My gyroplane stability chasing dairy..

[Aussie_Paul]

... This thread is a result of the many RAF owners, as well as others intersted in gfyroplane knowledge, wanting to know more about the journey from my direct drive Bensen with a VW and a 52" prop in 1982, through the days of my HTLM Air Command trainer, made even worse by fitting the "super thruster" kit for more performance, on to my stock RAF followed by my quest for true gyroplane stability.

This all ended up with Hybrid and a desire to build Firebird, my dream. Firebird is the evolved product of over 20 years and 5000 hours of gyro flying. The important aspect of those 5000 hours is the almost 4000 teaching people to safely fly gyroplanes.

I have learnt that the geometry of a gyroplane for a newbie is quite critical. When training in a HTLM and soloing students in their HTLMs flight tested by me, I would be quiote a nervous wreck.

Soloing students into a stable and flight tested gyroplane after being trained in a stable trainer was so much easier on the nerves.

There are those peoiple who say that you should train in an anstable gyro so that when you get into a stable machine you will be ok. I say to my students, "Do not be stupid enough to get into an unstable machine". There is no need.

I don't see ab intio fixed wing students being taught in aircraft loaded outside the rear Cof G limit, do you?

So attached is that evolutionary story.

I hope that most will enjoy and learn, and a few will probably be envious that they have not been as lucky as myself to have had the opportunity to do what I have done.

Aussie Paul.:)

[dragonflyerthom]

Aussie Paul


Read your story.. I understand. I have put a 28" piece on my keel and the first thing I noticed was the lightness of the nose. Put the mains back 2".



Thom

Live the DREAM

[karlbamforth]

Great story Paul, it kind of puts a real world view on all the theories.

Thanks for taking the time to post it.

[Aussie_Paul]

Great story Paul, it kind of puts a real world view on all the theories.

Thanks for taking the time to post it.

My pleasure Karl, I seem to only know the real world!!!:D I hope that someone gets some value from my mistakes and successes.:D

Aussie Paul.:)

[John_wilkinson]

Thank you Paul for letting me be part of this adventure,and we are not finished yet.

[Harry_S.]

Is that red machine yours, John? Nice lookin'.

I'm kinda partial to the Red, too.:rolleyes:


Cheers :)

[Aussie_Paul]

Thank you Paul for letting me be part of this adventure,and we are not finished yet.

You are quite right John, actually it is just beginning. My enforced suspension from flying in Oz has allowed me to help in NZ, and to concentrate on Firebird.

The old silver lining to every dark cloud if you look for it. I did and found it!!!

Aussie Paul.:)

[birdy]

So, do i get a thanx for that PB?, concidern i'm blamed for getn you suspended, for alertn the general public bout THAT misshap:)
[where would firebird be now if i wasn't the worlds biggest ahole?]

[John_wilkinson]

Harry no its not mine it is the last one that i altered and the best so fare with Alan Laughry stab on it ,Alans stab is light and has a good shape to it.I owen a half shear in the blue one that is me leaning on the prope and Paul peering over the cabin.
Birdy i must get round to paying you for that servis ,it did help us over here.

[Aussie_Paul]

So, do i get a thanx for that PB?, concidern i'm blamed for getn you suspended, for alertn the general public bout THAT misshap:)
[where would firebird be now if i wasn't the worlds biggest ahole?]

Hey Birdy, I think the jury is still out between you and Ron A for the worlds biggest ahole.

I never blamed you Birdy, so YOU GET NO CREDITS!!!!!!!! Only a ride in a Firebird next year, if I am game to let you fly it!!!! I will take some sea sickness tablets and shut my eyes.:eek:

Aussie Paul.:)

[birdy]

Birdy i must get round to paying you for that servis ,it did help us over here.
Think of it more as an obligation on my part Kiwi, pice of mind means moren any payment:)

where would firebird be now ......................
hmmmmm................ now that i think bout it, theres not alota difference between 6years and seven years is there?

[dragonflyerthom]

Aussie Paul

Where do you have the keel mods for the RAF?????

[Hognose]

Here's a question for all you keel-droppers --

Why not just raise the cabin as Jim Montgomerie did with the basic Bensen/Brock design to create the Merlin?

[lame attempt to illustrate with ascii graphics deleted]

Montgomerie's website is here:

http://www.gyrocopters.co.uk/


It just seems like doing something like what he did to the RAF would be a lot easier (and possibly, structurally sounder) than modifying the keel. Did you consider and reject this approach for some reason?

cheers

-=K=-

[bones]

hmmmmm................ now that i think bout it, theres not alota difference between 6years and seven years is there?

Maybe even 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 years, dont hold him to something like that Birdy:rolleyes: :cool:

[Doug Riley]

Kevin, since the stock RAF is a scaled-up Bensen using a straight-through keel, I guess raising the cabin is more work. You have to get a longer nose gear, move the front piece of the keel up the mast and modify the control system.

Some of the real geezers think (but are wrong) that a higher seat will always be harder to get into. In fact, the seat that's easiest to get into is one that's the same height as your butt when you are standing. Climbing either up or down is more work. People with limited mobility have trouble get into and out of go-karts.

You'll get more bang for your trouble by raising the cabin. When you move part, but not all, of the weight in an aircraft a certain distance, the CG moves a fraction of that distance. The CG moves the same percentage of the distance you moved the weight as the weight is to the total aircraft weight.

The cabin, fuel and two lads weigh more than the engine with its accessories.

I know you know all this. I second your suggestion.