New Mexico Newbie

Bruce_H

Newbie
Joined
Jun 25, 2009
Messages
11
Location
Edgewood, NM
Aircraft
Kitfox
Total Flight Time
500
Hi. I currently fly a Kitfox (2 place lightweight high wing tail-dragger) that I built in 1990. I sometimes fly out of a 1400 foot strip in my back yard, 6880 MSL, and I have been looking for something that would get in and out of this short strip a little better. I got my rotary wing-helicopter rating a few years ago, and almost bought a Safari, till I found out I couldn’t get insurance for it. Now I am looking seriously for an enclosed, 2 place gyro kit. Next step: rotary-wing gyroplane rating. After the rating, then I get the aircraft. I plan to go to Mentone this year to get more familiar with what is currently available.

At Oshkosh 2006 I looked at an RAF 2000 and thought it was just what I wanted, but before I could get one they went out of business! What current gyros, available as experimental kits, are “about like it”?

As for insurance—can I get liability insurance for a 2 place gyro? In the “Welcome Mat” thread for "theschultz", (5-21-2009) there were two conflicting responses on insurance.

All In” said
But it [is] not that expensive and we have at least one maybe two underwriters that folks have used here.
Pilotescort” said
All practical gyros are "experimental" thus no insurance on the machine is available​
.
I believe (hope) the latter is not quite true—the “thus” part, anyway. Many underwriters, including Avemco and Falcon (the current “EAA Insurance” underwriter) insure experimental aircraft, so “experimental” does not automatically mean “uninsurable”. Having said that, I would like more info on insurance for gyros, and will search the forum for it.

I would also like comments and experiences from folks flying 2 place gyros from high altitude fields--I'll need something that will outperform my Kitfox up here, as far as takeoff and landings.
 
Welcome Bruce!

I have a close friend with a KitFox. Fun planes!

Yes, you can insure a gyro. I suggest Evolution insurance. Ask for Andrew Dodge.

.
 
You should be able to takeoff shorter with the Kitfox than in a gyro.... landing a gyro is shorter than any plane, but not the takeoff.
 
Welcome Bruce.

Like Ron said. It takes some room to get into the air up here, but I recently had an engine out and made a no roll landing painlessly in vegetation with sand clumps.

Plan on a bit more power and longer rotor than specified at sea-level, but will work.

The idea of converting your FW to a tractor gyro sounds good to me. Although you'll need more engine as the gyro has more drag to keep the rotor spinning.
 
Welcome Bruce,

There are some RAF's for sale on "Barnstormers.com"

And check out the new Sport Copter II, Magni M24 & Xenon, exciting stuff coming. :)

Mike
 
Thanks to all for your replies. I must admit, converting the Kitfox is an idea that hadn't even entered my head. I'll definitely ponder it. Wonder if I could make it a quick-change from FW to rotor--anybody ever heard of something like that? Recommendations on design info?

Thanks,

Bruce
 
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