Mentone 2007, pictures and flight reports

GyroRon

Former Gyro know it all
Joined
Oct 29, 2003
Messages
16,888
Location
Fort Mill South Carolina
Aircraft
Vans RV4 / Dominator 582 Ultrawhite
Total Flight Time
ALOT
Well, back from Mentone..... It was a long drive there, longer drive back, not much sleep, lot's of body odors, over 15 hours went into the log book as PIC time in gyros, some drama, but mostly good times!

Drive up there took me 12+ hours, it was about 720 miles or so. Arrived Tuesday night and set up camp beside JazzenJohn. Then flew and hung out all week long, with maybe 4-5 hours sleep each night.

Got to shoot Nick Costa's potatoe gun twice.... man that thing was fricking cool!!! I want to build one now!

Got to fly several gyros there as well. Ron Herrons Littlewing, McBirdmans Little Wing, Chuters tractor gyro, Adam and Nicks Gyrobee, Matts gyrobee, Gene Webers " Bee Different " gyrobee, Scott Bizers Dominator, and probably something else I am forgetting...

The Little Wing flight was something I have looked forwards to for years! When I get time I need to write up a nice report on how it flew, but needless to say It was better than I expected. I could really see myself owning one someday. The radial was sweet too!

The " Bee Different " gyrobee was hands down the BEST flying gyrobee I have ever flown. It was bordering on being tied with a Dominator Ultrawhite for overall feel in flight. If you were to decide to build a gyrobee type gyro, well I would strongly suggest you copy that gyro nut for nut and bolt per bolt.... It was by far the best one I have flown - and I have flown many of them.


The drive back yesterday sucked. I was so tired, it was everything I could do not to fall asleep at the wheel. It rained half of the way home, hard at times, and I felt bad watching the gyro get soaked behind the car.

Speaking of cars, my Avalon towed the trailer up there no problems and returned me a nice even 20 miles per gallon there and back! Loved that!!!!

Got to hang out with friends, got to meet new friends and had a good time overall. The week flew by WAY too fast!

Anyway I only took about 50 or so pics. Here is the first couple.... Camp gyroron and my gyro all loaded up in the driveway - took this morning
 

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Going home, I am driving along watching " My Big Fat Greek Wedding " on the dvd player when I notice in the corner of my a Red truck running along side me.... I didn't pay it much mind because people do that all the time, slowing down alongside of me to check out the gyro..... Well I finally looked over and saw it was one of the Airboss guys from the fly-in, Rodney. He was pulling his gyro home too! Weird to see so many gyros at the event, but almost never do you see one going down the road as you go home.... We followed each other till for about 50 miles or so

Also, see who can guess whose bald head this is! It is a rare sight as he usually is seen with a hat on!:noidea:
 

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Dragonflyer Thom...... He is a pretty cool guy in person. Not as crazy neither! :smokin:


Chris S. - CLS447 - with Park Hoover ......I bet Chris was born with that smile! Great guy and always good times with him!

A Aircommand and a Lone Star helicopter on the way outta there, plus Mister No strings attached got his butt in the pic

Rusty Nances new space age camper thingy
 

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Ed Newbold and his new wife, with friends at the table

Mike Bantum and Charlene - check out what his shirt says -

Paul - aka, "Gyro" Aka Minigun man - went for a ride with me!

Aerial shot of the fly-in
 

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Air to air pics of Stan Foster Ditch chasing gyro!

Watching a rotorway takeoff from the grass at Rochester

Two awesome guys, wish they lived closer.... Matt and Nick
 

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Joe Swanton

Me and me gyro

Tim in flight and landing

Another aerial view of the show
 

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Took Connie - Barnstomers wife - up for a flight.... Dam she is cute, and looks like she is maybe 25-30 years old.... was shocked when she told me her age. Tim you scored bro! Good looking, fun to be around wife who LIKES TO FLY! :hail: :hail: :hail:

She seemed to like the ride. I enjoyed giving it.
 

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JazzenJohn, Adam, Matt

Gyros out on the flightline - yellow one is Ed Newbolds


3 gyrobees and a Twinstar


Jump takeoff gyro
 

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Cool looking Sportcopter with a HKS engine.... what was noteworthy about this gyro was the builders homemade carbon fiber engine mount, and baffles and many other various parts. The Carbon parts looked like factory made stuff.... very impressive

one more of Tim and Connie
 

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UFO gyroplane

Tom Milton on his motorbike


Lot's of gyros in the hangar!
 

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Larry Boyer and a friend - not sure of his name.. -

Bee Different gyrobee

Best looking gyro at the event.... I judged and had noted this one as my choice for Grand Champion 2 place, guess the 3 other judges didn't score it as high, but I KNOW this was the cleanest and nicest gyro there

Chris with Park and that smile again!


Chris, Park and Michael Guard - Chuter -
 

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Best looking gyro at the event.... I judged and had noted this one as my choice for Grand Champion 2 place, guess the 3 other judges didn't score it as high, but I KNOW this was the cleanest and nicest gyro there

Saw this gyro in person when I was training. I wanted it to win too, shame it didn't. Wayne, better luck next year.
 
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Looks like you had a great time!

Hey My Son's potato gun will blow a hole in 1/2" concrete backer board, It was a golf ball wrapped in duct tape not a potato, but still very impressive! You need to build one for your son.
 
Looks like you had a great time!

Hey My Son's potato gun will blow a hole in 1/2" concrete backer board, It was a golf ball wrapped in duct tape not a potato, but still very impressive! You need to build one for your son.

Hey, where's the plans for this potato gun? I'll give it a shot (no pun intended). :tape:

=Ed=
 
Ron,
Good photos. Let's hear a Little Wing flight report (on all the little wings you flew).
 
Great pics Ron. Thanks for the memories! I was real excited to hear that the bee different flew as good as it looked.
 
Built several good spud guns. I've fueled them with hairspray, propane and gas. Smells like french fries after awhile!
 
My dear, departed gyro buddy John Deagan, brought his state-of-the-art potato gun with on our Bensen Days trip many years ago. John's was fueled with a MAP gas feed line and valve.

Driving over the big bridge across Tampa Bay, John was firing spuds out the motorhome window and watching them splash down in the Bay.

I said it was cruel behavior as some aquatic denizen might develop a "taste" for potatoes, only to never have the chance to eat one again.

John also found out that he could dent billboards while rolling down the interstate.
 
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