Bandit Gyroplane

okikuma

Member
Joined
May 21, 2006
Messages
3,492
Location
Santa Clarita, CA
Here's a video I found on YouTube of an Ultra Light Bandit gyroplane being flown around Yolo County Airport in Northern California. This aircraft has well balanced rotor blades with the lack of cyclic shake in the video.

I remember sometime back a video of Joe Souza's own EA-81 powered Super Bandit gyroplane had a definite two pulse per revolution cyclic shake.

It might be an optical illusion, however it seems the pilot needs to hold some right cyclic to keep the gyro level. Notice the effectiveness of the drift string showing a left quartering crosswind.

I've been told and read here on the forum that Joe Souza Gyroplanes have been long out of business, however the website is still operating.

http://www.rotorcraft.com/bandit/index.htm

Wayne

720p - YouTube
 
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From a previous post, The video of the Ultra Light Bandit is owned by Georgi Rumiansev of Davis, CA. One can see in the following photos the pre-rotator is a manual recoil pull rope type similar to what is commonly used on a lawmower.

Wayne
 

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On video I was flying Sport Copter 7"x23' blades. Light and smooth. On Joe Souza video the camera crew came earlier for the shooting and because of their limited time Joe just put blades (Rotordyne ) on a gyro without any adjustment. Otherwise Rotordyne was light,very smooth and goooood price.
Georgi.
 
Hi Georgi,

I came across your video when I was discussing Bandit gyroplanes with a fixed wing pilot friend of mine. I'm curious about the manual recoil prerotator. Was that an early Souza design or some other manufacture?

Wayne
 
Hi,Wayne
The manual ,recoil prerotator called Gizmo I bought from StarBee Gyros (www.starbeegyros.com). I just made my own torque bar because Gizmo have different rotor head displacement. I forgot the name of the guy who originally designed Gizmo. So, it is not Joe Souza. Somehow they (Star bee gyros ) claim 125RRPM for up to 75lb rotor. Too optimistic for no wind condition. But I have 7' x 23" SportCopter blades and 50 RRPM is enough for them. But you can get more if you have strong hand. By the way I just today wanted to ask Doug Riley about Gizmo. So, look at my post to him.
Georgi.
 
Somewhere in my memory bank within my brain, I sort of recall reading about the manual recoil prerotator. I just couldn't remember where or from whom.

I was searching through some old photos, and I have a few of your Ultra Lite Bandit at El Mirage. I'm guessing the photos are about 10 years old.

How many hours you have flown your gyroplane since your build?

Are you going to make it to KBFFI this year with your Bandit?

Wayne
 

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Wayne ,it is my gyro at El Mirage on the pictures. I sent you PM.
Georgi.
 
I never got involved with the Gizmo recoil prerotator, nor have I ever tried one. Dana Linn of Starbee may now be making them, but they originated, IIR, with Jim Fields' Honeybee project.

People who fly Gyrobees and related Part 103 designs are always trying to find a prerotator that is stronger/safer than plain hand-starting, yet keeps the gyro's weight within legal limits. You have only a very few pounds to work with using a Rotax engine and the somewhat clunky Gyrobee frame design.

Bandit-style welded-tube construction has the POTENTIAL to save a few pounds of airframe weight if the tubing layout and sizing are very carefully selected by the numbers. The MZ engines are also a bit lighter than an equivalent Rotax, perhaps creating enough spare weight for a light engine-powered prerotator.

It might be time to re-invent the Bensen 1 hp engine-on-the-rotorhead prerotator. They were good for 125 RRPM or more. A human arm can't develop 1 hp, or even 1/10 hp.
 
Doug , do you have a picture of the Bensen 1 hp engine-on-the-rotorhead prerotator?
Thank you. Georgi.
 
I don't, but pictures of them have been posted here on the Forum in the past.

It used a 1 hp Ohlson and Rice 2-stroke engine, mounted on a plate that bolted to the torque bar. It had its own gas tank held about a pint. The engine was of the type used in gas-powered concrete finishers. It had a belt drive. There may have been a centrifugal clutch or some similar device to allow the rotor to free-wheel.

I couldn't afford one back when they were available, so I never got close enough to see all the details.
 
Thank you , Doug. Also, do you know if anyone tried to use a one time disposable (remotely ignited ) kind of "rockets" attached to some holders at the ends of the blades?
 
Bandit for sale

Bandit for sale

It is for sale in California
Teddy
 

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I know this thread is old, but this is a very interesting aircraft that I would like to learn more about. Does anybody know anything about this ac? I guess my interest would be a set of plans! This type of construction fits well with my skill set.
Any info would be appreciated
 
I know this thread is old, but this is a very interesting aircraft that I would like to learn more about. Does anybody know anything about this ac? I guess my interest would be a set of plans! This type of construction fits well with my skill set.
Any info would be appreciated
The Bandit is an extreme case of HTL (High Thrust Line). Though I cannot speak from experience, the large h-stab would have been absolutely required to somewhat counteract the effects of this. Note how low both the pilot's mass and that of the engine are with respect to the prop center. The gearbox is, by necessity, flipped up. Though they have been piloted successfully by skilled pilots, I would be too unnerved to consider taking one up not knowing if the HS would be effective enough in all cases.

I recently re-read the archives here over a period of some weeks, and just since the inception of this Forum there's been a considerable amount of technical advancement. Weight Distribution (CLT), adequate Training, and proper aerodynamics (HS) seem to be the three things most directly linked to survival rate. I would be tempted to seek out a different design that takes better advantage of engineering advancements.
 
Brian in this case looks are deceiving. The single place Bandit is probably one of the easiest Gyros for a newbie to fly. The Gyro was never built without a large horizontal stab. We equipped all of our Gyros with them when the status quo were telling us they weren’t necessary. Having flown many designs I can honestly say you would probably be very surprised by the single place.
Joe went on to build a two place Gyro. Because of the requirement by buyers for a center line thrust gyro, Joes two place was built using that concept. Having flown both, I thought the two place was a poor design. The stability enhancement wasn’t noticeable and the Pilot and Passenger lost the roll cage protection of the single place.
I’m currently bringing a Bandit back to flying condition. Mine will have a C-85 for power which differs from the original Bandit. This Gyro was built by Joe and Bob Aspegren. Bob went on to design and fly his own design.
Anyway, I hope this post sheds a new light on these Gyros. The single place is very safe and stable. The two place, not so much.
Also, Jim Vanek designed a hand crank prerotator that worked very well.
 
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