tractor day dreaming

[WHY]

Was trying to think what it will take to make the tractor a viable attractive variety of the gyro. The number one thing that I see holding the tractor style back ( other than the taildragger version) is the fact that it takes so much more work to build than the basic "Bensen style pusher"

So to me it means that some form of construction that lets the builder put things together faster is going to be necessary. The only way that I can see this being done is by "modular composite construction". This would be like taking the "Pitbull" to the next level, a total modular fuselage made on the "half shell" like the toy models are made where you just glue the 2 halves together. The half shells would have "attach hard points" molded into them for the mast, main gear, HS, and rudder. Then have a variety of different engine mount available to mount on the firewall. This would be about as close to "just add water and stir" as you could get. Unfortunately I realize how expensive it would be to make the permanent molds for this process.

Tony

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by WHY

Was trying to think what it will take to make the tractor a viable attractive variety of the gyro. The number one thing that I see holding the tractor style back ( other than the taildragger version) is the fact that it takes so much more work to build than the basic "Bensen style pusher"

So to me it means that some form of construction that lets the builder put things together faster is going to be necessary. The only way that I can see this being done is by "modular composite construction". This would be like taking the "Pitbull" to the next level, a total modular fuselage made on the "half shell" like the toy models are made where you just glue the 2 halves together. The half shells would have "attach hard points" molded into them for the mast, main gear, HS, and rudder. Then have a variety of different engine mount available to mount on the firewall. This would be about as close to "just add water and stir" as you could get. Unfortunately I realize how expensive it would be to make the permanent molds for this process.

Tony

Yo tony have you thought of foam with wood capped spars as a building structure for a fuselage? Some people cringe when the words foam and aircraft are in the same sentence. Aka sky pup. I love your thinking outside the box surely we can do better than a bunch of 2x2 aluminum tubes bolted together.

[WHY]

Yeah Red, I have thought of that and like a KR-2 is built and like a Volksplane is built. I think wood, foam, and glass are a great mix of the past and the future !!!

As for the 2 x 2 bolted together, well you can't beat the simplicity .

Tony

[StanFoster]

Tony- I can see stair stepped.....no pun....bulkheads with mortises around the perimeter of each .....holding longitudinal laminated spruce spars. That would be fun and light. Wood doesnt have a finite number of cycles like aluminum has. I would love to tackle building a fuselage, making all the jigs for alignment, then building a monoque structure. My problem is it wouldnt be for me as I want only one rotorcraft. Stan

[mercert]

Tony,

What you want to do is already being built in Spain. the Phenix (they left the "O" out) is an all composite tractor side by side with a 914 in it. Testing vidoes i have watched shows it to be a very stable and well flying aircraft. It will be some time before it is available here in the states though.

Tim

[WHY]

Hi Tim

Yes, I have followed the Phenix, it is a fantastic dream machine, but alas out of my class.

Was thinking more along the lines of a open cockpit 1930's variety at a cost that would not cause blindness

Tony

[Sita]

This guy came very close to the "simple" bolt together tractor and some "cosmetic" fuselage addings could do wonders.Another engine choice (Subaru boxer ?) might solve some of the problems he had with drag.One of the best attempts for a "simple"" tractor IMHO.

[WHY]

Yes a pod fuselage would have made a different machine out of it, everything behind the prop would have ceased to be an "airbrake"

Tony

[helipaddy]

The construction methods used on one of Robert Baslee's Airdrome airplanes would be nice on a Tractor gyroplane.

http://www.airdromeaeroplanes.com



Photo gallery:

http://www.airdromeaeroplanes.com/Ph...ery/index.html

[WHY]

Hi Padraic

Yes this type of construction would also work well, although it has many copies now flying I am a little uneasy about pop rivet construction thru one surface of a round tube.

Also if built from scratch, this would be fairly labor intensive as well. My present fuselage is made from aluminum angle and is "temporarily" pop riveted together only because I use pop rivets to "jig" things together. They are much easier to drill out if you make a mistake Also my present gyro fuselage has a seat tank in it and "header" tank in it. If I were to ever build another tractor I would learn enough about "center section wing" construction to be able to build a short center section type wing and put the fuel tanks in the center section and this would also make for a nice wide gear, but again this adds to labor intensive work, which is what works against the tractor for it's popularity.

Actually I think the simplest design out there that could be modified to give a good fuselage model for a gyro would be the basic fuselage of a KR-1, with modified main gear and the fuel in the center section stub wing and inverted twin tails.

Thanks for the picture of the fuselage, all ideas help to stimulate the thinking.

Tony

[mercert]

Tony,

Have you seen this one out of Russia? Looks to be an aluminum fixed wing converted to a gyro much like the KR-1 you mentioned.

Tim

[WHY]

yes, Tim I have seen that picture, quite impressed.

Tony

[Alan_Cheatham]

Originally Posted by mercert

Have you seen this one out of Russia? Looks to be an aluminum fixed wing converted to a gyro much like the KR-1 you mentioned.

I've read it was underpowered and I have seen another picture of it from the other side, they were apparently having stability problems with it and had patched on another vertical stabilizer to it.

.

[Redbaron]

The elusive tractor style gyro that is affordable and simple to build to the average man, I will do my best tony. There is no guarantees tho.

[WHY]

Hint,

Start with a piece of large diameter irrigation pipe

Tony