Gyro flight of three in NorCal

[chipchap42]

Last month, we got three modern gyros together in Northern California. All were fairly new to the area, and I hope this will be the beginnings of some kind of NorCal gyro chapter. The three were:

1. A Magni M16 owned by Don Bradley, (an experienced fixed wing and trike pilot who learned to fly gyros recently and who has already qualified as a gyro CFI) based at O61 near Sacramento.
2. An Autogyro Calidus owned by Kim Hurt and Kent Farney, fixed wing and trike pilots who took up gyro flying recently and got their Calidus by flying it from Texas a few months ago, based in Petaluma, O69.
3. The Magni M16 I own with Jim Elder, based at E16 airport just south of San Jose.

Our airports in Northern California are arranged in a rough triangle with between 50 and 100nm between the three corners. We therefore arranged to meet in the middle somewhere. On the appointed morning, I met up with my friend Robert, a fixed-wing pilot who enjoys open-air flying in gyros and had agreed to act as official photographer (and videographer) for the event.

We set off from South County and headed north east towards Rio Vista airport, O88, roughly in the middle of the triangle and where we had agreed to meet. It was a fine day, not cold and we enjoyed a good flight over the mountains to the north-east, dropping down into the California Central Valley as we reached Tracey. We landed at Rio Vista and could already see another Magni on the ground. The Calidus arrived a few minutes later and we all got introduced. It was very interesting to look at the machines on the ground and compare fixtures and fittings. We made fun of (but were secretly slightly envious of) the "Cabin Heat" control on the Calidus!

After a few minutes chatting, we all set off to fly to Lodi airport, where there is a decent restaurant, and where we planned to have lunch. We agreed how we would do the flying and how we'd maintain the right separation while being able to get some good air-to-air shots. We took off and flew at around 75mph and under a thousand feet AGL to enjoy the countryside. It was tremendous fun doing loose formation flying and we were all wearing huge grins doing it. Robert had a decent camera with a zoom lens and was able to get some good shots. There's something about flying in an open cockpit aircraft near (but not too near) another similar craft that really brings home the extraordinary nature of what we do. I don't know if others feel the same way but it always really put into perspective for me just how three-dimensional it is up there and I always find it a real thrill. I enjoyed both being the lead, flying straight and level while the wingman homed in on me and also being the "camera ship" and wingman while keeping my only focus on the other gyro, trusting that the other pilot wasn't going to fly us into the ground.

Lodi can be quite busy with parachutists as there's a very active jump school there, and the twin turboprop jump plane frequently lands the wrong way on the extra runway there to minimize his turnaround time, so keeping an eye out is important. We all landed there without incident and went to look for the restaurant. Unfortunately it was closed (well who would think people might like to visit an airport on Sundays?) Fortunately Kim knew the trike instructor there, Doug Donaldson, and he was there to take us to a nearby restaurant with his friend and fellow trike pilot Tom. We had a good lunch and as a thank you took them for a quick gyro flight around the Lodi area. There are two cooling towers that really stand out in that area - you can see them for tens of miles when it's clear - so we flew around that area before coming back to Lodi and dropping them off.

We went our separate ways from there, and returned to our respective home bases. All agreed it had been a lot of fun and we need to do it again soon. Expect some more reports from the unofficial NorCal gyro club shortly!

 

[PW_Plack]

There's something about flying in an open cockpit aircraft near (but not too near) another similar craft that really brings home the extraordinary nature of what we do. I don't know if others feel the same way but it always really put into perspective for me just how three-dimensional it is up there and I always find it a real thrill.!

I have had a few opportunities to do that kind of flying, and agree completely. There's something magical about the look of other nearby gyros in flight, bobbing slightly in altitude as little changes in vertical air currents reach you at different moments. The rotors always look to me as if they're turning more slowly in flight when viewed from another nearby gyro.

There was a time when PRA chapters seemed to be mostly about helping build and tinker. Now that gyros are becoming more about flying together and less about improvising repairs, the nature of gyro clubs will probably be more like your post as time goes on. Thanks for the fun read!

 

[Kevin_Richey]

Paul: Great photos & story of your flight! Neat that three 2-seater gyroplanes are in the local area. Maybe coordinate a flight of four including Jon Starks & his Air & Space 18-A?

