I was just reading over some of the post on page one and had some answers for you. There are 5 Hornets up and flying around all over the world. One in the US one in Alstraila, one in Africa some where one in Belgum and I can't remember where the other one was sorry. As for the mast flexability. There is still plenty of flex in the mast in regards to 2 rev per. The harnet was designed with a great deal of input from many gyro heads and the common comments from forumes like this one. I can tell you this from the modleing and stress testing of the Hornet it will out do the gyrobee and honeybee quit well. The gyrobee and honey bee under flight test nodleing the mast will want to fail around 2 1/2 G's and the honey bee almost dead on at 3 G's. the hornet will withstand 11 G's before the mast bolts want to pull out the holes.
Now no one is going to go out there and even think of pulling this many G's in any gyro, but does show great performance quality's in modleing mock ups. The 5 that are now flying supports what the computer modles is telling us.
Just a little about me. I am by no means a engineer and would never try to pass myself off as one. I do have at my disposal an entire post of engineers, from mechanical to airinotical and rocket perpulsion. Many of whitch has helped me in desiding to build my Hornet then getting to know Don the designer quit well. I am a mechanic and machenist and spent 24 years in the military before retiring 2006 18 of those years in the SF. I also have an encredable love for building gyros, funest thing I have ever done.
Have electronic engineers working now and a new flight instrument packeage made just for gyrocopters small light wieght large screen digital display more info as it develops.
Dan