Hi Roy, the Bensen B8 was my first single seat gyro. Under LASORS (The UK regs at the time) I had to do 15 hrs dual on an RAF 2000 before transitioning to single seat training. The RAF 2000 I was trained on was the stabless, (no horizontal stabiliser) version so was much lighter on the stick, but going to the Bensen was a whole new dimension in the sensitivity of control feel and input. Not as important and exercise for two seaters In terms of longitudinal stability think of it/an analogy, is like progressing from a bicycle to a mono cycle, the degree of balancing required on a single seat gyro is much greater...and very important.
One of the principal exercises in the Bensen was wheel balancing. The fine art of running down the runway just fast enough to be able to use the rotor to balance the gyro on its main wheels without allowing either nose of tail wheel to contact the runway. This when it can be consistently done the length of the runway is the vital clue to your Instructor that you are mastering the finer inputs that show him you will not over-control when you get airborne, as pilot induced oscillation is extremely likely, and dangerous for low time beginners.
Pilot-induced oscillations are sustained or uncontrollable oscillations resulting from efforts of the pilot to control the aircraft. They occur when the pilot of an aircraft inadvertently commands an often increasing series of corrections in opposite directions. Each an attempt to cover the aircraft's reaction to the previous input with an over correction in the opposite direction. An aircraft/gyro in such a condition can appear to be "porpoising" switching between upward and downward directions, this can lead to the gyro becoming out of control...obviously a most undesirable state of affairs.
It took a bit of time but when you ‘get the idea’ you then cary on the succeeding exercises leading up to the PPL. My Bensen did not have a prerotator which involved 'patting up’ the rotors and was invaluable in teaching me rotor management. After the PPL I was lucky to be amongst a big crowd of gyro pilots and over the next couple of years was able to transition to and fly various single seaters like the Cricket(s), Merlin, Layzelle AV18 single seaters before then building a Hornet with my son. So I have been able to compare various single seat gyros.
The Bensen was my favourite...in that it was very light on the controls and very agile/nimble compared to the others, with no ‘nasty tendencies’, but here’s the caution, very light on the controls nimble and agile all go with stability. That particular Bensen, every gyro is to a point very individual in its flight characteristics, I later felt was the one I had to watch the closest. All the others were more stable ie easier for the beginner.
I had no problems but I was fortunate to have a lot of time on a larger variety of aircraft type from gliders to heavy transport, which actually doesn’t necessarily make a good gyro pilot, simply familiarity of time in the air and with the huge range of flying machine handling characteristics.
Whatever two seater you have trained on the Bensen will be the monocycle. Learn on it carefully and you will love it, simply know that it is a great flying experience, but as they all do, needs to be treated with respect.
Hmmm bit of a waffle there but hope it helps. P.S Loved the Excel.
