Build thread on the GT-VX2 Explorer.

Any updates, Following and dreaming along with you.
Unfortunately none at this stage Tpknueven, we are simply having to wait on the DAR. His last requests following a preliminary inspection have all been complied with.

The last indication we had was that the new system in place has been difficult to cope with, and that he has a number of aircraft that he is dealing with.

With a limited airworthiness certificate we will then be able to move to phase 1 testing.

COVID restrictions are still in play, and winter is approaching. My intention will be some initial flight testing in Minnesota before getting the gyro down to Florida where more benign weather will hopefully allow finishing the phase 1.
 
How do you think it will fly compared to a Sportcopter M912? Looks lighter. The Rotax 912 is pretty loud when sitting right next to it, and struggled with that with various helmets. I never found a good solution. Did you make sure the regulator output is filtered and wired to eliminate noise that would interfere with radio?
 
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How do you think it will fly compared to a Sportcopter M912? Looks lighter. The Rotax 912 is pretty loud when sitting right next to it, and struggled with that with various helmets. I never found a good solution. Did you make sure the regulator output is filtered and wired to eliminate noise that would interfere with radio?
I have watched videos of the Sportcopter 912 and was impressed, but will never forget my earliest inspiration for this machine. Roy Davis and his custom built 912S single seat machine at my very first Bensen Days. The sight of his sustained climb out at about 45 degrees was in such contrast to my early efforts on my first 503 powered Bensen that couldn’t climb much higher than 500’ when I began training. That, and the things he could do with that little machine were truly inspirational.

The performance on the Bensen was so bad that we switched from the 503 and a 52’’ 3 blade Ivo, to a 532 and a 52’’ 4 blade Arplast. A huge improvement. I could not only make 800’ circuits, but then went to the practice area and took it up to 3500’ to see how high I could go.

It would have climbed higher but I was getting uncomfortable. This seemed slightly odd because I had sky dived regularly from 14,000’ and in the Learjet 24 our regular cruise altitudes were FL's 410, 430, and 450 (otherwise our range was severely compromised.) The problem on the Bensen was the higher I went the smaller the seat got, that, and the horizon picture was all wrong.

The horizon picture on an open frame gyro with a low pod at 30’ to 50’ is reassuringly high, but as you climb it shifts downwards and your horizontal reference increasingly disappears, this leaving one with an increasingly smaller reference, and on a hazy day even worse one. Not a good feeling.

I had been taught limited panel when doing my instrument rating, and had it demonstrated how long it takes to lose complete control of an aircraft when your visual references are reduced to almost nil. It can be within 30 secs.

And yes, I have heard the one about the gyro pilot with the 914 mustering gyro who was asked how high he normally cruised it XC. “Around 700’ max “ came the answer. “ Jeeze I would have thought much higher." says the guy asking. “Oh it will go higher.” responded the pilot. "I once had it up to 14,000’, but then had a real struggle to get the seat cushion out of my backside after I landed."

Haven’t sat next to the 912 running yet Dave so that’s an experience yet to come. We don’t yet know how the present exhaust set up will work, all a work in progress and a prototype, so we will have to suck that one and see. And thanks for the tip on the regulator, will look into that.
 
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I flew up to 5,000 feet in my Sportcopter M912 along east coast near sea level once, and that was high enough. I couldn’t imagine flying to 14,000’ in open single seat gyro... I live in Colorado now, and house is at 8,000 feet on side on a mountain so not uncommon to fly higher around the taller mountain peaks here.

Can’t wait to see your gyro fly!
 
Yup visited the mile high city, it was a lovely place. But that was in a 727 and a bit more poke.

Your Sportcopter must be fun, looks like a very sturdy machine.

Looks aren’t everything, but...can’t help thinking my Blue might look prettier.

Must admit I like the look of that windshield. Ours is still in gestation.
 
Unfortunately none at this stage Tpknueven, we are simply having to wait on the DAR. His last requests following a preliminary inspection have all been complied with.

The last indication we had was that the new system in place has been difficult to cope with, and that he has a number of aircraft that he is dealing with.

With a limited airworthiness certificate we will then be able to move to phase 1 testing.

COVID restrictions are still in play, and winter is approaching. My intention will be some initial flight testing in Minnesota before getting the gyro down to Florida where more benign weather will hopefully allow finishing the phase 1.


Thanks for the reply, looking forward to updates as they come
 
Bobby the application for the AWC is being done through the FAA Portal by our selected DAR.

He has been unused to portal, and has already commented upon the fact that it seems not to be intuitive, and he has been having problems with it, while dealing with the other aircraft that he is in the process of inspecting for their AW certificates.

We began with him back in February, however he has been having cancer treatment, along with some other health issues to deal with, so things haven’t been easy for him.

My son and I have done all the paperwork to reserve and then confirm the registration. This was done by completing all the various forms required and submitting the cheques by post. There were a couple of mistakes which had to be corrected and forms re-submitted but it went through OK.

The gyro has been inspected by the DAR, there were some issues that had to be rectified and those have been completed, so we are now waiting on him to give us where he wishes us to go now.
 
