Hollmann HA-2M Sportster

[ironcowboy]

Thanks guys... I'm sure you all advised me about this before... I'm gonna stick with the 150 HP O-320. Yes, 1100 is the Max gross weight. At 7.33lb/Hp I might be able to clime out at 800-900 FPM. Those are not rookie numbers!

Wayne, I'm still technically in the IGR. I'm in a new detachment called the Liberty Guard. I only get called out when the Governor declares a state of emergency. I don't drill any more (not required), but I will stay on the muster roll until age 75. I'm currently a 1LT. My rank will remain at 1LT untill I drill again. I can only accrue rank by drill points, and I'm not actively drilling due to my private business work load. I was the Ade-de-camp to the MG up until last year. At some point I'd like to start drilling again. Even if I retire from private business at age 65 I can still drill enough to make LTC before age 75. I'm only age 52 now...

 

[ironcowboy]

Well, the HA2M is now out of the airport hanger storage, and moved to the garage where the build will start back up again! She was pretty dusty, but nothing that a bit or soap and water could not handle. Next mission is to build some work benches, as well as look over the planes for awhile. I need to remove several metal parts and repaint. Next major task is to work on the factory design fuel tank, as well as look at the rudder peddles very closely at how they connect to the nose wheel.

 

[ironcowboy]

First step, get the plans out and start thinking... Also the gyro is now sitting in the new work shop Ive created, where it shall reside until its is about ready to get flight serious... Every time I walk past, my brain processes the next things I need to do.

 

[Vance]

Good evening Cortland Carrington,

I have a friend in Tampa Bay named Harry McKay who is not yet a member of the Rotary Wing Forum so he asked me to drop you a note while he waits for approval.

His friend passed away and left behind his Hollmann Sportster,

Harry has a lot of Aviation experience and is getting involved with the Hollmann Sportster.

He would like very much to get in touch with you because he admires your build and feels you are one of the ranking Sportster experts.

Harry McKay can be reached at (813) 610-8226 or email at [email protected].

I always enjoy talking with him although I have never met him. We both feel you could answers some of his questions better than I could.

Thank you, Vance Breese

 

[okikuma]

Morning Cortland,

What's the status of your Sportster Build?

Morning Vance,

I seem to recall you mentioned at one time you were going to test fly a Sportster. Were you able to make the test flight and if so, what was the outcome?

Thanks,

Wayne

 

[Vance]

Morning Vance,

I seem to recall you mentioned at one time you were going to test fly a Sportster. Were you able to make the test flight and if so, what was the outcome?

Thanks,

Wayne

You remembered correctly Wayne.

Last year on my way to Mentone I went to visit the builder in Montana expecting to fly his beautiful O-320 powered Sportster and fly off the phase one.

He had issues with the pre-rotator the morning before I arrived. He had a second Sportster with a different pre-rotator and with a little mix and match we had a functioning pre-rotator by late afternoon.

The rotor blades he had made were surprisingly smooth and the controls worked well with more movement of the cyclic than is typical of the more modern gyroplanes. I saw this as a good thing because most people learning to fly a gyroplane over control it.

The pre-rotator was an overhead over center lever. I could not figure out how to operate the pre-rotator smoothly, manage the cyclic and manage the throttle all at the same time.

We had radio issues that were not entirely resolved by using my hand held transceiver hooked up to my helmet/headset with a strap on the cyclic push to talk button.

If the rotor tachometer was turned on there was a lot of noise in the radio making it difficult to understand radio calls. I don’t know how it sounded because we did not have a second radio to test it and I was not comfortable flying without both a working radio and rotor tachometer.

The turnaround area at the end of the seventy five foot wide runway was not quite wide enough to turn her around without dropping off the pavement.

The brake was a foot pedal between the rudder pedals that I found difficult to use particularly when trying to manage the turnaround. The sequence went something like this; as I came up on the end of the runway take my foot off the right pedal and push on the brake pedal using the left pedal to get me to the left edge of the runway, as I reached the edge of the runway remove my left foot from the rudder pedal and push on the brake as I used the right pedal to initiate the turn returning to both pedals when it was time to accelerate. I was unsure if I could climb the drop off if I let her get too slow. I tried to heal-toe it but was not successful.

I made some high speed passes and lifted off briefly.

She lifted off and set down smoothly although it seemed to me there was not a lot of rotor braking when the rotor was full back. Full back was not as far as I was used to and I was still at risk of hitting the vertical stabilizer and rudders if the rotor got away from me.

I knew Martin well enough to imagine him teaching me to fly her.

I channeled both Martin and my father for advice.

At the end of the third day I made the difficult decision that I was not up to managing the multiple challenges and decided not to fly her.

I gave my friend Greg a call and after describing the situation; he is trying to work something out with the owner to fly her. He has not been successful so far.

 

[westtm45]

Good evening Cortland Carrington,

I have a friend in Tampa Bay named Harry McKay who is not yet a member of the Rotary Wing Forum so he asked me to drop you a note while he waits for approval.

His friend passed away and left behind his Hollmann Sportster,

Harry has a lot of Aviation experience and is getting involved with the Hollmann Sportster.

He would like very much to get in touch with you because he admires your build and feels you are one of the ranking Sportster experts.

Harry McKay can be reached at (813) 610-8226 or email at [email protected].

I always enjoy talking with him although I have never met him. We both feel you could answers some of his questions better than I could.

Thank you, Vance Breese

Do you have any plans for the original Hollman hub bar?
Even a picture of the plans would be nice.

Thank You,

Tom

 

[westtm45]

Morning Cortland,

What's the status of your Sportster Build?

Morning Vance,

I seem to recall you mentioned at one time you were going to test fly a Sportster. Were you able to make the test flight and if so, what was the outcome?

Thanks,

Wayne

Hello,
I have a derelict sportster that I am trying to turn into a tractor, but it had no Hub bar.
Do you have any plans or diagram of the hub bar?

Thanks,
Tom

 

[westtm45]

First step, get the plans out and start thinking... Also the gyro is now sitting in the new work shop Ive created, where it shall reside until its is about ready to get flight serious... Every time I walk past, my brain processes the next things I need to do.

Well, the HA2M is now out of the airport hanger storage, and moved to the garage where the build will start back up again! She was pretty dusty, but nothing that a bit or soap and water could not handle. Next mission is to build some work benches, as well as look over the planes for awhile. I need to remove several metal parts and repaint. Next major task is to work on the factory design fuel tank, as well as look at the rudder peddles very closely at how they connect to the nose wheel.

Hi Cortland,
I am new here and just got an old sportster, but it had no hub bar.
Do you have plans or a diagram of the original hub bar?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[Vance]

I would email Harry McKay at [email protected].
He has a Sportster and may be able to help.

You could also try Robert Grayson (406)899-4315 as he has built two Sportsters and I suspect he still has the plans.

 

[westtm45]

Thanks for the info, I'll try them.

 

[Vance]

Thanks for the info, I'll try them.

I spoke with Robert Grayson (406)899-4315 this morning and he has lost your phone number. Please give him a call as he has some safety information about your blades.

 

[westtm45]

OK , Tks, I had talked to him previously.

 

[okikuma]

Morning Cortland,

What's the status of your Sportster Build? We haven't heard from you in quite a while.

Wayne