Gyro-Kopp-ter?

[BrianInVa]

Hi folks,
There’s a 2007 Gyro-Kopp-ter Midnight Hawk for sale in Georgia, at a pretty amazing price as the guy no longer has hanger space for it and needs to sell it ASAP.

Facebook

www.facebook.com

I’ve been exchanging PMs with him and he said it hasn’t flown in two years and needs a new rotor blade hanger bar and thoroughly gone over.

Does anyone know anything about this particular gyro?

I have zero flight experience. I’m starting completely from scratch. Is it possible to initially learn how to fly on a gyro instead of a fixed wing aircraft? Pros and cons?

(I share the same last name with the manufacturer who originally sold these so I would love to get it, but maybe someone here could make use of it if I decide not to. I spoke to that guy, Bob Kopp. He’s retired now but says this is a great deal for that gyro, even if it needs some work.)

 

[Kevin_Richey]

Photo from the FB photos in that above link:
Is this not the "Scott Essex" Trim Adjuster System?

 

[BrianInVa]

Photo from the FB photos in that above link:
Is this not the "Scott Essex" Trim Adjuster System?

Seller says it has an upgraded trim control assembly but I don’t know enough about gyros yet to fully understand what they do.

 

[Vance]

I have spent some time at several Bensen Days looking at Gyrokopters (each was unique but all designed and built by the same person).

The person selling them was very nice.

In my opinion none were well designed and the fabrication left a lot to be desired.

If you are not knowledge about gyroplanes I feel this gyroplane would be a very poor start.

I helped a friend make his Lycoming powered gyrokopter airworthy and our conclusion was that he would have been better off starting from scratch.

 

[BrianInVa]

I have spent some time at several Bensen Days looking at Gyrokopters (each was unique but all designed and built by the same person).

The person selling them was very nice.

In my opinion none were well designed and the fabrication left a lot to be desired.

If you are not knowledge about gyroplanes I feel this gyroplane would be a very poor start.

I helped a friend make his Lycoming powered gyrokopter airworthy and our conclusion was that he would have been better off starting from scratch.

Ok thank you sincerely for your input.

 

[Aerofoam]

For $3500 clams, all that equipment would look good hanging off of one of Dave Seace's welded Dominator frames..........
You would legitimately be the builder too...

 

[Brian Jackson]

Avoid. I recall some old posts on here with photos of his workmanship and saw no redeeming value. Consider them lawn ornaments. I wouldn't normally criticize someone's handiwork if they'd built a coffee table, but I have no tolerance for shoddy aircraft.

 

[WaspAir]

it possible to initially learn how to fly on a gyro instead of a fixed wing aircraft? Pros and cons?

Sure.
You can get any ratings in any order you wish.

I have a personal bias that everybody should start in gliders to make the very best pilots, but that's certainly not required.

Starting in gyroplanes can save a bit of money if you eventually move on to helicopters.

 

[Mayfield]

I have a personal bias that everybody should start in gliders to make the very best pilots

Reportedly worked pretty well for the Luftwaffe in the 1930s

 

[GyroRon]

I wouldn't give $5 for that thing.

 

[Gyro Technic]

My good friend, Tom Patterson (RIP) purchased a Soob conversion and engine mount that he put on his Falcon 2-place.
He got this from gyro-KOPP-ters.
Part of the engine mount literally consisted of a 2" stack of washers on one of the "mounting bolts". (It was actually a piece of threaded rod...)
Not impressed.

 

[ultracruiser41]

Junk

 

[Gyro Technic]

No outboard support bearing on the crank shaft!
Tom's crank broke right at the crankcase.
Engine kept running, but no power was being delivered to the prop.
Forced landing in a freshly planted bean field with soft soil because of this.
Snapped off the nose wheel, but thankfully, walked away ok....
That crank shaft is not meant for that much side load.

 

[Brian Jackson]

This sure looks like screen door chain.


I don't get this. If it's supposed to be a drag strut it's only bending a galvanized strap sideways. This makes no sense.


Oh come on. Try harder.

With the reputation damage gyroplanes received decades ago, we don't need crap like this out there endangering the uninformed. I don't Facebook but hope someone on that board calls this out. The fact that the seller is telling people this rubbish pile could be flying in a weekend tells me everyone involved is clueless.

 

[Butch]

Experimental I would not want to be the Experimentee

 

[MikeBoyette]

Run don’t walk. The man Bob who built them was a nice fella however not a very competent gyro designer or builder. There is an old saying about a machine like this. It’s much better to leave it as a static display in one piece or fly it and pick up the many pieces of the machine. The pilot of the machine may end up in pieces.

 

[Doug Riley]

The Bensen gyro looked so casual that crowds of knuckleheads believed that there was nothin' to it. Lash together whatever used lawnmower parts you have hangin' around out in the carport and go fly.

What these geniuses missed was that Uncle Igor really WAS a professional engineer (Stevens Institute, IIR). He had a fantastic instinct for simplifying a device while using appropriate materials and methods to make it airworthy. Consumer-grade items sometimes were adequate, but in other cases the item only LOOKED like a consumer product. E.g. the Bensen "lawn chair" seat frame was really nothing of the sort -- it was .065 wall seamless 6061-T6, assembled with AN bolts and hardwood plugs at the crush points.

Though, to be strictly fair to Bob Kopp, Brian, Igor did call out ordinary hardware-store sash chain for the nosewheel brake+steering springs. Even certified planes use this stuff for tailwheel steering springs. But not for flight-critical assemblies, please.

 

[Brian Jackson]

Though, to be strictly fair to Bob Kopp, Brian, Igor did call out ordinary hardware-store sash chain for the nosewheel brake+steering springs. Even certified planes use this stuff for tailwheel steering springs. But not for flight-critical assemblies, please.

I did not know this. Thank you for correcting me on that point, Doug.

 

[Oldman]

Hi folks,
There’s a 2007 Gyro-Kopp-ter Midnight Hawk for sale in Georgia, at a pretty amazing price as the guy no longer has hanger space for it and needs to sell it ASAP.

View attachment 1161794

Facebook

www.facebook.com

I’ve been exchanging PMs with him and he said it hasn’t flown in two years and needs a new rotor blade hanger bar and thoroughly gone over.

Does anyone know anything about this particular gyro?

I have zero flight experience. I’m starting completely from scratch. Is it possible to initially learn how to fly on a gyro instead of a fixed wing aircraft? Pros and cons?

(I share the same last name with the manufacturer who originally sold these so I would love to get it, but maybe someone here could make use of it if I decide not to. I spoke to that guy, Bob Kopp. He’s retired now but says this is a great deal for that gyro, even if it needs some work.)

I have 2 friends that bought Bob kopp gyroplane s neither one could be made airworthy absolute junk both guys finally gave up and bought other gyroplane s

 

[BrianInVa]

I have 2 friends that bought Bob kopp gyroplane s neither one could be made airworthy absolute junk both guys finally gave up and bought other gyroplane s

Ugh.