Remote Controlled full-size gyrocopter

[Rotor Rooter]

Has anyone ever equipped a full-size gyrocopter with large servos on the flight and power controls and then flown it by remote control from the ground,or from another (2-seat) gyro?

Thanks

Dave

[MrGrey]

Might be too expensive and dangerous to try... but I guess that if you have pockets deep enough?

[Rotor Rooter]

Thanks for the reply and comments.

The objective is not to have a big toy but to to advance safety. The idea is that the R/C control equipment could be quickly installed in any gyrocopter for the purpose of testing. Then it would be removed

This 'equipment' might even include a ballistic parachute so that the craft can be saved if an unusual event should takes place.


I suppose that the second question is; Would it provide any relevant information, even if it included sensors and a recorder?

Dave

[gyromike]

One thing to consider would be that the controls would basically be locked in between control movements. You wouldn't be able to "float the stick" like you could in person, rendering the offset gimbal ineffective.

Might make for some interesting first flights depending on the machine.

[giro5]

If you have enough money of course. The military flys all kinds of rpv's. In the early '90 I ran the telemetry station at Roosevelt Rhodes in Puerto Rico and Navy would fly remote controlled real F4 Phantoms. We relayed camera video real time to the controller so he could land and take off the planes.

On a smaller scale if you have ever watched the "myth busters" tv show I think they are about 1 sucess for 3 tries at using rc stuff to remote control full size cars. And they are "professionals".

[CopterCenturian]

Giro 5 is very correct in what he is sharing. I was at Ft. Lewis where the Army first tested the concept of a large UAV. A lot of people may not know this but a longeze was used with a pilot. I got to chat with one of the test pilots one day. Mind you the radio controls and software were in development at the time. He said the hardest thing was trying to take back over because you never knew where the stick placement was from the time the controller lost control til the time the real pilot took over. Lucky we never lost anyone in all that testing.

I think to a certain point of research scaled models would be far safer, cheaper and easier to test and collect data. The UAV data came directly from data collected from scaled models. Baby steps is still the safest way to test new concepts.

Ken

[barnstorm2]

Originally Posted by giro5

If you have enough money of course. The military flys all kinds of rpv's. In the early '90 I ran the telemetry station at Roosevelt Rhodes in Puerto Rico and Navy would fly remote controlled real F4 Phantoms. We relayed camera video real time to the controller so he could land and take off the planes.

On a smaller scale if you have ever watched the "myth busters" tv show I think they are about 1 sucess for 3 tries at using rc stuff to remote control full size cars. And they are "professionals".

I just posted some early monoplane RC footage (Full size Air Corps Aircraft).

http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/sho...751#post206751

[karlbamforth]

This has been done for many years in UK with fixed wing aircraft.

Spitfires, seafires, were used and the Meteor drones were only retired around 18 months ago. The Meteors were real twin engined jet fighters that had both remote and real controls. They were used for training UAV pilots, the trainee could fly the Meteor remotely but the real pilot could overide when it got scary.

[Kandace]

I'm not so sure this is a good idea. As one who has re kitted a number of very expensive RC models due to radio failure. I cannot imagine the ramifications of an out of control 500# aircraft.

The AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) has a 55# weight limit on giant scale models for this very reason. (models that big or larger have been flown...but many special precautions are taken redundant radio equipment, pilots, etc.)

I'm also sure the FAA would have something to say as well.

Just my nickel. (Inflation)

Kandace

[M._Springer]

A few years ago a group of people brought a new full size two place side by side Air Command gyro out to the El Mirage dry lake. They planned to fly it by remote control. They had a panel across the seat and it seemed to be full of instruments. Needless to say the first attempt damaged the gyro. They took it away, repaired the damage, and put new blades on it and came back the next week to try again.

The next attempt ended with the same results. They went away and came back the next week with gyro repaired and looking much different. That same scene was played out all summer. The gyro resembled a gyro less and less as it was repaired and modified over the weeks .

One day after tearing the nose wheel off while trying to make a take off, the head man came to see me and told me of their latest problem. I told him that it sounded like whoever was trying to fly the gyro didn't know what he was doing...well, I had unknowingly insulted the man because he was the
' pilot', and he assured me that that he had had gyro flight instruction! He had gone to Florida and had two hours of instruction with Parsons. I couldn't convince him that a full flight training program might help him to know what he was doing so he went back to tear the machine up again and again .

On the final attempt to fly they destroyed the gyro completely. They finally managed to get the gyro into the air, flew it about 30 feet and tried to land it. It hit the ground hard and bounced about 20 feet into the air. At the top of the bounce the ' pilot' cut the engine and killed the gyro once and for all. When the gyro dropped in from 20 feet, the mast broke and from there on it was all over.

One of the local gyro pilots happened by as they were looking at the wreckage scattered about the lake bed and they invited him to view the video of the gyro's brief flight and final disaster. They had no idea why it had gone so wrong.

They picked up the pieces and didn't return . I never knew what their purpose was. The head man said it was all very secret.
I have photos of the wreckage.
Marion Springer
www.msgyro.com

[quadrirotor]

http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6157

[kc0iv]

Several years ago there was a guy, I believe in Oregon, that had a full size Cessna 182 that was radio controlled. In fact it was a float equipped plane.

There was a guy in the Kansas City area that had/has a full size Piper J3. I don't know if it is still around or not. I saw it fly several years ago and he didn't have any redundant backup. He flew and hangared it at a local airport. I do know it had to have a smaller engine. If I recall it couldn't be bigger than 15 hp and the "N" had to be removed.

I have scaled down a Gyrobee to 1/4 scale I am thinking of building. I might start some time next year when I have some free time and extra $$.

Leon
(kc0iv)

[Brent_Brown]

http://www.piasecki.com/pdfs/press%20release.pdf

[quadrirotor]

http://www.piasecki.com/pdfs/Air%20G...se%20Brief.pdf

http://www.piasecki.com/pdfs/PressRelease110906.pdf

[PTKay]

The spin-off of this military project will
certainly revolutionize the gyrocopter market.

As the spin-off of the UAV engine (Rotax 912-914)
revolutionized (and monopolized) the Light Aircraft market...

Let's hope for that.

An example of UAV military constructor turning
his eye on gyrocoptrers with great success is Raphael Celier
and his Xenon.