REDUCED PRICE - Kalithea gyro for sale...

[PeterFromLA]

My beloved, award-winning, nation-crossing, happiness-inducing green Kallithea is looking for a new home. As someone else said it perfectly: my mission is changing, so I need to let Hummingbird go…

Here is some background… She received her airworthiness in February of 2022, and soon after I completed Phase I.
A month later we participated in the annual Bensen Days and won the trophy for “1st Place Two-place Gyroplane”. To avoid the unpredictable weather, we trailered from California. When the mast gets folded, the height is only 77 inches, and I have mounting brackets for the wheels designed by Niki Rotor Aviation to specifically make trailering effortless.

Later in the year she flew me from Los Angeles to Oshkosh, then Mentone and back to Los Angeles – an epic trip well documented on YouTube. While at Mentone, she won the “2022 PRA Grand Champion Rotorcraft” trophy. During the journey, she proved herself to be not only a pretty girl, but also a very sturdy and resilient worker bee. Flying for 4 (then 4 days back) days straight without any issues, taking off from 10,000 foot density altitude airports... well, that gives her a lot of street creds...

Back home in California, she put gyro grins on many faces, and introduced quite a few people to the world of gyroplanes.

Currently she has 230 HOBBS hours under the belt, but that is changing since we enjoy our time together especially in the gorgeous summer sky. The Rotax 912 (with turbo) engine provides 120 HP of power. When it comes to maintenance, I like to pamper my aircraft and Hummingbird benefitted from this weakness of mine. The log books are up to date, and she is clean as a whistle.

We will be coming together to the Midwest LSA Expo, so come to our both and say hi…

I am asking for $90K.

For those of you who are interested in greater detail, please PM me or email me at [email protected].

 

[okikuma]

I can testify it is more impressive looking in person than one can view from the supplied photos.

Wayne

 

[nishanh]

Beautiful aircraft. At the risk of prying into personal matters; are you exiting the gyro community? I find the "mission changing" statement somewhat disconcerting as I consider you to be a valued member and important advocate for this small, niche brand of aviation.

 

[PeterFromLA]

Beautiful aircraft. At the risk of prying into personal matters; are you exiting the gyro community? I find the "mission changing" statement somewhat disconcerting as I consider you to be a valued member and important advocate for this small, niche brand of aviation.

No, no, no... I am staying where I am in the gyro community, but was reminded that being a representative of a manufacturer forces me to have a newer aircraft to show around, mayb ewin few awards in the process...
Hummingbird was my companion on few adcventures, and she is a fine aircraft for that, but when showing up at air shows, the potential clients do not want to be told about the glass coskpit, they want to see it, same goes for the bvigger engines, etc...
If I could afford three gyros, I would have kept this one, but I also think there is someone out there who whould appreaciate her as much as I do... and save few buck in the process...

 

[Loren Jones]

No, no, no... I am staying where I am in the gyro community, but was reminded that being a representative of a manufacturer forces me to have a newer aircraft to show around, mayb ewin few awards in the process...
Hummingbird was my companion on few adcventures, and she is a fine aircraft for that, but when showing up at air shows, the potential clients do not want to be told about the glass coskpit, they want to see it, same goes for the bvigger engines, etc...
If I could afford three gyros, I would have kept this one, but I also think there is someone out there who whould appreaciate her as much as I do... and save few buck in the process...

She is a pretty ship. We'll look forward to seeing her fancy, new replacement

 

[Greg Vos]

The new owner when found will be happy I’m sure 🤜

 

[Gyrotriker]

Has it been sold meanwhile ?

 

[PeterFromLA]

Has it been sold meanwhile ?

Sorry for the late responce... No, it is still available with reduced price - $75k...

 

[PeterFromLA]

As I mentioned, the new asking price is $75K, and I am more than willing to add some additional freebies like help with maintenance and inspections since I am the builder. Needless to say, I will be supporting the new owner with spare parts and factory assistance when needed or requested.

Here are some more pictures.

 

[smoline]

Definitely a beauty. Wish I had a place to keep it.