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Thanks for the info. Took part in a Webinar on the process and looks good but looks like some internal workings in the FAA are potential for slow downs. I processed a request to reserve an N number over a month ago. Supposed to be a 3 week process!

Will see how it goes next year when I try to get my AWC.

Bobby
 
Then on to mounting the fuel tanks. These are the small ones from the 582 just for checking control rod clearance, the 5 gall tanks with repositioned filling and common feed outlets on the way.

View attachment 1146393

The mounting bars, quite substantial
View attachment 1146394

GyroPaul came down to join us and help with the silver. He had brought with him a crock pot, and some pulled pork he had been doing overnight, buns, and a couple BBQ sauces for lunch. This was quietly heating and giving off the most delightful smell for a while until we could no longer stand it and broke for lunch. It was really really good, probably the best pulled pork I have had. Needless to say even though he had brought a large amount not much was left over. Then we pressed on.


There will be more structure going in to suport the fuel tanks
View attachment 1146395

Checking the control rods are clear. All were connected to the pump stick, then head was checked for full and free movement to all stops. The rods checked for complete clearance in the complete range of stick movement
View attachment 1146396

Checking a position for the oil reservoir, as per mounting instructions in the Rotax installation manual
with regard to the full level being between the prop hub and the oil port on the engine.

View attachment 1146397

With control rod sizes confirmed on the silver, then started on finishing the control rods for the Blue.
View attachment 1146398


Control rods going on.
View attachment 1146399



View attachment 1146400

All bolts into the cheek plates, for now.
View attachment 1146401

Another day done, time to do this log then bed.
Hi Leigh do you know the specs of the rod ends that Dennis has used for your build?

wolfy
 
Hi Leigh do you know the specs of the rod ends that Dennis has used for your build?

wolfy
Getting that for you.
 
Will be interesting any way Leigh, but after posting I ended up making my decision. I went with about as good as possible HXAM-4T with 10,500 pounds ultimate strength.

wolfy
 
That sounds as though it’ll do the job nicely and a bit more besides. :)

Just as well Denis sometime takes a while to respond. :rolleyes:

How much per item?
 
That’s the problem, all these little bits that are surprisingly expensive.

My turnbuckles on the cabling to the rudder were $30 bucks each.
 
It all adds up, originally I was anticipating just having one piece straight control rods and keeping everything simple.
But after its all said and done I needed a bend in my control rods to clear the engine, so naturally bell cranks are needed along with twice the rod ends. So 8 at $70 bucks was an unexpected extra:).

wolfy
 
Had exactly the same experience on our first Hornet. But by that time I had stopped counting the pennies. I never did total up how much it cost, Sometimes best not to know.

Just got this from Denis.
image004.png

He has now put in my new Kanardia standby ASI/ALT in case the EFIS goes tits- up. I love the layout and can’t wait to try it out.

The cockpit sweep for switches is from top right down then left.

I learned panel sweep when I became a 727 Flight engineer, a necessary step to right seat, then left seat. It helped when there were a lot of switches to deal with.

Those were the days. Young and dumb, full of ***, and the world was your oyster.

Bit different now, but hey get back up into the air, makes one feel young again.
 
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Yes I really like the presentation on the standby ASI in particular. Really easy to read.

Funnily enough on the Bensen all I had was an ASI and Alt and a slip string, didn’t really count the compass I had, so a reversion to this isn’t gong to be too much of a problem.

I think it was going from fancy Biz Jet cockpit with all the bells and whistles to bare bones and the seat of my pants that really took my instant fancy.

It was back to the minimalist gliding that I had done as a boy. The excitement of the first incredible winch tow and the amazing 45 degree or more climb out in an open cockpit T21 Sedburgh.

PXL_20201124_132946593.jpg



PXL_20201124_132957319.jpg
Ours is the smaller one on the left.

The factory customises the speed display to your particular machine, as you can well imagine. :)

And which took a bit of time to get back.

1606312655796.png
 
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Leigh:

When you submitted your documentation for AWC did you use the new FAA portal?

Bobby
Bobby, Stuart has now applied for the code to use the FAA portal, has made a password and now has access.

It was empty and showed that none of the various FAA forms we had completed and sent to our DAR as he had requested had been entered. He did mention that he had been experiencing problems with it earlier in the year.

I think we may have to search for our copies of the various forms we filled and sent to him, and fill in the required entries on the portal ourselves. There are of course sections that have to be filled in by him. He did an inspection the gyro at Mentone, did find a couple of issues with the lettering of the Registration and I believe labelling on the fuel tank which have since been rectified.

The only build log I have with all our pictures during the build are of course here on the forum, which as we have just found out will be closed shortly, so I will have to find a way to save that as I unfortunately lost one phone with a load of pictures on it of some of the build .

I am using an Apple computer and anyone who knows how I could save my build thread onto either that, or an external hard drive, please PM me and advise me on the best way to preserve it.

I have been having trouble contacting the DAR, who I know has not been well with some quite serious health issues. Just hope that he is OK and can finish our Airworthiness Cert or we may have to try and find another one.

I did see that you had offered to take over the Forum, a very kind gesture, and one I certainly hope Todd will consider. It would be a huge loss to the community that has profited so much from Todds hugely generous efforts for many years.
 
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