BarnStormers Spring 2020

[ultracruiser41]

Had a great time and thanks for everyone that stopped by. Biggest crowd yet!
Ya’ll make it worth while! See ya in the fall! Fly safe!
And thanks to my BarnStormer brothers for helping out.

 

[ultracruiser41]

More....

 

[DavePA11]

Looks like a nice black AR-1 in the hanger too. Great photos!

 

[GK2]

 

[GK2]

 

[okikuma]

I'm guessing the engine on the Jet Gyro is a PBS TJ-100, the same one used on the Subsonex Microjet. If my memory serves me correct, I recall reading somewhere the TJ-100 on the Subsonex with a nominal 250 lb of thrust at 90% rpm (70% cruise power) experiences a fuel burn of around 145 lb/hr (aprox 22 gal/hr).

As a comparison if I also recall correctly, the Solar T62 as operated on a Helicycle burns in the neighborhood of 110 lb/hr (16.6 gal/hr). Turbine Helicycle owners, chime in and provide a more accurate fuel burn from your experiences.

Using the highest price of Jet-A I can find on Van Nuys Airport (KVNY) at $4.41/gal as of today, the operational fuel cost will be $97.02 and $74.97 per hour respectively. Local Automotive Diesel (#2) here in California is at an average price of $3.24. Quite honestly, I don't know if one can purchase in California bulk Kerosene as one can in other States within the Union, and I've seen Biodiesel prices vary substantively, so I really can't come up with a quick highest price figure for this discussion either. Never-the-less, in many other parts of our Nation, one can easily cut in half their operational fuel costs as compared to the high California fuel prices.

The operational fuel cost per hour would be less for a turbine Helicycle.

Still, I think in this one narrow example, the Jet Gyro still has merit as a turbine rotorcraft time builder. Even with the higher operational fuel cost, there would be a lower per hour maintenance and replacement parts cost with the Jet Gyro as compared to the Helicycle. It is also easier and safer to land in an emergency power off autorotation, a gyroplane as compared to a helicopter.

Wayne

 

[Steve_UK]

Cracking shot of the former RAF Bulldog N697BD

 

[ultracruiser41]

Well..... the actual burn on the JetGyro is around 48 gallons/hr. Thrust is around 315#.
It can carry a total of 43 gallons but it would never get off the ground. I burn kerosene and it can run diesel but Jet A is cheaper here.

I usually carry around 25 gallons.... flies crappy for 20 minutes.... then great for 10.... then ya gotta land. No real practical use but... never been done before! Turbines are so easy to install and operate but need to land at higher speeds to keep air going over the rudders. No torque on take off which is nice. Plus....it’s great for cooking hotdogs! I love the smell of kerosene burning.

 

[okikuma]

Well at 48 gal/hr, that sure throws out my theory unless one can design a practical 100 lb airframe, carry 48 gals of fuel and then fly "a whole lot of" 30 - 40 min flights for time building! LOL!

I still like the silly, impractical but fun factor.

Wayne

 

[GK2]

Yeah, sometimes in life the practical aspect of things can be dull and mundane, but the impractical cool stuff is way more fun, inventive and interesting. It’s neat that Barry takes the time to make the cool stuff most of us just think about

 

[vkmaynard]

 

[vkmaynard]

 

[vkmaynard]