StanFoster
Active Member
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2003
- Messages
- 17,139
- Location
- Paxton, Il
- Aircraft
- Helicycle N360SF
- Total Flight Time
- 1250
One of my main observations while flying rotorcraft is how most of the fixed wing pilots I have come across lack the understanding of how rotorcraft fly. I feel this misunderstanding leads to fear of such, and the tendency to stay away from out type of flying. This keeps our numbers down at barely above attrition rate....and thus our sport remains stagnant.
This misunderstanding leads to passed on phrases..."their dangerous" , "that Jesus bolt", "not for me", and many others that dont come to mind right now.
When I was flying my gyros...I was constantly commented to from fixed wingers about "Isnt it too windy to be flying?" "Isnt it too rough today?" and again many more such questions.
I was on a constant demonstration campaign for my pleasure and to demonstrate what these machines can do.
I have found that even giving rides, demonstrating how nice they fly on very windy days...how little thermals effect them, vertical descents...they arent going to go out of control...etc. etc.etc. ..............there still is a high threshold of misunderstanding that will keep almost all fixed wingers on their side of the aviation fence...fixed wing flying.
I talk them about aerodynamics of the rotor as they just arent comfortable with something they dont understand. So....this wall of misunderstanding has a threshold that we rotorwingers need to figure out how to lower..by getting the otherside more educated.
I cant think of a better way to educate than to demonstrate personally flying in conditions that would ground the fixed wingers.
I never will forget at a big EAA fly-in 2 years ago....it was so freakin windy that not one fixed winger flew in to the cookout that always had the runway loaded with aircraft. I called Mark Knight who had to fly 25 miles as I did to attend the fly-in. We flew in discovering that we were the only two there...and we entertained the grounded pilots. After we ate..I commented that I needed to fly home to get some fuel so I could fly back....kind of a wise crack excuse to go fly when noone else could. I flew home...came back later and we continued demonstating taking off....rising vertically in the high winds.....flying backwards and landing on our take off point. Even these demonstrations didnt seem to enfluence comment except we were crazy to fly in such winds.
So....I have tried and I am afraid I havent influenced very many fixed wing pilots over to our side. The only person I know of that I influenced is Clayton Smith who posts here on the forum. He had seen my gyro flying pics on a building forum...that I posted in their "off topic" section...like I post my stairways in our "off topic section. Anyway...I was pleased to have caused Clay to come clear to Bensen Days 2007 to see me and what this was all about. Clay is an active gyro enthusiast now and at least I achieved one victory over misunderstanding.
Its a very high threshold of misunderstanding to get someone to get over...but when they do and they look back....that wall suddenly is real low.
Stan
This misunderstanding leads to passed on phrases..."their dangerous" , "that Jesus bolt", "not for me", and many others that dont come to mind right now.
When I was flying my gyros...I was constantly commented to from fixed wingers about "Isnt it too windy to be flying?" "Isnt it too rough today?" and again many more such questions.
I was on a constant demonstration campaign for my pleasure and to demonstrate what these machines can do.
I have found that even giving rides, demonstrating how nice they fly on very windy days...how little thermals effect them, vertical descents...they arent going to go out of control...etc. etc.etc. ..............there still is a high threshold of misunderstanding that will keep almost all fixed wingers on their side of the aviation fence...fixed wing flying.
I talk them about aerodynamics of the rotor as they just arent comfortable with something they dont understand. So....this wall of misunderstanding has a threshold that we rotorwingers need to figure out how to lower..by getting the otherside more educated.
I cant think of a better way to educate than to demonstrate personally flying in conditions that would ground the fixed wingers.
I never will forget at a big EAA fly-in 2 years ago....it was so freakin windy that not one fixed winger flew in to the cookout that always had the runway loaded with aircraft. I called Mark Knight who had to fly 25 miles as I did to attend the fly-in. We flew in discovering that we were the only two there...and we entertained the grounded pilots. After we ate..I commented that I needed to fly home to get some fuel so I could fly back....kind of a wise crack excuse to go fly when noone else could. I flew home...came back later and we continued demonstating taking off....rising vertically in the high winds.....flying backwards and landing on our take off point. Even these demonstrations didnt seem to enfluence comment except we were crazy to fly in such winds.
So....I have tried and I am afraid I havent influenced very many fixed wing pilots over to our side. The only person I know of that I influenced is Clayton Smith who posts here on the forum. He had seen my gyro flying pics on a building forum...that I posted in their "off topic" section...like I post my stairways in our "off topic section. Anyway...I was pleased to have caused Clay to come clear to Bensen Days 2007 to see me and what this was all about. Clay is an active gyro enthusiast now and at least I achieved one victory over misunderstanding.
Its a very high threshold of misunderstanding to get someone to get over...but when they do and they look back....that wall suddenly is real low.
Stan
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