Air Command

[jeffnet]

Well after many years of going to do it I finally did. I bought a single seat Elite Air Command. I purchased it from a builder in NY. I was going to build one but could not pass up the price. It is new with only 6.5 hours on it. Selling due to health reasons. Now I must get flight lessons. Living in Ohio both Ed Alderfer and Bob Miller are not doing flight instruction at this time. I might have to go to Dallas Tx, unless I find someone closer, any suggestions from the forum. I pick up the gyro next week, if I figure out how to post pictures I will do that. Jeff

[joeheli]

Congradulation on you new aircommand !! That is a really good machine. Now the only thing you need is be a certify pilot and you will enjoy it. What configuration the machine has?

[Brian Jackson]

I noticed there is a gentleman listed in the PRA directory named Robert Miller whom is a gyro flight instructor in Wellsville, Ohio. Not sure how far that is from Lodi, but certainly closer than Texas!

Cheers,
Brian Jackson

[barnstorm2]

Jeff,
Congratulations!

I live in Cincinnati ohio. Where in Ohio are you?
I took the majority of my lessons from Gary Goldsberry in Indy.

[jeffnet]

Barnstormer 2, I live in Medina south of Cleveland.

[jeffnet]

RotoPix, I spoke with Bob Miller and he has decided to stop training at this time, also the Air Command is in the stock configuration, just a single seat. I am a licensed pilot, but I know that you just don't go and fly a gyro without instruction. Thanks,

[GyroRon]

Is it a tall machine or does the seat look low to the ground???

[jeffnet]

GyroRon, it is low to the ground, does not have the upgrade. Some people say to get the upgrade some say it is up to you. I haven't decided yet. Any suggestions?

[gyromike]

Jeff,

The CLT conversion for the Air Command is a definite improvement.

One of our chapter members has a 582 Air Command CLT, and it handles turbulence much better than the older models.

I have been flying it lately to get it trimmed out for him, and I've never felt that I needed to reduce power, or do anything at all, to handle the turbulence.

[Rando]

Unless you are an experienced gyro pilot, GET THE UPGRADE! The British have banned the original Air Command, only the upgraded ones are legal. Does that tell you anything?

[GyroRon]

I think it is a no brainer! Do the upgrade no matter how good of a pilot you are. With the upgrade your far less likely to get hurt, without it your much more likely to get hurt. There is not much good reason to leave it a lowrider, and the upgrade kit isn't that expensive. I say DO IT!!!

[Udi]

Is that the 503 Air Command that was on eBay for $10K+?

If it is, than you would also want to (actually have to) flip the engine right side up.

Udi

[jeffnet]

Udi, yes it is the Air Command that was on ebay for 10k. Didn't pay that much. Why would you want to flip the engine upright, I thought that is how you installed this particular engine on the gyro. Jeff

[GyroRon]

Jeff let me cut to the chase... Your gyro as is can be flown as is.

BUT....

Not adding the CLT kit to the gyro means that the gyro will still have a high trustline and under certain circumstances the gyro can do a PPO which is commonly refered to as a buntover. A buntover is a unrecoverable event period. It is fatal and it is a real danger. There have been a nearly countless number of people that have Bunted over in gyros and are now dead, some low time student pilots... Some self trained low time pilots... some high time gyro pilots.... Etc.... Etc... In other words it can easily happen to YOU too.

The CLT kit will also make the gyro simply easier to fly just by the fact that the thrust of the engine is not trying to push the nose down or up or do anything else funky. On a CLT gyro, the engines thrust just pushes the gyro forwards. A easier and more stable gyro that won't buntover is a much better gyro for any gyro pilot period.

As for the engine being upside down on your gyro. You have to understand that when your gyro was designed, the designer used what I would call backyard engineering and decided it was important to have the weight on the gyro as low to the ground as possible, which makes a little sence, since the gyro is also a land vehicle till it is airborne and a lower center of gravity makes for more stable handling - ON THE GROUND ONLY!!! - .......... So the designer made it where the engine is installed upside down to help lower the C.G.

A Rotax will run upside down just fine. But..... It was not designed to be run upside down and the engine will not get enough oil to the crankshaft and rod end bearings when ran upside down. It will also tend to foul plugs much easier since all the goo in the engine will settle in the bottom of the engine - which is now the sparkplugs when installed upside down! - And last it makes the engine much harder to start because of the goo in the plugs.

The fix for the gyro is to flip the engine rightside up like it was intended to be used, and to also install the CLT upgrade kit from Aircommand.

And I am sure I will piss off some people with this last comment, but it is only my humble opinion... For the money the upgrade kit costs from Aircommand - Verses your life, I would say anyone still flying or thinking about flying a low rider aircommand is not making the right choice. It is just not worth the risk!!! How can any pilot say to himself that he will not and can not get behind in the flying of a aircraft??? No one can, and if you get behind while flying a HTL gyro.. there is a good chance you will bite the big one and end up six feet under. I say the upgrade is like cheap life insurance, just like I feel the BRS parachute systems are for fixed wing ultralights.

[Dean_Dolph]

Jeff, I just checked your profile and then checked out a map of Ohio and it looks like you are not too far away from Navarre.

Navarre is shown to be the home of PRA Chapter 19 on the PRA home page. I believe it would be helpful if you contacted that chapter and had them provide some guidance. There is an email address on the PRA web site under 'Local Chapters'.

Everyone here was where you are at one time and the quickest way to get up to speed is to join a PRA Chapter. Joining the PRA would also be good!