A quick story

[Rusty Russell]

Gyro story

After the crash of RCO.. The future looked bleak and the bank balance sick, but the need to fly was real.
I talked to anyone that knew anything on the subject regarding a replacment, and I narrowed my search down to two machines... either a MT03 or a dominator. My dream of having another side by side machine had evaporated with my bank balance.
One machine was in Tokoroa and One was in Tauranga. A friend Jack Maxwell offered to fly me down in his Alpi .. The flight started out under a overcast shy and it stayed that way .. getting progressivly lower the further south we went.
The Kaimai's were well covered and at Paeroa , the Waihi gap was clagged right down... probed a couple of valleys but It was obvious this dqy wasnt going to end in a gyro flight.. so we returned to Whangarei... rarely getting higher than 1000 ft. Thanks anyway Jack.. a nice try..
The next week, Steven Jefferies and I booked TTX Texan and tried again, still a bit hazy but ok... got a little wet in the west coast transit lane past Ak then it fined up as we hung a left and made a B line for Tokoroa. Steven is a real pro on the radio and got us transit thru Hamilton airspace.. seemed simple .
Tokoroa has a lovely seal and grass strip... landed and met Brett Oswald,, who was to give me a fine demo flight in the dominator.A nice machine .. a scary looker .. but boy could it go.. it climbed and turned on a dime..agile and felt safe. Thanks Brett for that.. Very impressed... Met another RAF owner and swapped a few stories.. nice folks.
Back in TTX and over some more tiger country to Tauranga, where once again Steven had us in over the race course... hospital... and were on the deck in no time..This radio chat with the control tower is getting less scary all the time. I met up with Tony Unwin from Gyrate NZ and he took me for an extended familiarization flight in the Eagle ( MT03) with me in the drivers seat. Despite a 20 kt cross wind! We held at Bravo 3... pre-rotated.. got clearance to take off.. I was expecting a slow roll out onto the runway.. you know... sit on the centre line . but no.... We went to full power... shot across the runway and had 50 feet under us by the time we reached the other side of the runway! Impressed I was... The stiff wind helped get us off the deck in about 70 meters!
I flew her around the mount and up over Matakana .. every now and then Tony would take the controls and show me some tricks... like riding the currents on the side of the Mt,, split arsed turns and flying at 0 airspeed.... Some emergency landing practices etc had me sold.. This machine was just a delight to fly.. effortless and quick. I wish I had the skills to have got RCO to fly like that..bloody isolation!
While I was out playing.. Steven visited the tower and got us permission to fly out over the Rena... So after bidding tony Adieu, we did just that.. had to stay at 2500 ft. but we got a couple of good photos, and got an idea of the magnitude of the job of getting those containers off, a mammoth task for sure... the wheelhouse had completely gone but the two forward sections were still well visible. I hope they leave the hulks there as dive attractions etc.
Back into the CZ... Thanked the tower boys.. and off home again... high over the Coromandle hills... and they are impressive.. An uneventful trip home to Dargaville where they had a fly in by the home build boys and a flit arould the north, so after a quick debrief with Muzz, it was home for a welcome wine and a sleep!
Decision time.. Ive never been one to piss about. It all came down to $$$$ and listening to my gut, both machines flew well, but the MT03 , being new new, had the ""spanner free"" appeal.
So after a chat with my very supportive and encouraging wife, I settled on the MT03. After a lifetime of saving and scrimping.. it was difficult to reverse that mentality and "spend""!!!

The following Wednesday I had the $ and I was off the Tauranga by Air NZ! Arrived at 11 and I was in the air in the eagle by 1130! I told Tony about my earlier sad experiences or landing on tarmac.. so he made it his business to rid me of those fears.. so for the next wo days we flew alot, with a healthy 19 kt cross wind... Around and around...approaching at 45 degrees to the runway... coming in fast 60 .70 mph and steep... flaring at about six feet.... straightening... holding the stick slightly into the wind and keeping her stright with the opposite rudder.
During the touch and goes, Tony would kill the power and Id have to put her down again.. sometimes at 50 and sometimes from 200ft.. I did enjoy those..A couple of times the power was pulled and Id have to pull some quick manoeuvres to get down on some grassy areas on the side.... that was scary but fun.. then more circuits etc.. with the ever present cross wind and the unforgiving tarmac present. At night I stayed with my sisters family, they have travelled extensively and so my head was cleared of flying thoughts and heard tales of crossing Canada .. to Bryce Canyon and Yellow Stone National park.... and such colourful autumn photos .
Its so nice listening to people who are passionate and have taken the time to learn the history and have the oratory skills to re-tell the events in a totally entertaining way!
Friday was the "return to Whangarei day"" 350 miles away… so suitably dressed , fuelled and preped we headed for matamata .. over the Kaimais,,, a wicked waterfall.... seeing the Waikato /Hauraki plains unfold as you clear the ranges was spectacular.. at matamata Tony got out while a flew a few more circuits.. empty the bladders, then off north to North Shore aerodrome. . Tony got out.. he had a friend in a tecknam come and pick him up.. said our good by's. and then I was alone.. in my own aircraft.. wow... lined up on 03 thinking to myself..keep calm... go thru the procedures ... ok.. lets do it.. Make the call,, pre-rotate to 100.. start the roll out... bring the rotors up nice and slow, 200.balancing on the mains..... go to full power.
.Without the additional weight of Tony in the back and a half tank of gas gone, she leapt into the air.. caught me off guard a bit.. trimmed quick... get her in balance.. climbed out and pointed the sharp bit north for home. Once at 2500ft.. I saw clouds on the horizon.. and the closer I got the more fearful I became. At Waipu I got the AWIB from WHg.. low cloud and rain... viz 1000. Crap! I listened to the familiar radio calls from TTX flying in clear skys at Dargaville, and I Was in ****e!

