My MTO Sport experience

[choppergabor]

Hi guys, instead of highjacking the Calidus thread I rather just open a new one for the MTO here. Looking at the pictures today my daughter shut I can see why I couldn't see from the backseat. My instructor is about 4-5 inches taller than me!!! It also explains why my feet did not reach the pedals all the way....his seat was pushed back all the way too!
OK front seat experience was way batter than the back seat one! I still think the stick comes dangerously close to that precision tool I carry between my legs and if I am just a bit in a scoot position and not sitting all the way back upright.....well it does lay a nice punch right there!
The machine was absolutely easy to fly and land. Had a bit of challenge overriding my helicopter reflexes and tried to keep my feet off the pedals. I am apparently not dangerous as my CFI hardly had to adjust a couple of times when I went into my helicopter (leveling out) landing mode muscle memory....... I still don't like the 912 that much. It does fly once you are off the ground and the 12 KTS wind was helping on take offs and messing with me on landings alright! All in all I have learned a lot today and had a fantastic flight again. I am liking this machine. The backpressure on the stick feels right and I have not used the trim at all. Did not feel the need to..... Less than "elegant" (Thanks Vance for the phrase ) landings are well tolerated on the wide stance composite landing gears. I think all my landings were that particular category! Can't wait for the next flight sometime during the week. Ok now a few pics....thanks to my daughter

[Vance]

I feel it is money well spent.

I flew that gyroplane from the back seat at Bensen Days and did not do well without the yaw tab or the indicated air speed.

Thank you for sharing the fun.

I suspect you will quickly fall into a pattern of elegant landings.

Thank you, Vance

[RotorRambler]

Originally Posted by choppergabor

The machine was absolutely easy to fly and land. Had a bit of challenge overriding my helicopter reflexes and tried to keep my feet off the pedals. I am apparently not dangerous as my CFI hardly had to adjust a couple of times when I went into my helicopter (leveling out) landing mode muscle memory.......:

I think my instructor was ready to slap me on the head when I tried to "level the skids" for an autorotation touchdown.

[Gyro_Kai]

Hi Gabor,

good to hear from your training. I was always asked by my (also much taller) Instructor to use the trim exensively and make the stick "weightless" in every situation. Then you only need 2 fingers to fly all maneouvers.

Kai

[StanFoster]

Gabor- excellent! Those 1700 helicopter hours has to help. Way to go. Stan

[Penguin]

As a consequence of Gab's landings, the nuclear clock will be reset at midnight tonight ...

[Greg Mitchell]

Excellent Chopper.

Have a mate in Melbourne he trained with Mad Dog in a tandem, short stick, that constantly 2 per rev'd on his precision tool....

Cheers,

Mitch

[choppergabor]

Thank you all for the kind words . I have figured that a set of blades would pay for about 18 hours of training, a hospital bill could buy me 125 hours of training, lost wages about 15 hours and the rebuilding and changing parts on the Behemoth could buy me another 15 hours of training..... that's about 173 hours of training......hell I take whatever my CFI will suggest and takes him to sign off in my logbook! I am still getting a bargain deal I practice what I preach. (so I can b i t c h and not be a hypocrite). Anyways, I really appreciate the cheering on guys. I shall be finishing soon according to the CFI. I am sure my heli background has a lot to do with my quick progression. I particularly loved the forced landing. That went better than the normal approach Can't help it....king of autos hahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
More to come! We shall have a Calidus coming in and going to be built here. I could take pics and maybe post the progression and all when that happens. Maybe even an evaluation from a totally greenhorn for what its worth

[GaryMac]

Way to go, Gabor! I enjoy flying the MTO, but have never ridden in the back seat, so can't speak to that.

[Gyro_Kai]

Keep us posted.

Why would anyone fly a Calidus in Florida? I drove a convertible through the Keys last time and even then had the AC on full. It is going to be Sauna and Sunbed rolled into one in a Calidus

Kai.

[GyrOZprey]

Originally Posted by RotorRambler

I think my instructor was ready to slap me on the head when I tried to "level the skids" for an autorotation touchdown.

Same problem ....... but no excuse .... with no prior helo experience!!!

How to drive the most calm patient instructor somewhat crazy...... be very slow & dim on the uptake ... getting that angle & timing with the landing flair!!!

[Caribean_gyro]

In the twinstar also the stick comes all the way back. But is just for prerotation . When landing and flare it is not that far back. Suggestion fly with legs spread, it help cool down your worries,

ChuckP

[Irishpilot]

Maybe we can sell and market special 'gyroplane cup' to protect the precision tool! It is not too bad in the MTO but sometimes I forget to tell the backseaters in the Calidus to expect a close encounter with the stick on takeoff. What is more worrysome is when they ask me to pull the stick back again...and again...

;-)

Mike

[fara]

Originally Posted by Gyro_Kai

Keep us posted.

Why would anyone fly a Calidus in Florida? I drove a convertible through the Keys last time and even then had the AC on full. It is going to be Sauna and Sunbed rolled into one in a Calidus

Kai.

Because while you may be in a sauna ... you will look cool while doing it

[choppergabor]

Well weather has prevented me this week from flying Maybe I can get some airtime Saturday again...