Why gyros are not as popular as they could be.

[GyroRon]

Paul K. There is many times more people flying fixed wing with no Registrations and as well as limited or no training. If you ask around you might be amazed at how many people - folks you probably look up to - are flying free of all goverment ties...

[GyroRon]

Duncan, so tell me is Ducan your first name or last? I am not picking on you, it is just a rule here to have you full real name somewhere in your posts or profile.

Ron Of the Carolinas

[GyroRon]

And Duncan I am not suggesting you should not get into gyros or you should go sit in your closet and what not. I just think you will sing a different tune once you have had more stick time in a gyro. If not and you still think straight and level at a thousand feet like the rest of the spam cans do is more your cup of tea, then great more power to ya! But you would be missing out on why we fly gyros.

[GyroRon]

Paul Plack..... I believe that gyros will never be generally accepted by the general aviation - and public at large - crowd Ever.

I also say it doesn't matter how we fly our gyros, or if were self trained and flying with no registration or other paperwork. All the gripes we hear I believe all take second place to the biggest problem with gyros and their perception by other non gyro peoples. The problem is nearly no one but gyro pilots themselves - and even not all of them too - Doesn't understand how or why a gyro can fly. IOWs they don't understand autorotation, they don't understand how it can fly without a collective like a helicopter, They simply look at it and think it must be magic that makes this thing fly.

All the other " problems " such as self training, accidents, wacky flying and so on makes a big impact on people too. But if they understand the science behind how a gyro operates - and especially if they get a chance to fly in one too - then IMHO they can see all the other negatives are not gyros in general but the pilot of that particular gyro him or her self.

An example - and yes a weird one but one none the less - Take the guys who fly Rocket packs. I think these guys are CRAZY! and why? cause I don't understand them totally and don't know really how they fly other than they use a joystick to make it go and make lot's of noise. The fact that the Rocket pack pilots fly around all crazy like and aren't on the radio - and the fact that I have never seen a place offering training in a two place rocket pack so these guys are all self trained.... Well none of that makes a difference to me. I think they are plain crazy for flying them period.

If you want to make things good at the airports you fly out of... Number one don't cut off people in the pattern. Number two use a muffler. Number three use the radio. Number four do your hot doggingout of the way so as not to interfer with the normal flow of traffic. Number five educate everyone you come into contact with at your airport on how a gyros flys, I think this is the most important one.

[pwendell]

Originally Posted by rtfm

Hi guys,


Finally, Stan, I've been trying to resist the temptation to answer your last post, but can't. If I were to believe that flying was supposed in any way to be a risk-taking business, I'd give up tomorrow. Flying has it's dangers, sure, but no more so that driving a car on a public road. In fact, it's way safer. But the air is NO PLACE for risk taking, even though you seem to be implying that risk-taking in the air is somehow 'better' than the conservative approach.

Regards,
Duncan

Duncan,

I'm affraid you are mistaken. GA flying in the US is almost exactly as dangerous as riding a motorcycle on the public roads when comparing the # who die each year to the # who fly/ride. GA flying is NOT SAFE. The risks can be controlled, to a point, but don't kid yourself that it can't kill you in a heart beat no matter how good or careful you are.

Go out, Fly, become the best pilot you can and have fun. Be happy knowing that if flying does kill you, you'll die doing something that you really enjoy. It sure beats a car crash during rush hour.

[pwendell]

Originally Posted by GyroRon

If your scared to do these things don't bitch when someone else who has a bigger set of balls does it.

Ron,

Mine are little and I'm damn proud of it But then of course, I don't fly with my balls (OUCH!), I prefer using the bigger round thing on top of my neck

[Chuck Irby]

You guys are too much!

[Screw]

Screw-In

Wow! Did I miss alot. There were some very interesting points made. The title of this thread is perception. Given the definition of reality is each persons own perspective, who can argue how people view gyros. How does the "Adverage Joe" view gyros?:

1. Look like flying chairs (Some exceptions of course). Basically look unsafe to the public.

2. People have been hurt and killed in them. The NTSB reports most accidents having the same cause, therefore, all gyros must have the same flaw.

3. Not very many flying.

I guess to change public perception, you'd have to affect one or all of the three.

