Ken Wallis Tribute

kolibri282;n1122469 said:
Another very nice high resolution picture. Not Little Nelly but very similar.
https://static.independent.co.uk/s3f...-wallis-PA.jpg


By the way Stuart, I understand Chuck to the effect that Bensen, who was a pro, designed his gyrocopter to be CLT and that all the modifications, e.g. by Ken Brock, ultimately led to the now well known problems and tragic events.

When I worked for the FAA in Oklahoma City 30 years ago, I went through EVERY gyro accident report in their library and copied them all down. Bensen style gyros were porpoising out of the sky mostly without Brock mods. Brock mods improved the VCG by moving the fuel and it's container up. Brock's joystick was a vast improvement (for beginners) over the simpler "pump handle". It's not fair to disparage the deceased.
 
It's not fair to disparage the deceased
This can never be the intent of a technical discussion, Tom. If someone made whatever mistake in a design, this has to be stated clearly so that others will not get hurt making the same mistake and to make that very clear I can not judge whether or not Brock's design had any flaws. As I said in my post I just understood Chucks comment to that effect.
It would also be quite interesting to know how many of the aircraft involved in accidents were unmodified Bensens and how many of them had any significant modification, like the larger propellers which Chuck has mentioned.
 
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Please, Can someone help me find the video where we see Ken Wallis perform a touch and go without touching the stick, only with the throttle?

Thank you
 
Went to one of his last lectures at the Royal Aeronautical Society before he died and was able to talk to him afterwards.

Incredible, sharp as a tack and a very effervescent character. Got an invitation to visit and see his collection, but he died shortly afterwards.

Went up to his commemoration which was massively attended. A huge larger than life individual who was an amazing man.
 
I had the privilege to meet and spend the day with Ken Wallis, courtesy of Woody DeSaar, to make the introductions, while on a business trip to France, with a stop in England. This was around the early 2000's. What a gracious host, showing us his estate house and all of its contents, along with his small gyro museum that contained 19 flying machines. He had just finished building a Subaru powered gyro but was experiencing over heating problems and asked me for advice. Imagine that. I have some old video of the visit somewhere. Ken was a true gentleman in every sense of the word. Thank you Woody, for that opportunity and historical visit.

Gyrogarry
 
Cmdr Wallis and his daughter:
from here:

https://filthybeasts.com/about-diz-wallis

Cmdr Wallis flying his gyro equipped with a battery of (infrared) cameras for a search job:
PA-17494100.jpg


from here:
https://flashbak.com/on-this-day-in-photos-the-hunt-for-lord-lucan-begins-9730/

detail view of camera installation
GettyImages-3271283.jpg


Ken with what probably was his "Hey, there's nothing like flying a gyro" grin:

from here:
https://www.alamy.com/wing-commander-ken-wallis-with-his-auto-gyro-image942028.html

Ken Wallis on gyro flying:
https://www.lakedistrictgyroplanes.co.uk/ken-wallis-experiences/
 

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Wing Commander Wallis was aged almost 94 in this video....


We shall never see suchlike again.
 
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