paint job, really sets it apart.

Hope the flight testing goes great.

Alan

[animal]

Well Guys, I finally remembered to drag my camera out to the airport so here are some pictures of my new and improved RAF-2000. For those who don't know, I made the following modifications over the winter:

Dropped the keel six inches as in the Larry Boyer modification
Dropped the engine mounts and engine six inches
Replaced the 2.2 liter Subaru with a 2.5 liter and the Delta cam grind
Changed from a 3-bladed to a 4-bladed prop


I'm still flight testing it but so far so good.

Best regards,

Bob McGuire
Wow! thats sweet. let us know how it flys, that has to be a lot more stable machine now. I bet that 2.5 with 4 blade prop will really get it off the ground and go now. Love the paint job.

[animal]

Guys:

Here are a few more pictures of the mod.

Bob
in the first pic, the only thing that concerns me is those long exgust pipes. are they supported at the top well? the gyro I took my training in had the pipes shortened several times and that was one area my instructior had me check on preflight and post flight. I guess from heat and vibes they are prone to crack.
just something you might want to keep a close eye on.

[Harry_S.]

Bob;

You have so many new idea's on your machine.:D I have so many questions to ask about each one?!

A good point brought about your stacks and vibration. Maybe a brace/support somewhere? How do they sound, compared to another RAF?

Boy, I'd sure like to look your machine over for an hour or so.;), and take a bunch of pictures.

That sure is a big mass behind the cabin. I love it.:cool:

Bob...what no. hole, in the cam, are you using?


Cheers :)

[Gyropilot007]

Guys:

Thanks for all your concern and comments.

Regarding the exhaust pipes, I had them custom made by a fellow that makes them for race cars. I made him very aware of the vibration problems. They are constructed of chrome steel. Although not very obvious in the photographs, there are heavy-duty brackets (in the shape of the Star Trek emblem) supporting the pipes near the top of the engine. They are very sturdy and, of course, checking their integrity is part of every pre-flight.

Regarding the sound levels. When I had them installed on my 2.2 liter engine the sound level was much louder. Everyone that has heard the gyro with both the 2.2 and the 2.5 engine has remarked that the 2.5 is much quieter.

Harry, I've misplaced your phone number. Send it to me and I'll give you a call.

Bob

[Rehan K.Janjua]

Congrts Bob.

Lovely looking gyro. Bet it flys great.

A RAF is reborn whats the new name.
raf is far behind your gyros callaber. Must give it a new name. A befitting one.

Best wishes and happy flying.
Rehan

[Gyropilot007]

Rehan:

Thanks for the kind words. I don't know if you can tell from the pictures but the paint scheme is based on the original STAR TREK show. I'm a big fan. You can see the STAR TREK embliem (Delta Shield) on the tail and in various other places. The name of my gyro, the "Starship Kathleen", after my wife, is painted on both sides under the doors.

The registration number is N1702A. The number of the original Enterprise was NCC-1701. I tried but 1701 was taken so a settled for 1702A.

Best regards,

Bob

[Rehan K.Janjua]

Starship Kathleen.

Way to go. Wonderful.
Enjoy the world of KARHLEEN X 2.

Regards.
Rehan
AP-ZAZ

[Aussie_Paul]

.. You may find that you will need to move the axle back several inches. I found that the nose comes up very early with the thrust line lowered, the extra weight of the ej-25, and the heavier h/stab.

You have to decrease the disc angle so much with forard stick to place the nose wheel back on the ground that the rotor does not accellerate as quickly, so the take off run can be longer, especially solo and with low fuel.

I put up with it for a while and then bit the bullet and shifted the axle back 5" and wow!!! it brought the modification improvemnts to almost perfection.

I have found the best axle position to be, "with half a tank of gas the machine should just sit on the nose wheel when parked".

My 2 cents for what it's worth.

Aussie Paul.:)

[GyroRon]

Animal, do you know how to reply to a post without using the quote function? I am not being a smarty pants, If you don't know how to just reply let me know and I will run you through the basics on how to do it!

Bob, the mod looks good!

[Timchick]

Bob,
Great looking machine! Can't wait to hear the flight reports. If RAF can't make a stable gyro, you owners will.

[gyrosherwood]

Bob and I went up today.
It flys great!!! Today is My second time up in it and This thing just takes off like a rocket . Very stable machine!

[StanFoster]

Bob: Glad you want to fly down to Paxton with it. That is really nice looking.


Stan

[Harry_S.]

Tim; I like the way you post...and by golly...do it the way you want to.;)

Bob; Way to go, not by leaps and bounds, but by regimented practice. Enjoyed talking to you.:)


Cheers :)

[LARRYEBOYER]

Bob. Give me a call and a flight report. I will be in the office doing last minute tax returns Tuesday afternoon.
Looks great. You follow instructions well. Thanks PaulP!.