Disappointing News About Pitcairn Autogiro

[Aviomania]

From EAA:

EAA has just been informed that due to an unfortunate incident, the Pitcairn PA-18 Autogiro will not be able to attend EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008 as announced earlier. Jack Tiffany, the lead restorer in the project in Ohio, called with news that during testing on Thursday, July 17, the rotor blades of the Autogiro were significantly damaged and will require a complete rebuild. Thankfully, no injuries or other aircraft damages were reported.

"Obviously, we're all disappointed that the Pitcairn will not be here this year," said H.G. Frautschy, EAA's Vintage Aircraft Association executive director. "This has been a multi-year effort on the part of Jack Tiffany and the crew at Leading Edge Restorations, and as Jack pointed out during his call this morning, each portion of the restoration and flight-testing has been a learning experience. We wish our friends in Ohio well and look forward to seeing the Pitcairn in the future."


http://www.airventure.org/2008/news/080717_pitcairn.html

 

[PW_Plack]

Was this not a high-time pilot, but with a recently added gyro rating?

 

[gyroplanes]

Remember, this is not a "direct control" autogiro. Many were tipped over and suffered blade damage. Rotor management must be tricky without a way to control it.

 

[C. Beaty]

The airfields of the 1930s were just that; leveled sod fields that permitted takeoffs and landings directly into the wind.

Pitch control of the fixed head Autogiros was still fairly effective at landing speeds but roll control wasn’t. That’s the intent of the upturned wingtips; a sideways drift lifted the upwind wing and hopefully, arrested the drift.

Poor roll/pitch control at low speed was the driving force behind Cierva’s development of the tilt head system.

The reason so few of the old winged Autogiros survived is that most were destroyed in ground loop accidents.

 

[gyroplanes]

Interesting quote

Interesting quote

The reason so few of the old winged Autogiros survived is that most were destroyed in ground loop accidents.

The teacher I replaced at the A&P school, many years ago, said that he worked on autogiros in the military. He was a fan of the concept but said they were not as easy to work on as airplanes. He thought they were the answer to safe flight and said they would probably still be around if they weren't taildraggers.

 

[baldeagle]

By the way, this was more of a rigging problem with the rotors than an operations one, and in fact damage was very minor, a few kinks in the rotor trailing edges, and a few broken ribs. We could've done some quicky repairs, but in the interest of caution stripped the fabric to check the rotor spars, which were fine, but we had to miss Oshkosh. The Pitcairn should be flying again in a short time.

 

[gyroplanes]

Thanks for the update, Don't take any of my comments personally. I have tremendous respect for you.

 

[Rick Whittridge]

Was this not a high-time pilot, but with a recently added gyro rating?

I want to set the story straight before anybody gets the wrong idea that Andrew had done something wrong, this is not the case! AS he said it had nothing to do with his flying skills as he did a great gob doing the test flights. The machine flew fine as set up the first time but misinformation was sent to the ground crew to make adjustments to the blades that was misunderstood by them that caused the slight damage to the blades. I must say this is a great bunch of guys going where not many have gone before & they will work thru this as a learning thing as can be expected. Andrew is a High Time pilot & does know his aircraft well! You will see more of this amazing machine soon I`m sure!

 

[baldeagle]

Thanks Rick, if it wasn't so frustrating it would be a fascinating excercise into rediscovering what they knew in 1932. There's a distinct lack of specific info available on the machine, but we're getting there- It will make a great story, and Jack and his crew have done something remarkable in the process.

 

[PW_Plack]

I want to set the story straight...

Guys, no need to get defensive. The Wright Brothers didn't do anything wrong, either. I was just observing that taking the controls of any aircraft which has been all but extinct for generations is likely to have its challenges, among which is no instructors who know the bird.

I'm not sure if significant time in a modern gyro with much higher RRPM would have helped or not.

 

[Resasi]

In other words literally re-inventing the wheel, or rather steeping into the shoes of those who went before. No tracks in the snow to follow...oh alright then since I've used almost all the cliches; virgin territory.

Hat's off to you all:yo: in bringing back for us all some of the history of our passion.