Loren Jones
Gold Supporter
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2022
- Messages
- 568
- Location
- Minnesota
- Aircraft
- Own Cherokee 180; Built award-winning Gyro Technic GT-VX2 with 912iS; Looking for training gryo
- Total Flight Time
- 10,800+ (and still counting!)
Leigh has done a stellar job of documenting the genius and craftsmanship of Denis Shoemaker at Gyro Technic, but I just had to see it for myself. I'm fortunate in that I live only an hour away, so today I drove down to meet Denis for the first time and see first hand what all the fuss is about.
Set back in a lovely rural Minnesota setting, his shop looks very professional and is nicely laid out. Everything appears extremely well organized throughout.
Leigh did not exaggerate at all when describing the craftsmanship you see in everything Denis creates. Even the smallest spacer appears to have received the same attention to detail as the most complex sub assembly. He has great displays of some of his major assemblies like the various pre-rotators for different engine models. I'm sure many of you have seen them at aviation events.
Denis gave me a good look at his Razor Blades design and his production process. It's truly amazing. And the end result rivals or exceeds anything I've seen on rotors from some of the big names in the commercial helicopter world. What's even more impressive is the production machinery that he has designed and built himself to produce these amazing creations. They are worthy of an award on their own! Every aspect of them is focused on being able to produce consistently perfect products with repeatability, and then to document that quality for each and every individual blade. Truly amazing.
As Leigh has so well expressed, the gyro end product is a work of art. I even got to see and touch Leigh's baby....Blue. Simply gorgeous. I'm praying Leigh is able to return soon to enjoy this work of art.
Of course I had to check the fit on Denis' VX1:
Fit was perfect even for a chubby old aviator!
So now there are so many decisions to be made: VX1 or VX2? Which engine? Which avionics? When to schedule an assisted build? How to explain this to my wife?
But while working through all those items, I did want to join the builder ranks (trying to keep up with BarryK), so I did bring a kit home with me:
Perhaps a small aptitude test for the final build? I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks, Denis, for your hospitality and patience answering my questions. I'm looking forward to working with you soon.
Loren
Set back in a lovely rural Minnesota setting, his shop looks very professional and is nicely laid out. Everything appears extremely well organized throughout.
Leigh did not exaggerate at all when describing the craftsmanship you see in everything Denis creates. Even the smallest spacer appears to have received the same attention to detail as the most complex sub assembly. He has great displays of some of his major assemblies like the various pre-rotators for different engine models. I'm sure many of you have seen them at aviation events.
Denis gave me a good look at his Razor Blades design and his production process. It's truly amazing. And the end result rivals or exceeds anything I've seen on rotors from some of the big names in the commercial helicopter world. What's even more impressive is the production machinery that he has designed and built himself to produce these amazing creations. They are worthy of an award on their own! Every aspect of them is focused on being able to produce consistently perfect products with repeatability, and then to document that quality for each and every individual blade. Truly amazing.
As Leigh has so well expressed, the gyro end product is a work of art. I even got to see and touch Leigh's baby....Blue. Simply gorgeous. I'm praying Leigh is able to return soon to enjoy this work of art.
Of course I had to check the fit on Denis' VX1:
Fit was perfect even for a chubby old aviator!
So now there are so many decisions to be made: VX1 or VX2? Which engine? Which avionics? When to schedule an assisted build? How to explain this to my wife?
But while working through all those items, I did want to join the builder ranks (trying to keep up with BarryK), so I did bring a kit home with me:
Perhaps a small aptitude test for the final build? I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks, Denis, for your hospitality and patience answering my questions. I'm looking forward to working with you soon.
Loren
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