RAF cross country Gyroing in the rain.

[dragonflyerthom]

One of the things that has barely been touched on is flying a fiberglass cabin Lexan windshield, and Fiberglass rotors in the rain. I have been caught out in the rain once but it really was much and when we landed Ron my CFI got us into his hanger immediately. Now this evening I have been skimming thru youtube and came across this vid filmed entirely in the rain. I have flown VFR in my 172 on many occasions in Florida. Heck by the time you get to the airport the weather has gone by.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMSj9WOOD7U

According to the Photog he was the only one that got wet. What effect will a real down pour have on the rotor, cabin, and gyro Fiberglass in general. I know I haven't flown when it rains at all. However there have been several time when the base was 1500 ft agl so it would have been possible. This is for the experienced gyro pilots which I'm not one. Thanks for your input.

[Fl90]

Hi Thom. I've never flown glass rotors, and I've never flown a fiber prop without leading edge protection in the rain. The wood props I've flown in the rain had a urethane leading edge. The rotors I've flown in the rain were aluminum, both styles (riveted and bonded). None of the equipment suffered damage from the rain.

Now, the reason I specified the leading edge protection, is an event Pappy McNear relayed. He apparently flew a fiber prop, with no leading edge proection, in one of our Florida afternoon showers, and the airfoil was reshaped close to the point of being ineffective. A glass rotor only travels aproximaely 3/4 the tip speed of the prop. So, you'd have to find out if he was flying a glass rotor at the time and if it suffered as well. I think you talk to Stan from time to time, he may have heard the same event. Might be worth ringing him to get his take on it.

Phil.

[Timchick]

Helicopters fly in the rain all the time. Not sure what it would do to gyro fiberglass rotors.

[StanFoster]

Thom-I have limited experience in the rain. Coming back from Mentone this year I was in some for awhile. Nothing except my windshield was leaking. Its a good way to clean your bugs off. Stan

[Gary_in_Orygun]

Been there, done that. Fly in the rain that is. I have only flown through light showers. I do have aluminum blades now along with the warp drive prop. I have not noticed any ill effects. But I also flew through light showers with my original fiberglass blades. No problem that I recall there either. I just wouldn't do it all the time, or head through a down-pour.

Until I sealed my window real good, I did get a little moisture inside. That would lead to fog'ed up windows, but the RAF defroster took care of that.

I do have leading edge tape on my warp drive blades now. They are getting pitted just from normal wear and tear of the dust/gravel I encounter, which is more than the occasional rain shower.

Flying with showers in the area does provide a challenge. Usually I'm heading to Scappoose for our Chapter 73 PRA meeting. I have a number of airports around if I get into trouble with lowering visibility. Usually, the times I have flown with showers in the area, the ceiling has been over 3000 ft. It is just in the showers where the visibility gets low.

It is not something I seek out, but once in a while I do bump into a few showers. That is what happens living in the PNW and flying all year round.

[dragonflyerthom]

Thanks Gary

I bought a Fiberglass stock trough. It only lasted a year even tho it had a gel coat on it. This is why I 'm asking. I for one don't want to be flying and my rotors to come apart. Rain isn't something discussed on the forum so I am curious especially since there on youtube is a test of their gyro in rain.

[bones]

Tom,
If your rotors are worth flying on they will be right, last year i got caught in a storm and flew for 65 mins in rain heavy enough i could see no more than 100 yards(thank goodness for gps systems ayy) and they were Fibreglass blades and a WD prop, the rotor after 65 mins only had just a touch of marks it was like as if some run sand paper over the leading edge for about the end 3ft, the WD had stainless steel leading edge tape and no damage to it at all, and the only part of me that got wet was my cap, the rain was going over the top of me mostly.
So dont stress about it, the allu blades here in oz are about 3 times stronger than R22 blades, so there is no problem cutting trees and flying in the rain over here, a couple of years time from what i hear you all might see some good gear.

Hey Rob can i borrow one of your Xenon's while we are over there??

[Chopper Reid]

Just to back up Bone's story, I have flown in heavy rain with glass rotors and experienced no damage.
I did notice a drop of approx 20 revs in the rain but no effect on the handling of the gyro.

[barnstorm2]

I have heard some horror storys about wood props freying. So far no problems when mine got wet though.

.

[dragonflyerthom]

Thanks guys It seems we are safe flying fiberglass rotors. I have the leading edge protection on my WD prop blades. I do know I didn't worry about rain when FW flying. My prop was metal tho. I have been looking into a wooden prop. They seem to be light weight and very effective albeit not adjustable without sending them back to the factory. Does anyone else have any pix of flying in the rain in a gyro or have any stories. One thing that is really nice about the forum is the experience the Aussies have. They really work a gyro and put hundreds of hours on theirs. Thanks guys your input is priceless.

[LARRYEBOYER]

Tom. One consideration would be rain getting into the bearings.Could induce rust.

[dragonflyerthom]

Originally Posted by LARRYEBOYER

Tom. One consideration would be rain getting into the bearings.Could induce rust.

Larry

Now I'm going to be thinking about rust. Thanks , I am a worrier anyway.

[StanFoster]

Thom-I am concerned about your what excess worrying can do to you. Let me buy your RAF off"of you and let me worry about it. For five thousand bucks, your worrier are over! Stan

[dragonflyerthom]

Originally Posted by StanFoster

Thom-I am concerned about your what excess worrying can do to you. Let me buy your RAF off"of you and let me worry about it. For five thousand bucks, your worrier are over! Stan

Gosh

With these kind of friends a guy doesn't need any enemies. You are too much Stan.

[birdy]

Rain?? Wots That??
Id never fly init.