StanFoster
Active Member
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2003
- Messages
- 17,139
- Location
- Paxton, Il
- Aircraft
- Helicycle N360SF
- Total Flight Time
- 1250
Tim- You make some very valid points that I agree with, and some that I would like to add my input. I have always said that gyros are hands down the all around best rotorcraft to fly-in, and to go to a helicopter requires extra desires and the correct environment for flying a helicopter. I think you will find I am trying my best to be as unbiased as possible as you will see I mention the advantage a gyro has several times...alongside the advantages a helicopter has. In the end...a newbie should be more influenced to go with a gyro than a helicopter by reading the following.
1. Engine outs- autorotating. In my opinion, you are correct when you say gyros are easier to autorotate to a landing. I have personally experienced way too many gyro emergency landings and one in my helicopter. I was more likely to have bent my helicopter.
You mentioned being more reluctant to do low and slow...or low and fast in a helicopter. I agree again. No longer am I flying on the deck at 90 mph but rather at 50 feet instead. But.... Low and slow.....in this case I do this a LOT. I have a helicopter to do just this...and I feel my 90 plus videos on YouTube show I exercise this freedom a lot. But...you wont see me on the deck going fast as thats in the HV chart that is on the bottom of the chart.
I have to mention though that lets say you have a problem, oil pressure, overtemps, etc... instead of continuing on to the nearest road or unknown clearing terrain....a helicopter can just come down and do a precautionary landing and check out the problem before its gets worse. I had my main rotor transmission oil light flickering a few weeks ago.....I immediately landed right below me and was satisified it was ok...then lifted off and flew back to my stairshop. It was a pressure switch with with too high of limits....it was doing its job however and turning my light on in the dash.
2. Pilot workload Again Tim, you are exactly correct, during initial training. It is a whole lot of stuff dumped on your nervous system to get your brain hardwired to fly these dang things. Hands down the hardest thing I have ever learned to fly. NO QUESTION! But, what was my biggest surprise is that once my reflexes, butt g-meter, and other sensory inputs were all connected in my brain, I can honestly say a helicopter is the easiest thing to take off and land in. Hands down no question....while the engine is running of course! You just think and your feet and hands just do it automatically. Now...for camera work....a gyro is hands down an easier platform,,,NO QUESTION! ESPECIALLY low altitude work. You dont see a whole lot of pictures coming from my handheld camera on my Helicycle...but from a stationary skid mount. You are absolutely correct also about locking the collective. Even with your hand off that collective...it is still cocked and ready to get back on it instantly. I have no problem at altitude tightening the friction on my collective and taking some pictures...but flying a gyro and doing the same is MUCH easier.
3. Downwash- Thats a good point but anyone that uses the 3rd dimension capability of a helicopter "should" be aware of extra caution they need to exercise while using this priviledge of stirring air at low airspeeds. I agree that some dont, and they need their butts chewed out. I witnessed that R44 at Mentone last year moving that high wing plane on the ground. But I have to again agree with you that this is not a problem with a gyro.
4. Vertical take off and landings.............Now we are connecting why I have a helicopter. I have the environment to do such, and love having air as my runway. Being able to land at places that I have never been able to with 800 hours in gyros is just ecstatic to me. Having experienced it now, I find I am loving it more and more, the more comfortable I am becoming hardwired with my chopper.
To sum it up, it all boils down how bad you want to be able to take off and land from most anywhere....or let me modify this...having the ability to do so even if its seldom exercised. Or how bad you love to hover over muddy fields, whatever, that if you had to set down would be an adventure just getting it out of there.....yet you pull collective and escape the mud tenacles. If the above few sentences dont excite you,,,,then there is no reason to have this 3rd dimension capability. Or if your thing is low level picture taking.....or flying on the deck....and these are strong desires....dont get a helicopter. I would never say everyone wants a helicopter because that simply isnt true. I am sure many wouldnt want one if it was given to them, and their training paid for, if they had to give up their gyro flying.
I will finish here in saying that having flown both, nothing beats a gyro for all around funf flying...............................unless you are obsessed with hovering and being able to land and takeoff most anyplace.
Stan
1. Engine outs- autorotating. In my opinion, you are correct when you say gyros are easier to autorotate to a landing. I have personally experienced way too many gyro emergency landings and one in my helicopter. I was more likely to have bent my helicopter.
You mentioned being more reluctant to do low and slow...or low and fast in a helicopter. I agree again. No longer am I flying on the deck at 90 mph but rather at 50 feet instead. But.... Low and slow.....in this case I do this a LOT. I have a helicopter to do just this...and I feel my 90 plus videos on YouTube show I exercise this freedom a lot. But...you wont see me on the deck going fast as thats in the HV chart that is on the bottom of the chart.
I have to mention though that lets say you have a problem, oil pressure, overtemps, etc... instead of continuing on to the nearest road or unknown clearing terrain....a helicopter can just come down and do a precautionary landing and check out the problem before its gets worse. I had my main rotor transmission oil light flickering a few weeks ago.....I immediately landed right below me and was satisified it was ok...then lifted off and flew back to my stairshop. It was a pressure switch with with too high of limits....it was doing its job however and turning my light on in the dash.
2. Pilot workload Again Tim, you are exactly correct, during initial training. It is a whole lot of stuff dumped on your nervous system to get your brain hardwired to fly these dang things. Hands down the hardest thing I have ever learned to fly. NO QUESTION! But, what was my biggest surprise is that once my reflexes, butt g-meter, and other sensory inputs were all connected in my brain, I can honestly say a helicopter is the easiest thing to take off and land in. Hands down no question....while the engine is running of course! You just think and your feet and hands just do it automatically. Now...for camera work....a gyro is hands down an easier platform,,,NO QUESTION! ESPECIALLY low altitude work. You dont see a whole lot of pictures coming from my handheld camera on my Helicycle...but from a stationary skid mount. You are absolutely correct also about locking the collective. Even with your hand off that collective...it is still cocked and ready to get back on it instantly. I have no problem at altitude tightening the friction on my collective and taking some pictures...but flying a gyro and doing the same is MUCH easier.
3. Downwash- Thats a good point but anyone that uses the 3rd dimension capability of a helicopter "should" be aware of extra caution they need to exercise while using this priviledge of stirring air at low airspeeds. I agree that some dont, and they need their butts chewed out. I witnessed that R44 at Mentone last year moving that high wing plane on the ground. But I have to again agree with you that this is not a problem with a gyro.
4. Vertical take off and landings.............Now we are connecting why I have a helicopter. I have the environment to do such, and love having air as my runway. Being able to land at places that I have never been able to with 800 hours in gyros is just ecstatic to me. Having experienced it now, I find I am loving it more and more, the more comfortable I am becoming hardwired with my chopper.
To sum it up, it all boils down how bad you want to be able to take off and land from most anywhere....or let me modify this...having the ability to do so even if its seldom exercised. Or how bad you love to hover over muddy fields, whatever, that if you had to set down would be an adventure just getting it out of there.....yet you pull collective and escape the mud tenacles. If the above few sentences dont excite you,,,,then there is no reason to have this 3rd dimension capability. Or if your thing is low level picture taking.....or flying on the deck....and these are strong desires....dont get a helicopter. I would never say everyone wants a helicopter because that simply isnt true. I am sure many wouldnt want one if it was given to them, and their training paid for, if they had to give up their gyro flying.
I will finish here in saying that having flown both, nothing beats a gyro for all around funf flying...............................unless you are obsessed with hovering and being able to land and takeoff most anyplace.
Stan