****e... I was under the cloud at 600 ft at Portland. called right base... couldn’t see the airport.... now what.... back to Leo Johns place? I pulled the nose up and slowed to 30..waited a minute... just then the cloud parted enough for me to see the piano keys at 06..and a windsock!.. That was enough for me... dropped the nose and shot on in....fleeting thoughts of my last landing here ignored.. ... then executed my best ever landings, and only Josh, the Baggage handler / come refueler was there to welcome me. ( He was the first on the scene when I rolled RCO, got a tractor and helped me clean up the debris) . a good boy that one.
Bobby Foster appeared and let me in out of the rain... into Hanger 10.. which will be her home for now.
Being an open machine I Was a little cold but stayed dry...full helmets provide warm head and clear communication. 64 Ltr tank... 3.5 hr range 100 hP rotax. will provide years of peace. 90 hrs on the clock. 8.4 meter diameter rotors.. solo cruise at 90 mph.. and 15 l/hr... I do miss the side by side seating.. but beggers cant be choosers can they!
Saturday and Sunday I will have to ignore ZK-KIW as I promised the wife a weekend at her favourite place for our 40th anniversary.. .. the casino... turned out well as its forecasted to rain! so get brownee points,then I can fly guilt free when (or if)the sun ever comes out.
So... There you have it.. Im still in a bit of a daze... a whirlwind romance with another gyro...I know this relationship will be a long, happy and satisfying stress free one!
She is called ""Bala de Plata"" Spanish for Bullet of Silver! and when you see her.. you will know why.. So if you see me around...come have a look..talk rotors... or come for a ride !
Rusty

[Vance]

Thank you for sharing the fun Rusty.

I would love to see some pictures.

I wish you the best of luck on your gyroplane adventure.

Thank you, Vance

[Gyro_Kai]

That was fun to read. I understand your difficult decision, hope you have many happy flying hours.

Kai.

[Mike484]

Great to see you get up, dust off the dirt, and get back on the horse. Many would have given up after the loss you suffered.
I had a roll over too in my RAF and I'm in the process of rebuilding. Also building a KB3.
Good luck with your futire flying, I think you'll really enjoy the MTO3.

[Rusty Russell]

Sorry couldnt get the photos onto the page.. bit of a dinasoar.. but I have an album .. attached to my name.. somewhere on this site..
I know the story was very ameturish, but .. like you, I had just got back ... aand I was absolutely buzzing.. and jotted down a quick story while I was still under the influence... Last weekend was also another öne of those"flights"
..exhillerating in a sureal way... kind of a... how fortunate am I.... I wish others could see and feel what I am....
Hence the photos.. trying but failing to capture the moment.

Originally Posted by Vance

Thank you for sharing the fun Rusty.

I would love to see some pictures.

I wish you the best of luck on your gyroplane adventure.

Thank you, Vance

[Rusty Russell]

Jeez Sorry to hear of your rollova and damage to your beautiful machine...... You obviously came out of it ok...So no flying for a while... You are fortunate to have the ability to rebuild....I hope its not too much of a major, and you are back in the air soon.. Good luck with that!
I am still dissapointed with myself that I couldnt get my RAF to fly as I know others do.... I was getting close.... ran out of time hahaha
The MT03 is a great little machine... quick for X country but still agile enough for the adrenalin! and affordable .
All the best

Originally Posted by Mike484

Great to see you get up, dust off the dirt, and get back on the horse. Many would have given up after the loss you suffered.
I had a roll over too in my RAF and I'm in the process of rebuilding. Also building a KB3.
Good luck with your futire flying, I think you'll really enjoy the MTO3.

[Rusty Russell]

Thanks Kai
The descision to go with the MT03 suited my flying need.. you know... the ability to fly 300 miles somewhere for the day... the Dominator I dont believe is that kind of machine... More of a semi-local , with almost aerobatic ability.. as demonstrated by Grant Simpson...Probably say more about my age than anything
R

Originally Posted by Gyro_Kai

That was fun to read. I understand your difficult decision, hope you have many happy flying hours.

Kai.

[jeff b]

Congratulations on the purchase of the MT03 Rusty. I know you'll have a great time flying it. I just love flying my MTO Sport. The scenery you have in NZ is just fantastic!

Best Regards,
Jeff.

[Rusty Russell]

Thanks Jeff
I cant get enough! I was flyin in 3 degrees not long ago... Got a cold nose... but what a blast! Im looking forward to the summer.. daylight savings etc.. then I can get an hr or two after work!
I guess the cold isnt too much of a problem in New Castle!
Fly safe
Rusty

Originally Posted by jeff b

Congratulations on the purchase of the MT03 Rusty. I know you'll have a great time flying it. I just love flying my MTO Sport. The scenery you have in NZ is just fantastic!

Best Regards,
Jeff.

[Rusty Russell]

Jeff
I forgot to mention I now have sports rotors.. 8 meters ..I like them better than the 8.4Meter ones... more manouverable and less stickshake..
(either that or Im getting more skills and tolerant!!