Article on Gyroplanes

mceagle

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2003
Messages
1,239
Location
Sunshine Coast, Qld, Australia
Aircraft
Eagle Rotorcraft
Total Flight Time
600 hrs
I thought some of you guys might be interested in an article recently published by a top light aviation magazine in Aus.



"The article on the Butterfly, was interesting, kind of an illuminated tunnel-vision of how the gyrocopterists have rediscovered the notion of a tail, while finally realising that their autorotating blade-array is so woefully inefficient, compared to the L/D of Fixed-wing aerodynes, that a little light motor on a lightweight stick will climb and fly lots better than fat and heavy fairings, attempting to streamline heavier motors of up to three times the power of whatever actually works best. Still, if you really want to hear those deep visceral throbbing "Whop Whop Whop" noises, as you dive on a low pass then pull up and away from the assembled onlookers, and you can't afford a real helicopter, then these things make the noises at roughly a tenth of the cost of a proper chopper. Just recall that in spite of all the waffle about unstallability and safety, the figures show out of the recorded engine-failure/ landings of gyrocopters, one time out of 200 plus, is the gyrocopter able to be used again without major rebuilding after the prang. Generally they flare too late or early. Either way, they, bounce into a position of rotor-decay while nose-high at low airspeed then they tend to finish inverted in a pile of expensive noises. Propeller manufacturers are always kept busy by gyrocopter fly-ins and just scan the advertisements to see how many are for sale without rotors and needing, a new prop. Now why might that be wonders?"
 
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