Desert Bee Flies

RockyMeLad

Curmudgeon-in-Training
Joined
May 27, 2004
Messages
1,175
Location
Las Cruces, NM
Aircraft
Desert Bee (Gyrobee)
Total Flight Time
320
IT FLYS ! :)

I fly, too. :)

Just not together... yet. :o

Just back from AZ with Charlie Mara. He was able to fly it and made recommendations for making it better before I get too froggy. The original build was a bit squirely, but it flies.

One point of information though... No matter how slow the rotor blades are turning, be careful around them. Dragon wings are "very" light and an almost imperceptible puff of wind will lift the "advancing" blade (and drop the other one). I have a small cut over my left eye to prove it. :rolleyes:
 
Glad your not hurt Rocky. What suggestions did he have for your bee? How soon before you're flying it?
 
John,
Mostly little things, but some needed to be addressed before I solo in it.
I had to make new cheek-plates. Seems that I let my dislexia run rampant when I transfered from the plywood temp hang plates to aluminum with the rotor head. The new holes for the head are less than a 1/2" from where they should have been, if I had gone in the right direction. The head axis lined up with a pair of the holes, I just went the wrong way from that pair to the other holes for the head. Not enough nose down. :( Charlie was able to fly it with a bag of lead shot to make up for his being lighter and the wrong hang angle.
Had a kink in the fuel line that limited engine RPM to about 5600 even taking out too much pitch. It flew with a range of prop angles at the reduced engine RPM. We'll have to re-adjust the prop with the engine getting adequate fuel.
Still need to put an angle on the vertical stab to offset engine thrust. It flew with rudder offset only, but needs to be cleaned up. Also got too much down angle in the horizantal stab. I measured the down angle referenced to the holes in the upper mounting brackets instead of the center-line of the stab. The stab is a symetrical airfoil so the rear brackets (top to bottom) are closer together than the front, making the actual tilt more than needed.
The last major item was the amount of pitch movement in the stick was only about 7", but the roll movement was greater than 20 degrees (no roll stops in the head). Still contemplating my options on these.
With these items cleared-up, I should be able to fly it next visit with Charlie.
 
The cheek plates and fuel line sound like relatively easy fixes, Hopefully the tail stuff wont be too tough. It's flying though!! You must feel good about that.
 
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