Questions/Answers
 

I know that Chris (aka Dirty Dog) had a fatal accident last Friday,, but what I do not know is the conditions,, Lotts of speculations by those saying he was X amount of feet off the ground,, etc.etc. that is words from those that wasn't there..

Barry ?

Said to be the only one flying, near or flowing Cris, (Friday) the day before the Wrens even on Saturday.. Has Barry ever reported the actual altitude, conditions of flight that they were in when this happened..?????

Speculation or Maybe's.,,, PLEASE do not answer..

So I ask with All Respect to Chris as well as Paul Rogers that died a few weeks before. Pauls being just as questionable..However Paul had no eye witnesses from what I have been told.

God Rest both these Gentlemen and my true Condolences to both of they're family's

Steve

Thanks Steve.

With respect to Chris and his family.....it's taken me awhile to come to grips with all of this. The constant feeling of what else I could have done is overwhelming at times....but I feel that if I describe all that I know...maybe it can help someone else.

Chris was at Wrens when I pulled in around 3pm on Friday. We both assembled our gyros at the same time and he even helped me lift my rotors on to my machine. We talked about flying, the music that was playing and how much we looked forward to a beautiful weekend. Weather was sunny....winds were from the north...maybe 10 mph.

When I had finished assembling my gyro...a few people came up and started to talk to Chris about gyros....I felt a bit rude pushing my gyro away to do my pre-flight but when you get to a fly in...there are usually a lot of well wishers that are there to help you and talk....so before I fly....I always push the machine away into a nice quiet corner and do a thorough pre-flight.....twice. The reason is because you can get distracted easily and remember....trailering a gyro is much more demanding on the machine than flying....so....you have to be diligent to look at everything closely.

I later taxied out and flew the pattern for awhile checking out the machine to make sure everything was ok. Chris soon took off and flew around the pattern also before heading to the fields.

Those of you that have flown at Wrens know the fields that are just north of the airport....wide...open and smooth. I was about 1/4 to 1/2 mile behind Chris and informed him that I was following right behind him....he then called for a radio check.....I confirmed that he was loud and clear. I told him I was going to fly over the fields to see if anything had changed since I had not been to Wrens since 2010.

At that time, we were at about 500-600 feet and Chris began a gradual decending left hand turn to the field....something that we've all seen gyros do a thousand times. I knew that Chris had flown the fields at the last fly in at Wrens and was more familiar with the fields.

I watched him decend and turn but he just kept going when he hit. Because I had my helmet on and he made no radio contact...there was absolutely no noise so it took a few seconds to register what I just saw. The impact was hard and it immediately burst into flames. I know it was instantaneous.

I saw no parts come of his machine....no abrupt pitch changes...no words from Chris...no rotor strike...no bunt over...no PPO.

I had to go to Wrens again on Wednesday just to go to the site and spend some time there...alone. Chris and I spoke some...I said a few prayers and everything is better now. Chris was doing what he loved...his enthusiasm was infective and I know he's in a better place now. We will all grieve and miss him so....my prayers go out to his family and friends.

I know that someday...Chris and I will finish that flight together. Fly high my friend.

Thanks..
 

Barry for the candid and accurate reporting of what would have been an extremely distressing time for you. :(

Aussie Paul. :)

I just got back from an hour long flight, and was thinking of those two boys while I was enjoying the ride.

Is it a possibility he was having radio problems and was messing around with his radio and got distracted?

Thanks Barry, thanks Steve. An appropriate thread, an appropriate response. Was autopsy performed? If so, anyone have access to the report?

Hey Tim, after he called for a radio check....Chris replied..so I believe it was working ok.

for those that would know the direction of prop rotation and direction of rotor rotation, what would be the likely action of the gyro if there was absolutely no control input from the pilot ? It almost sounds like this was what happened from the eye witness view.

Tony

Depends on how his backtrim spring was placed for left-to-right axis, and how much backtension he dialed in for the cruise speed he was flying. You can dial in your gyro to fly hands-off neutral with the spring at any given speed, so adding throttle from that set point makes you gain altidude, and reducing it the gyro descends, in straight flight.

Gracious!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you mean.....muchas gracias ?

Sounds like the NTSB is using the witness on the ground's statement (about almost 90 degree bank) and the physical evidence to imply that he was about to hit the wires and made an abrupt evasive maneuver that caused the crash?

Chuck Said It!!
 

Over time the mistakes made by others is what we should be trying to absorb and attempt to learn from those that paid the ultimate price. Witnesses say what they saw, and we have to believe some part of that too, But we weren't there or in that seat,, Were WE?

I know that I have upset some people by wanting a more stern Safety Rule at the Fly-Ins. Chris died the day before the Wrens Fly-In

But when are we as Grown Adults figure out that men such as Dave Prater Chuck, Bud, Gary, Ernie and a few I haven't mentioned,, have been there to watch over us/ME and keep us from the Grim Reaper.

Im not even in they're league,, and I was lucky to have survived the first few years of being Bullett Proof,,(I thought)..
This is suppose to be "FUN", not hurt inside, not make Ya wanna PUKE because someone didn't make the turn..

Habits are hard to break, and mine is "Getting High" in The Black and the Sparrow Hawk,, attempting to keep Wanna Be, Gyro Pilots from having to be SELF Taught as I and many others before me.

Yes I make my living at it instructing, Not Part Time,, Yes,, Full Time,, , and its just enough to buy Gas, pay Hangar Rent and keep my gyro's Airworthy..The rest is from 30 years Hard Labor at Keebler,, and it sure as hell ain't much to work with after that.
I have,, Lost more than one relationship because I wouldn't Quit Flying,, And Dammm,, This sure makes me think a lot more in that direction. Of Quitting.. SOMEDAY !!

I guess I need to start hangin steal again, welding, fitting pipe.. or just make moonshine and sell it with the gas now day's.. (Naw),, Just Drink It!Whatever it is,, we all lose friends thru everything we do.. But I ask each and every one of to be safe and think about Chris and Paul,,

We will all see them again,, Hopefully, Not Rite Now.

Fly Safe Guy's ..........PLEEEEZE!! :boink:

Dont stop yet!!!!!
 

Steve,

As far as hangin iron, fittin and weldin, my buds got that covered. I do the final inspection. We need you to stay in your work area and concentrate on your job, getting us ready for our engine out manouvers, take offs, landings,slow flight,our solo, and fly off. There are plenty of ironworkers and pipe fitters to go around!!

I forgot one thing......we need to know about safety and good preflight habits!!!