Most Popular/safest Single seat Homebuilt

[drleon]

What's the general opinions about the most popular single seat homebuilt.
There are quite a few single seat plans built gyro's
I would like to which one are the most flown with least accidents
Regards
Leon

[MrGrey]

Slightly loaded question.. yet I would have to believe the Dominator is the most popular gyroplane at the present time and likely the best safety record outside of pilot error... Hard to say though as there are a few other execellent kit manufacturers that are putting out some good numbers too. Used to be hands down the Bensen, then Air Command, now Dominator?...

[Flyguy450]

I'm new to Gyro's but the things I'v learned is
1.center line thrust
2.large and well placed tail feathers
3.pitch satbility
4.LOTS of training / &play it safe
Those are IMO what make a good gyro!
As they say ALL take offs are optional & ALL landings are manatory.So choose well when to fly!

[BUD ONEAL]

Originally Posted by Flyguy450

I'm new to Gyro's but the things I'v learned is
1.center line thrust
2.large and well placed tail feathers
3.pitch satbility
4.LOTS of training / &play it safe
Those are IMO what make a good gyro!
As they say ALL take offs are optional & ALL landings are manatory.So choose well when to fly!

Well answered, The dom is the one!

[BEN S]

I seriously doubt the dominator has less serious accidents than the Sportcopter, by hours flown. I have no idea how many kits Ernie has sold that have been built and flown, but I once asked Jim Vanek about his accident record and the numbers were incredibly low. Won't repeat what he said here, that's for him to say publicly but I can't see any other company with the same amount of kits out there being close.
But I sure do appreciate the way you Dom guys always bring up Ernie's machine as a stellar example of a safe design. I like to see pride of ownership.
On another note,I realize it's bad karma to bring it up but IF I had the safest track record in the genre, I'd sure as hell be promoting it in my sales lit.....whomever it may be....

[Master Roda]

Usually, accidents are from lack of training.
The machine has little to do with it.
The accidents that DO happen from the machine are serious design flaws or lack of good workmanship/hardware.

If you want statistics, check the FAA websites. You'll only get opinions here which we all know are as common as A holes.

[birdy]

What's the general opinions about the most popular single seat homebuilt.
The ferel, by a country mile.
Its treaded with contempt, works like a slave, has been bent more times that the owner would admit [ owners fault every time], but its never hurt the idiot.

[louww]

I'm all with you mate. The ferel (Rosco) indeed proven record and earned its place in no.1 Oz position. Sturdy as a mule, as tough as a brumby!

[Gyro_Kai]

I would throw the Aviomania Genesis into the rink.

Sturdy tri-angular frame, CTL, Pod with room for instruments, very easy to fly, as the torque compensation is perfect.

Kai.

[dabkb2]

Originally Posted by drleon

What's the general opinions about the most popular single seat homebuilt.
There are quite a few single seat plans built gyro's
I would like to which one are the most flown with least accidents
Regards
Leon

I would have to say the Bensen/Brock. As far as hours flown, even with the growing pains of learning(and there was alot) of what it takes to make a stable gyro, the hours flown compared to all others, has to rate right up there as the best. I know this is a bold statement. It is hard to argue that there are more hours flown in any other gyro than Bensen/Brock. I would also argue that most of the early, and recent accidents where more a lack of training and design deviations than design flaws.

Now I have to be realistic. I still believe that the Bensen/Brock has more hours flown than any other gyro, having said that it is not the most popular gyro being flown because of the outdated power plant.

It is kind of an openend question, but I would bet, if all the hours flown in gyros where added up, there are more accidents from design deviations and improper pilot training than actual design flaws.

Looking at the whole picture all of the current gyros are good. You have to pick which one fits your needs.

[Gyro28866]

Initially, I learned to fly with Ed Alderfer in his Air Command SxS (side by side), and then transitioned into his Air Command tandem. After flying with Ed, I trained with Joe Swanton in a Dominator SxS. All three machines had similarities and differences.
I have been flying a B7M BENSEN in part 103 for many years now. To me it is a joy to fly, very light and responsive. In all the hours flown, it has never scared me in reguards to stability. I have aquired a set of skills specific to the little bird.
The week of Mentone, this year, I acuired a Dominator II (tandem) and have started training myself to fly this machine. I have logged about 15 hours in it and taken two cross country flights. There has been a learning curve presented to me with learning to fly the Dominator.
I have been asked the question several times, "Which gyro is the easiest to fly?" My answer is something like, They are both easy to fly, but there are differences. I like some handling characteristics on the Bensen which I like better than the Dominator, and there are characteristics of the Dominator which I like over the Bensen.
All this being said, each machine will require a slightly different set of pilot skills to be flown safely.
So, the machine you choose will be determined by personal prefference;
and the ego which drives your wallet!

[Gyro28866]

Back to your initial question:
Do I want to fly behind a pod or do I want the wind in my face of an open airframe?
Either one is a good personal choice; and Ernie can help you with both.
Pod type - Dominator
Open air - Ultra White
here is the link to his website:
www.rotorflightdynamicsinc.com

[drleon]

i really want to biuld my own!
what's a ferel?
i have plans for bensen, hornet
we do not have ultralight rules here in South Africa
but it must be able to take punishment
the hornet is looking good, but how many are actually flying?

it seems the modified bensen/dropped keel has the longest track record and everyone knows exactly what's good and what's bad

what's the opinions re having cluster plates riveted, i see the RAF is riveted

[MrGrey]

Originally Posted by BEN S

I seriously doubt the dominator has less serious accidents than the Sportcopter, by hours flown. I have no idea how many kits Ernie has sold that have been built and flown, but I once asked Jim Vanek about his accident record and the numbers were incredibly low. Won't repeat what he said here, that's for him to say publicly but I can't see any other company with the same amount of kits out there being close.
But I sure do appreciate the way you Dom guys always bring up Ernie's machine as a stellar example of a safe design. I like to see pride of ownership.
On another note,I realize it's bad karma to bring it up but IF I had the safest track record in the genre, I'd sure as hell be promoting it in my sales lit.....whomever it may be....

To be fair Ben I never said Sportcopters have any less of a safety record... I would expect them to have a mirror image of the Dominator or CLT Air Commands. I was simply implying that the Dominator is likely the most popular machine available and its safety record is implied with those numbers because nobody would buy an unsafe machine.

IMHO though Sportcopters, Dominators, CLT Air Commands, and Butterflys stand equal in terms of safety and reliability because they all embody the characteristics of safe, modern designs...and any buyer could not go wrong with any of those choices.

[BEN S]

Matt,
Read and re-read my post, I wasn't trying to be sardonic or pithy, I actually DO like seeing pride of owernship in our given choices. I have a couple of friends who fly Doms.
Even in today's small world of global shipping, geography seems to still play a part....east coast/west coast choices.
I agree to continue the original thread, any of the current crop of stable, well built modern open frame gyros are far more likely to get smashed when the pilot screws up more than any design or manufactureing deficit would cause.