Aurora...and the new Vice President

www.thebutterflyllc.com

www.thebutterflyllc.com

AhhHem! Funny though some of you may be, the basis of this thread Gents was to introduce Valorie and the Production Aurora Gyroplane.

Whilst I appreciate the picture of the oak tree, I'm sure you'all could start your bikini poster thread else where.

:focus:

Here are some more pics of the Aurora with TheButterlyllc's New Vice President.

http://www.thebutterflyllc.com/owners/vw/vw.htm
 
What a bunch of PIGS!

OK, Thanks for getting back on track..
Tell us more about the Aurora, specs, eng, weight, etc.

To me it looks very large and heavy, I may be mistaken,
 
It does look heavy and long, maybe room for a two place?
Does the length help prevent PPO because of a longer fulcrum having the HS extended like that?
Am I learning anything? This question is as much to test what I think I have learned here, so far.
 
Greg. do you know if they will have this Gyro at Mentone?

after looking at the pics close up from the Photo page you listed the link for.
it really has several area's of intrest that I would like to see first hand.

that is a nice machine for sure.

how much fuel does the extended tanks hold? and also I would like more info on that gearbox powered prerotor.

I would like to have a prerotor of that style for my Falcon. not to mention those extended tanks would be nice also.

one of my goals is to make my Falcon a true cross country machine.
 
I believe our colleague Ramon here in Panama recently visited with Larry and saw the Aurora first hand. I dont know if he flew it or not. Ill ask him to report his impressions.

Fiveboy
 
Those high center of gravity models will kill you. But you will die with a smile on your face.
 
My honeypie!
 

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Some more information

Some more information

I believe that Aurora is the one Larry built for Mike Brownlee and it will be getting delivered to Utah later this month. My understanding is that Larry is still testing different prop combinations for thrust (I think the best thrust he has got off it yet was 480 lbs of static thrust) and making sure it is tuned to perfection before he delivers it. So final performance numbers are a bit premature, but there should be more information coming soon.

It is a pretty long Gyro compared to most typical Gyros, but that does result in an extremely powerful HS and a very stable machine. The Freedom Extender tanks hold 5 gallons each so they extend the fuel from 7 1/2 gallons to 17 1/2 gallons. At 4 gph that's over 4 hrs range when you need it and you can leave them empty when you don't need the range. They are mounted very near the center of gravity of the machine so as the fuel burns off it doesn't change the center of gravity significantly. They are very aerodynamically shaped so as not to add a lot of extra drag.

Overall a very nice machine and with the Ratax 912S (100 HP) engine, even though it isn't a feather weight machine, it will have well over the required "1 HP for every 10 lbs of weight" guideline that it takes for a Gyro to have good performance. Even taking into account the loss of power he will have flying it at our higher altitudes, this should be a good performer. We'll let you know how it aqctually performs at high altitude in about a month.

Gyro Doug
 
Great Doug, I know it will happen with you in charge of sharing.

It's looks very promising.
 
My Darling Baby Daughter.

My Darling Baby Daughter.

Larry is at Oshkosh doing Power Point Presentation on the Super Sky Cycle.

I have requested a full spec sheet on Aurora yesterday from Valorie. When Larry has time from what he is presently doing he will make it available. Someone will post it then no doubt.

There is a current press release which is found on the wwwthebutterflyllc.com in the Media Section notated 'NEW'. This will have to do for now.

To add to what Doug said. The seat tank I believe is upgradeable to the 10 gallon, so end result with Freedom Extenders is 20 gallons Total.

Price.... as I have previously advised go to the website and look at the price section. Use a Monarch as your base line and begin adding components and changing out engines for other options listed, this builds you a approximation of the cost of the Aurora.

No Scotty, not PIGS, just boys having fun.
Nice HoneyPie, here is my contrabution. John's smokin again. Congrats FiveBoy on the GrandDaughter.
Buying a welder...what do you recommend for the inexperienced...Mig or Tig?

Fly Safe

Mitch.
 

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Sorry Greg. Thanks for understanding.

We'll all be waiting for the details on what looks to be quite a machine.
 
Even if this gyro was longer (which I don't think it is), additional length does not improve stability. Yes, additional length adds to the gyro MOI, but that is a double-edge sward. It takes a higher moment to induce the same rotational acceleration, but it also takes a higher moment to stop it.

A longer airframe doesn't mean a farther back stab. The location of the stab is limited by the height of the rotor head - since the stab needs to clear the rotor in it's further aft and most back-teetered position.

Udi
 
Thank you Udi!!!!
Have I mentioned,
I love this site!
 
Spec sheet.

Spec sheet.

Here you go Fellas.

Mitch.
 

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Thank you Greg!!!
 
WOW - what a great looking machine. It does appear much larger. Did you notice Franklin, TN address on the pics? Does that mean there will be a dealer in TN? I'm only excited since I am in Georgia.....Training anyone????
 
WOW - what a great looking machine. It does appear much larger. Did you notice Franklin, TN address on the pics? Does that mean there will be a dealer in TN? I'm only excited since I am in Georgia.....Training anyone????

Valerie (New Vice President of Butterfly LLC) lives and will work from TN. She does not have a Golden Butterfly yet to train in but I am sure they will eventually have one there. It's really starting to take off!!!!

Gyro Doug
 
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