Got the Helicycle home

[baronpilot]

Originally Posted by mast-bump

Yikes... this thread devolved quickly... thats.... dissappointing..

?

I dont think it devolved.

[timdrnec]

Lemme guess, is it because you don't believe in devolution...?

[All_In]

Originally Posted by BEN S

Baron,
If it wasn't the granola state it would be SOOOO overcrowded you wouldn't want to live there anyway!...
Ben S

Finally a positive aspect to their actions.
If their plan is to force all of the non-service companies and the Rich off shore it is working!!!
As they start to leave they have to raise taxes again to cover the loss of revenue from those they have forced out. That forces more to leave until you are bankrupt with only the middle class to now pay for everything and in CA the middle class has voted no 3 or 4 times to NOT raising THEIR taxes so we are bankrupt.

[baronpilot]

Well, it looks like good news. Doug says my engine is unharmed and he was able to put new o-rings in the fuel controller with no leaks. He has had the engine running and it runs fine.

He installed a second battery along with #2 wire going to the starter and a 3rd backup battery for the governor and the guages.

He is also removing the fuel solenoid shut off and is replacing it with a mechanical fuel shutoff valve. He then has to clean up some wiring where the previous owner used some incorrect capacitors to keep the instruments alive during engine start. They are not needed anyway with the dual batteries and backup.

He also installed the extended range fuel and inspected the whole machine. He said the build is very good and simple like he likes them.

Finally, he will be installing one of his dual tachs that has the proper markings for fuel and starter engagements. I am really looking forward to that improvement.

After changing all the fluids and setting the belt tension he will fly it and decide if it needs new elastomerics and if all goes well I will fly it home sometime around July 15th. Just have to get some time in a R22 between now and then. Should be a fun flight home.

[ylf]

So, you're the one tying up Doug's time when he should be here doing my checkout.

Sounds promising, let us know when you get it back, as always, we want pictures and videos.

Mike
5-12

[baronpilot]

Yea, I guess that would be me - sorry.

I will probably fly it home with my headset-mounted flight cam and make a you-tube video. Should be interesting.

[ylf]

I'm envious of your dual tach, I saw the one in Juan's ship out at Hap's meet and it's nice.

[baronpilot]

Yea, I never have flown a helicopter without a dual tach and Doug's is very nice. I like that it is properly marked for start sequence and flight envelope as well. The fact that it uses stepper motors and a pure digital signal will make it dead on accurate without need for adjustment. IMO, it should be considered standard in the machine for safety, but that is what is great about experimentals - do what you want.

They are $800 if you want one.

Doug will also be supplying me with a manual fuel governor sometime later this year. I believe (correct me if I am wrong) he has built 12 of them and they are flying with no problems. I believe this is the single best safety improvement that can be made. It takes a good powerplant and makes it great from a reliability standpoint.

[StanFoster]

Todd- Glad to hear you are about to experience a Helicycle. May you enjoy yours as much as I do. Cant wait to fly alongside you at Mentone. I have an enclosed hanger you can share with me at Rochester. I wouldnt dare pack mine inside the hanger with all the other rotorcraft packed in there. Stan

[baronpilot]

Stan, will take you up on that buddy You might want to reconsider flying next to me though. Other than flying an Enstrom last fall for a couple of hours I have not flown a helicopter for 9 years. Going to get some hours in a R22 this wekend to get me back up to speed. It will be very strange not twisting a throttle to keep RPM. Turbines sure make flying a lot easier.

Someone try to talk the guy into bringing the "hot pocket" turbine mini bike to the fly-in. I would love to have one of those. I wonder if he could be talked into building another one for me?

[StanFoster]

Todd- That guy is Chris Krug whom I am in contact with trying to get him to bring his turbine powered pocket rocket AND his 600 horsepower Turbine van to Mentone. He has been on national TV several times. He is trying to see if he can make it. I am contacting him again tomorrow. Todd- Rochester has JetA and is just 8 miles away. We all fly on a breakfast run to Rochester, and I fly back each evening, fuel up and stay at a nice motel. They let me fuel up anytimen write down the start and stop fuel amounts on their logsheet, then i settle up when i head back to Illinois on Sunday. Free hanger last year! Otherwise its only $3.50 a night anyway if it wasnt free. I flew a lot last Mentoine and plan on flying even more this year. Looking forward to flying with you. Believe me, if you can fly an R22, the Helicycle will be a piece of cake. Flying with a governor completely spoiled me during my R22 training. You are not going to believe how smooth and quiet that turbine is while flying. I am more excited about the Helicycle the more I fly mine. I am looking forward to hearing your reaction flying yours. You will love flying it from Wisconsin to Indiana. That machine loves to cruise at 100 plus. I still cant get over the difference my landing gear fairings have made. Now my aluminum just arrived today for my swashplate fairing. I may have it finished and painted by Mentone yet. Hey, I am now seriously considering buying a Dynavibe balancer. Would you still be interested in co-owning one? We could ship it back and forth for when one wants to check their balance. I want to get obsessive and see if I can get some very low IPS numbers! My rotor is very smooth, but anything can be improved. Stan

[baronpilot]

Stan,

Hopefully I can fly the 22. I couldn't hold the 44 in a 20 ft area, but it was the first time I ever held that silly T-bar. Completely different feel than my Brantly. I think I will be OK. I have a friend that flys for boatpix.com. He is a heli CFI and will make sure I am good to go before flying the HC.

I just sent Chris a PM. I did a little research and found that he is using the UK produced Wren turbine engine. I think that would be a fun little bike to take around to shows and ride around the neighborhood. I also saw the videos of his van. He is my type of guy - a genius that is a litle bit nuts

Oh yea, on the balancer I am probably in for that. I am a fanatic about making the rotor system smooth. Now, how do we all convince you to mass procuduce the landing gear fairings and Swashplate enclosure?

[StanFoster]

Todd- it just isnt economically feasible for me to make the landing gear fairings..............unless one wants to pay my for 40 hours at my stairshop hourly rate. If I was skilled in fiberglass, I could have been cranking them out and selling them. But, I chose aluminum and it is very time consuming getting the double curvature and angle of incidence dialed in. I have never been so satisfied with anything I have designed and made on my own as the landing gear fairings. ............However, the swashplate fairing I will be able to make. I ordered enough aluminum to make 2, and I already have the pattern made. I cant wait to see my Helicycle set a new topspeed record for itself hauling my butt. I cant see how it wont be faster after actually measuring the drag reduction at 100 mph on a pole above my truck cab. On another topic, i am glad you have that dual tach. I have decided I will go that way myself. I want to see yours first in person. Mentone.. I cant wait! Stan

[baronpilot]

Stan,

You should let someone skilled in fiberglass make molds from your aluminum models and then sell them. You initial cost would be pretty low and the finished product would be about $5 per fairing.

I think the dual tach is a wise choice just because it is so easy to interpret. When the needles spilt you know exactly what happened.

[StanFoster]

Todd- After studying what Doug has come up with.....and my year long quest trying to figure out a low rotor warning system....I just may cry Uncle and get one of his tachs myself. I just want to see yours and ask a few questions. I knew he was working on a tach, but didnt realize he was selling them now.

Arnie Madsen who posts here from Canada told me that if he lived nearby...we would have a mould made and be cranking these fairings out.

However.....I told him that my ineptness with fiberglass skills has me with one of the only Helicycles I know with landing gear fairings! I like that also! ha



Stan