 

[GyroRon]

Definitely a beauty. Wish I had a place to keep it.

No offense meant, but what kind of excuse is that? Have you been to the airports in your area and talked to the people with hangars? Gyros aren't very wide and can easily slide into almost any hangar beside or in front of or behind a airplane. There are plenty of people that would welcome someone to stick their gyro in their hangar in return for some help with the hangar rent.

 

[smoline]

Yes, I have tried relentlessly. I live 10 miles west of Leesburg, VA (JYO). I invite your attention to this region and let me know if you find any hanger space anywhere within a 100-mile radius.

 

[MonkeyClaw]

Augh, just outside the SFRA! I agree, I'd think someone would share a hangar with you for help with their rent though. Hang up a sign in the FBO or find a local pilot's group. Last I recall, Leesburg had a shared hangar, but it's been quite a few years since I've been there. Lots of private airports around there too.

 

[loftus]

Yes, I have tried relentlessly. I live 10 miles west of Leesburg, VA (JYO). I invite your attention to this region and let me know if you find any hanger space anywhere within a 100-mile radius.

A shipping container works great as a gyro hangar - just an idea

 

[georgio744]

A shipping container works great as a gyro hangar - just an idea

I thought about this. Went looking at shipping containers but couldn't find one with adequate interior height. I don't have a folding mast and would need a little over 9 feet interior height.

 

[RogerB]

I thought about this. Went looking at shipping containers but couldn't find one with adequate interior height. I don't have a folding mast and would need a little over 9 feet interior height.

There’s a gyro inside a m24, customized container plenty of room

 

[georgio744]

View attachment 1159418

There’s a gyro inside a m24, customized container plenty of room

Yeah, that would do it. I was researching "stock" containers and didn't run across anything like this.
George

 

[smoline]

A shipping container works great as a gyro hangar - just an idea

Are you suggesting storing the container at an airport? Do airports permit that?

 

[Sv.grainne]

I could not find a hangar anywhere near me but went to the local Airport and talked with the President of Kerrville Aviation. Explained that I was transitioning to my single place Gyro and did not want to have to trailer over, assemble and hang blades before every session. He said I could keep my Gyro in one of the Maintenance hangars and did for 3 months. He/they were great, did not charge me a dime! Just after I soloed the owner of a Cub came up and we talked. I asked him where he kept his plane and he pointed to a large hangar with some detached Tee hangars. He suggested that I go up and look around and talk to Rusty, the caretaker do it all guy. Long story short the owner welcomed me and I'm now keeping company with 2 Citations, several Cubs, an AT-6, a Derringer and two other planes I can't ID.

Go to the airport, talk with people, you might stumble into something.

 

[GyroRon]

If the extend of your efforts is to call a few local airports FBO's and ask if any hangars are open for rent, you will almost certainly come up empty handed. Seems like there is always a long waiting list at nearly every airport, especially nicer airports.

What you have to do is put feet on the ground and drive by these airports on nice days when people are out there, go talk directly with the people who own or rent hangars and talk to them.... Tell them you are purchasing a gyro and what kind of foot print it takes up. They are always no more than 6-8 feet wide and the rotor can be turned to fit sideways if needed. Tell them your willing to pay a share of their rent and you will be tidy and help keep the hangar clean etc... You will almost certainly find a spot if you put in some work.

Also you may have better luck at the smaller private / non municipal airports. My airport for example, 28A would have no problem at all with someone putting a storage container on the airport grounds or you even constructing a small hangar for your gyro... Of course my airport is too far away for you, but its just a example... There are airports like my airport, all over the country.

Here in my neck of the woods there are " Area " facebook pages. Here there is a page called " Carolina aviation network " and there are over 3000 members on the page. Here, if someone posted on that page that they are looking for a spot in a hangar for a gyro I almost guarantee that a page member would have a spot, or could ask around and find you a spot. Again, my area is too far away for you, but you may have a FB group similar to CAN up in your area.

You just got to put a effort into this.

You will find that everything about gyros requires putting in effort. Everything from finding a good instructor to purchasing a machine to getting the machine serviced, to attending gyro fly in's... etc...