1. Change the apperance of gyros so they look safer to people. American Autogyro, Little Wing, and others are doing just that. As a matter fact, we pilots "Gyro pilot that is" have seen the grave yards fill up with RAF owners. They (RAF) hit the scene with a safer look and a very effective advertising campain. American Autogyro is doing a great job of cleaning up RAF's mess. The public doesn't have a clue.

2. Gyros are very stable, but people wouldn't know it from reading the NTSB reports. They alway pitch over or crash. This been recognized by the gyro community for some time and horizontal stabilizers has become the standard. Again the public doesn't have a clue. Also, fixed wing pilots who think they can fly anything, often times hurt or kill themself trying to fly gryos with no instruction. Again, the public blames the gyro and doesn't have a clue.

3. Because of these perceptions is probably the biggest reason why there are so few flying in GA.

Duncan & Blll, so many perseptions change after one flight is the reason most folks here say, "You got to fly one to know what were talking about."

Screw-Out

[Blll]

Now this is just too damn funny.....

This thread starts off with somebody complaining about the poor image of the gyro..and the plague of dangerous gyros...and that leads to no instructors...small markets....crappy economics.....etc etc...

Several other people make good post why gyro's are very poorly PERCIEVED....and I'd be surprised if you could make the statistics say that the average gyro or the average gyro pilot is actually SAFER than the fixed wing (or even ultralight fw) equivalents...

Then some guy notes that all the deaths, crashes, injuries, and "hot dogging" certainly arent helping things any....

Then, all of a sudden, here comes the guy who ADMITTED to "hot dogging" (and almost crashing) and the guy who crashed by ignoring (vs not knowing) accepted construction practices (not to mention rather dubious previous decisions that might have got him if the crimp didnt).....

I guess the guy who about got his arm ripped off didnt show up because his HMO hasnt bought him a handicapable computer yet..and hell, I wouldnt be surprised if a forum member here hasnt died in a gyro in the past few months and its obvious why he hasnt chimed in (unless this board has a weegee board macro I dont know about)....

Man, this is like writing a letter to editor complaining that the drug dealers, pimps, and crack whores are bringing down your property values and the next morning you lawn is swarming with drug dealers, pimps, and crack whores protesting and wondering what YOUR problem is....

too damn funny

Blll

[Whirlydog]

Bill Bill Bill, You may think it is funny, and trying to make it more...what I am not sure. The first couple of paragraphs you wrote were okay but the last few were uncalled for and not in the least bit funny.

Instead of damning people for jumping in here, why don't you enlighten us as to how we can change that perception. I DON'T THINK IT IS BY TELLING PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE MISTAKES, THAT THEY SHOULD BE HIDING IN SHAME AND NOT PARTICIPATING!!!!

Bill, Have you ever made any mistakes? Did you tell other about it, so they wouldn't make the same mistakes, or just shove it under the rug and hope no one ever found out?

NOT LAUGHING
Shawn

[Chuck Irby]

Bill,

I am still curious as to your family situation. Do you have a wife and children? If so, how are they?

Why do you read this forum, and why do you waste your time posting? Do you believe that anyone, especially after your last post, will ever take you seriously? Have you ever been to see a psychiatrist? It's doubtful, but possible that you might be able to get some help if you could find the right one.

Shawn is correct. Your's is no laughing matter.

[Screw]

Screw-In

According to Blll's analogy, am I to assume that to you Blll, the gyro community is nothing more than the drug dealers, pimps, crack hores of aviation?

You are a strange person Blll. I hope you are not a looking to become licensed pilot of anything other than perscribed medication.

Good point Shawn about Blll suggesting ways to change some of the perceptions. Athough, I'm not sure if his suggestions would be of any value. I would like to read some of Blll's thoughts about how to change the perceptions since he is, in fact, a member of the public and not a pilot. But he is kinda out there even for the public.

BTW Blll, Alot of members here fly both gyros and airplanes. Some even fly helicopters too. Can you say helicopters. You need help.

Screw-Out

[Screw]

Screw-In

I agree Chuck. I aint believing this dude.

Screw-out

[Chuck Irby]

His perception of himself must be quite high.

[Chuck Irby]

I wonder if maybe we should cast votes to get him banned from the website? On the other hand though, he has added a lot of humor.

Another thought is that there really isn't a "Bill" at all. Maybe it's really Todd with a second email address just trying us. If this is the case, what did I win by being the first to figure it out, Todd?