Folks visiting at an airport and seeing that machine leap into the air would be amazed.

 

[Spank]

I'm jealous as I live right in the middle of all three of you and want to take up Gyro flying. Selling my Ercoupe right now on Barnstormers and hoping to make the plunge soon. Is Don officially doing instruction? If so, could you pm me his contact information?

 

[All_In]

No Title

Yaw Mon, you be adventuring... very cool! Thank you so much for sharing the fun and joy of it all!

I agree with Paul flying is a group with any kind of aircraft is way more fun. Used to fly in TIGHT formation in groups of 3 and 4 delivering Pipers from the factories from PA and FL to San Diego with our flight instructors who happen to be moonlighting with us from Miramar Top Gun pilots. They would form up on me within 6" if there was no turbulence and if we hit turbulence I was to stay where I was straight and level and they would break away from me. Very stressful the 1st time with them so close but it got very easy and natural after a hour or so.

Two years ago IIRC Kent Goddard in his MTO, Cammie Patch in her Calidis, and Micheal Burton and I in his Cavolon flew up the Snake river.
Best flight all of us could remember in a long time flying with a group of 3. Kent had not done much radio work at towered airports and because the flight leader in a goup of 3 is the only one that communicates to the tower he said he learn how and where to report and it all made since. He was flying the two days like a pro after those flight in a group.

Here are a few pic of the 100 or so I took. If you click on the last ones QUICKLY it's like a flickerbook/video of Cammie doing a fly-under to become our left wing for the right.

 

[ckurz7000]

I love reading stories about a cross country flight! Thanks for the post and the photos!

Hi John, I would have loved to fly at ROTR the one time I was there. Unfortunately I arrived there sans gyro and didn't have a chance to fly. But what hasn't happened yet might still happen in the future.

Here are two aerial photos I like a lot. The first one was taken by Debbie when Robert and I visited the St. Louis area on our trip from Boston to San Diego. Notice the perfect alignment of the rotor blades. It took a lot of practice!

And the second one was taken on the same flight around the city of St. Louis. Robert shot me as we passed the Arch (Gateway to the West).

Greetings, -- Chris.

 

[chipchap42]

I love reading stories about a cross country flight! Thanks for the post and the photos!



And the second one was taken on the same flight around the city of St. Louis. Robert shot me as we passed the Arch (Gateway to the West).

Greetings, -- Chris.

Chris,

wow - that St Louis arch photo is cool! Shame you couldn't go through it!
Cheers,
Paul.

 

[chipchap42]

Yaw Mon, you be adventuring... very cool! Thank you so much for sharing the fun and joy of it all!

I agree with Paul flying is a group with any kind of aircraft is way more fun. Used to fly in TIGHT formation in groups of 3 and 4 delivering Pipers from the factories from PA and FL to San Diego with our flight instructors who happen to be moonlighting with us from Miramar Top Gun pilots. They would form up on me within 6" if there was no turbulence and if we hit turbulence I was to stay where I was straight and level and they would break away from me. Very stressful the 1st time with them so close but it got very easy and natural after a hour or so.

Two years ago IIRC Kent Goddard in his MTO, Cammie Patch in her Calidis, and Micheal Burton and I in his Cavolon flew up the Snake river.
Best flight all of us could remember in a long time flying with a group of 3. Kent had not done much radio work at towered airports and because the flight leader in a goup of 3 is the only one that communicates to the tower he said he learn how and where to report and it all made since. He was flying the two days like a pro after those flight in a group.

Here are a few pic of the 100 or so I took. If you click on the last ones QUICKLY it's like a flickerbook/video of Cammie doing a fly-under to become our left wing for the right.

Thanks John - nice formation! Glad you enjoyed the story.
Cheers,
Paul.

 

[All_In]

I did enjoy it. I love flying vicariously around the world with friends and group flights are the best!!

Look forward to your next adventure. You might consider writing it up for our magazine and starting a PRA chapter as a real club?

PRA will support your flights in any case if you would like to invite others to your next flying adventure we would love to promote it and batch email others who may wish to join you.
Just let me know.... and one day I will join you in our Club's two place as it's being shipped soon.