Hello from Beaumont Texas

[Jake2U]

Hello guys!

First time I ever realized that there was a forum like this out there...

I am a certified welder, just retired, and got my first s.s. check last month.

Retired!?!? I had to retire to go to work!

My first ever ultralight was a Weed Hopper that I put 4,000 hours on.

I had a Benson Gyro Copter that I bought at Oshkosh and put just over 2,000 in it.

My first full build that I did, with the help of many friends and engineers, was the G1 Helicopter. This build was "challenging" to say the least, and with the help of 23 different people, plus myself, it took a little over a year to build this thing, and several long months before I got brave enough to fly it. Before it was sold to someone who wanted it far worse than I, I managed 1,200 hours on it, and it was really a lot of fun to fly.

I was given permission by our local Game and Fish Department, to fly over the area I intended to hunt in the Fall and Winter, but scouted during late summer. I always saw far more deer on the ground than in the air.

Between other 103 aerolights, para glider's and others, I've got over 2,000 combined hours on all that fun flying stuff.

Nowadays, I hunt in the winter, fish from about the middle of March to November and still work when I'm not out enjoying stuff with family. I also tie flies and love to catch carp on the fly...

John Milner

 

[AirCommandPilot]

John, You should go visit the Airport in Anahuac on Saturdays and meet all of the Gyronaughts out there. They hangar about 15 gyros there and are active every Saturday and some Wednesdays. Look for the hangars near the large white fuel tank.

 

[Vance]

Welcome to the Rotary Wing Forum John Milner!

I second what Bobby said about Anahuac; lots of interesting people and lots to learn.

 

[Jake2U]

Thanks for the heads up guys, and thank you Vance!

I will definitely try to get by there and see what all is going on. Sounds like my kind of place.

John Milner

 

[Tyger]

John, You should go visit the Airport in Anahuac on Saturdays and meet all of the Gyronaughts

How "naughty" are they?

 

[Jake2U]

After doing a little bit of reading, and seeing where one guy died there last year, my daughter said that was one death too many, and I was going to be too busy taking her fishing, so I couldn't go!

 

[Sv.grainne]

Death? I know of a crash during testing at Chmbers County AP in 2021 but death?

Bobby

 

[Jake2U]

Bobby,

my apologies for my mistake. The death occured in November of 2013 at the Chambers County Airport in Anahuac. The pilot of the Dragonfly gyrocopter was Steve Weir, who crashed and died.

Again, my apologies for my mistake.

John Milner

 

[Sv.grainne]

Bobby,

my apologies for my mistake. The death occured in November of 2013 at the Chambers County Airport in Anahuac. The pilot of the Dragonfly gyrocopter was Steve Weir, who crashed and died.

Again, my apologies for my mistake.

John Milner

So, go visit, they are a great group and if you are considering a Gyro, a must visit.

Bobby

 

[Jake2U]

I flew a gyro for several years and over 2,000 hours, but I enjoyed my Weed Hopper ultralight just a little bit more.

Too many wants and not enough hours in the day...

John Milner

 

[AirCommandPilot]

The accident Steve had was due to not assembling his rotor's bearing block correctly. The bearing block design on the Dragonfly is no longer used if I am correct. The problem was not due to a machine failure nor was it due to pilot error. It was a simple mistake made while reassembling his rotor head. A few years ago there was a really hard landing just after takeoff in an RAF that ended up totaling the gyro. No major injuries occurred. This was due to a miscalculation on the length of the trim actuator along with missing the issue during the pre flight inspection.
Flying can a dangerous sport, but can also be very safe if the pilot is well trained, and the machine is well maintained.

 

[Jake2U]

Did not know all of that! Thank you for sharing that information.

I guess I was more than lucky with the ultralights that I had flown over the years, because neither myself or the 4 other guys I flew with had no training, and knew of no place to go for training!

When computers became more common place and such, we learned that there was a LOT of different people that we could talk to, fly with and share experiences with...

John Milner

 

[cmalberto]

@Jake2U - next meeting is this Saturday 16th@11AM - come on out and visit with us.

--Mickey A.

 

[Jake2U]

I appreciate the invite Mickey A., but my wedding anniversary is this weekend and I have things planned with the family.

John Milner

 

[ChrisP]

Hey John,
I hanger my Autogyro Cavalon at Beaumont Muni.

Chris P.