I love my Tango!

[Richard Randolph]

I am loving flying my Tango2, I am still flying off the phase 1 hours, but I like it more and more every time I fly, it is a great machine with great performance. View attachment 1146483

Does it have the Yamaha engine or the Rotax? Beautiful gyro isn’t it!

 

[Richard Randolph]

If someone is in a place in life where they can write a check for 70-100 grand for a gyroplane, to save 10 grand on a sled engine does not make alot of sense.

And as a manufacturer, like yourself, it is far easier to just buy a Rotax, its new.... likely has some warranty... bolt it on and go. No having to locate used sleds, pull engines, clean things, make wiring harness, etc.... etc.... and still not have a " Used " engine and no warranty.

Thanks Ron! Makes good sense!

 

[Richard Randolph]

I am loving flying my Tango2, I am still flying off the phase 1 hours, but I like it more and more every time I fly, it is a great machine with great performance. View attachment 1146483

Same Yamaha Genesis 3 engine in it? Any cracks on the frame? How many hours do you have on it please? Richard

 

[Richard Randolph]

Ron
This isn’t a dis on Yamaha conversions. This is simply a statement of fact why Tango is cheaper. People don’t realize where 75% of price difference in say an AR-1 kit and a Tango kit is coming from. It’s basically from the engine.
I don’t know how many Yamaha engines are flying and racking hours. Has any gyro or airplane reached 2000, 1500, 1000 hours without major work on a Yamaha conversion? I don’t know. I do know Rotax is about to reach 60000 91x series aircraft engines and 10,s of thousands of them have reached it gone beyond TBO and they are the original engine designer and manufacturer. So when a customer has technical issues we as OEM can get them connected with service technicians and centers. I have offered kits without engines for real home builders if they want to put on their own engine but it seems like people like to pay little and expect all the engineering and work already done for them and build little. That obviously doesn’t work like that. If one is a true builder and mechanically oriented than they they should figure out some things. So in the end no one has taken up that offer but they do continue to complain about Rotax and us not offering Yamaha or Viking or Aero-momentum. We offer the platform just as Zenith offers a 750 kit. Figure out how to put on the power plant you want on it guys just as an airplane kit builder figures it out. It means you have to really do some building and some fabrication for real. And that is where things kind of end in the gyro world as I am experiencing it. Very different builder in gyro world compared to Amateur Built airplane world.
I am willing to offer a Yamaha conversion but not from used stock. I will buy the converted package right from Edge Performance and if the engine has an issue, tell the customer to call Edge Performance like I tell them to call Lockwood or CPS for Rotax. Of course that also means the price is no different because Edge Performance is offering brand new Yamaha engines converted with a US made gearbox and a brand new aircraft quality wiring harness not from the sled

I like this full explanation. I have been flying fixed wings since 1973 flying both Continental and Lycoming engines. I Also remember when Rotax came on the scene and people were afraid of them. One reason is that they had such a low expectation of TBO’s. The first if I remember correctly was only 500 hours and then they kept increasing that number until they matched Lycoming and Continental. Accordingly, Paul from Tango 2 Gyro says the TBO on their Yamaha is 2000 hours but have engines that have exceeded that. With the horsepower it produces I have a feeling this engine will be expanded and it will evolve since experimental aviation has lead the way to mass production and usage in general aviation. Consider all the technology of glass instrumentation - experimental led the way! The major concern I have is being sure that it is a safe engine. Most engines “talk to you” before something major happens. I really would hope that this would be a reality for the Yamaha engines. Paul suggest changing the water pump every 100 hours - regardless. Tango 2 incorporates an oil cooler as well as a larger radiator. I would love more Tango 2 owners to reply to this conversation to get their input.

 

[Richard Randolph]

Do you know if Tango has considered adapting an enclosed canopy, similar to what the AR-1 is providing? So one can fly enclosed or open.

They do not advertise a closed canopy.

 

[Richard Randolph]

Edge Performance is providing new Yamaha engines converted with a gearbox made by Teal in Arizona. However, the cost of the new engine converted is the same as Rotax 912ULS and its a single point of failure in electronics, ECU, ignition etc. unlike Rotax.

Tango 2 Gyro offer their own vlutch and gear box for the Yamaha engine.

 

[Abid]

...
Accordingly, Paul from Tango 2 Gyro says the TBO on their Yamaha is 2000 hours but have engines that have exceeded that.
...

Who and where. Certainly not on any Tango 2 in the US. Not even close. I would love to talk to anyone with Yamaha engine conversion on Tango 2 reaching even above 1000 hours on single engine and gyroplane.

 

[Abid]

Tango 2 Gyro offer their own vlutch and gear box for the Yamaha engine.

Yes it is SPG gearbox from Belarus. It isn't like they actually make their own gearbox

Air Trikes: Engines and Conversion Kits.

I have used them on about 8 to 10 Suzuki engine conversions (SPG-2 and SPG-3 variants) back in 2003 to 2005.

 

[Richard Randolph]

Who and where. Certainly not on any Tango 2 in the US. Not even close. I would love to talk to anyone with Yamaha engine conversion on Tango 2 reaching even above 1000 hours on single engine and gyroplane.

I would hope Paul is accurate. I have his email with that info. He said their test engine reached approximately 4000 hours. He sure seems, to me, to be an honest guy.

 

[Steve_UK]

Richard - how many Tango gyros are there flying in the USA with Yamaha engines ?

 

[Richard Randolph]

Richard - how many Tango gyros are there flying in the USA with Yamaha engines ?

Oh, I really do not know and and I’m unsure how to get this information. What would you guess about the number for those in the UK?

 

[Steve_UK]

Oh, I really do not know and and I’m unsure how to get this information. What would you guess about the number for those in the UK?

Richard - you can browse the FAA register for Tango.

As regards the UK there are zero Tango registered here and I can't think of any in western Europe. The type has not applied for and so not achieved any flight approval/certification.

Tangos - Some flying in Russia and the USA that's about it.

 

[Abid]

I would hope Paul is accurate. I have his email with that info. He said their test engine reached approximately 4000 hours. He sure seems, to me, to be an honest guy.

Ask him to give names of 2 or 3 customers who have reached over even 500 hours on a Tango 2 without work. Forget even the engine. Talk to those 3 customers.

 

[Richard Randolph]

Richard - you can browse the FAA register for Tango.

As regards the UK there are zero Tango registered here and I can't think of any in western Europe. The type has not applied for and so not achieved any flight approval/certification.

Tangos - Some flying in Russia and the USA that's about it.

Thank you! Good advice!