Graham currently London PPL - No Gyro

[scubafrique]

Born and raised Kenya, 4 years Safaris between Nairobi and Cape Town. Scuba Diving Instruction - Capetown and Safaris Kenya. Currently trapped in London for next two to three years, but run Safaris to Kenya / South Africa twice a year

I did my PPL in Port Alfred South Africa and on approaching the apron for my flight test, an annoying mosquito grew into some strange flying machine. The Gyro then promptly plopped into the runway and indignantly taxied away to the hangar.
I have not flown for the last two years but cannot get that Gyro out of my mind. I have been amazed and researched Gyros quite as thoroughly as the internet will allow.

I invisige a magni Gyro M22 as a Lodge hopper when I go back to Africa: room for photographic Equipment wife and doggie.
I dream of flying to turkana, refulling then flying into the Chalbi desert, camping for a couple of nights on the weekends.
I also dream of flying from Nairobi to Cape Town.

Anyone any thought. I know Bruce has a Magni in Kenya, but havent had the opportunity to catch up with him.

Reliability and fixability is absolutely essential.
I need a craft capable of carrying two people to at least 20,000ft asl with luggage, and having a range of about 350 miles. Many of the landings will be on dirt runways so will prefer shorter takeoff and good suspension.

Lastly the videos on Youtube by Tchick of some maniac in the Australian bush illustrate just how flexible the Gyro can be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmFgN1D2D10
Now that video has made me down load the Gyrobee document. Does anyone know what Gyro this is, and if Birdy is still alive?

Having no experience puts me in the commanding position to speak with absolutely no authority, just some initial ideas.

Graham
www.absolutesafari.com


P.S.
My thoughts re: the accident rate and safety concerns of Gyro's.
It seems to stem from the craft operators ideology, that they are the cheapest and easiest form of aviation transport (which they are)

So those interested are frequently looking for financial shortcuts
I for one am looking at financially cheaper ways of transporting myself around africa by air- gyro vs Robinson 22 or Kit Fox.
It gets compounded from there.
On a realistic standpoint, they are a relatively inefficient form of transport, not being able to carry a real load, and offering not less than a real thrill hence their perception of being toys, something for fun. Everyone knows that toys are treated with carefree (ab)use and with little regard to consequences. Motorbikes in theirselves are safe, yet the rider death and accident rate is extremely high mostly as a consequence of riding outside the Envelope of safety, be it speed induced, whatever.

[dragonflyerthom]

Graham

You have made most of the points that plague the Gyro as well as the motor cycle advocates. The gyro is an experimental aircraft. You can make it what ever you want If you want to have a real load as you put it, you will have to build one to your specifications. There are many gyros there in europe that can fit your needs. You will need to research the one for your needs.

I personally have a RAF which can carry two people comfortably. The low end of this type craft is around 25000. Dollars US.

Yes Birdy is alive and well in Australia. He flies a Roscoe and a modified RAF. He is very good at piloting and makes it look easy. Birdy does not fly above treetop level most of the time. He musters cows so has to fly low.

There are places you can stash equipment in most of the gyros. This would be done when you build it and how much you are looking to store and fly with. Balance is the key to this.

Hope this is of some help


Thom

[Hognose]

As practical, low-cost transportation, a Kitfox probably beats a gyro for your purposes. It lands and takes off shorter. is much more tolerant of rough fields, flies faster (although that's close) and burns much less fuel than most gyros.

I expect to be flamed (maybe nuked) for saying this on a gyro forum, but there it is. Both machines are fun to fly, VFR sport machines. I think gyros are more fun but truth be told, if it gets air between my feet and terra firma I enjoy it. (Well, being a passenger in a helicopter is bad, especially when people shoot at you. So is hanging in a STABO harness. But that experience is easily avoided by most of us).

The Magni M22 is popular in Europe and the RSA. An unfavourable exchange rate holds it back in the USA -- to us, it is very expensive. The Magnis I have seen have been beautifully made and sturdy, and I reckon they are worth the money, even here.

There is generally a trade-off between low cost and the amount of hassle the builder and owner has with the aircraft. You can fly cheap, you can fly easy, you can fly distances comfortably, but you can't do all three.

Given the Kenyan climate, you probably don't need a cabin-class gyroplane like the RAF or Sparrowhawk. That opens up lots of possibilities to you, as there are more open or semi-enclosed gyros than cabin gyros. Look at the ELA and the MT-03 as well; I think both are represented in Britain.

Here are some links:
http://www.magnigyro.com/
http://www.elaaviacion.com/
http://www.autogyro-europe.de/ (edited: I was given this site as a ",com" but it's live as a ".de")

cheers

-=K=-

[birdy]

Does anyone know what Gyro this is, and if Birdy is still alive?
Why would you ask such a question??

Maniac? thats a bit heavy init?

Much to the displeasure of a few on these forums Graham, i'm still alive n kickn:)

[PW_Plack]

Graham,

Why the requirement for 20,000 feet? You'd need a pressurized cabin and/or oxygen. That makes your list of aircraft choices much shorter, and neither the Kitfox nor any current gyroplane kit will be among them.

[steveb]

Graham

Why not come along to the British Rotorcraft Association stand at the SPLASH! show at the NEC in December. We'll have a number of gyros on the stand and plenty of people to talk to.

The BRA website is www.gyroplanes.org

Regards

Steve

[Aussie_Paul]

Graham

There are places you can stash equipment in most of the gyros. This would be done when you build it and how much you are looking to store and fly with. Balance is the key to this.

Hope this is of some help

Thom


Thom, my challenge was to make a space for the wifes beauty case, it is soooo big. :):)

I am dead now!!!:lol: :lol:

Aussie Paul. :)