I have 9 hours of dual time in an MTO sport, had to take a break to go back to work, in the Atlantic, off the coast of Africa. However, I do not feel that I have my head totally wrapped around the issue of rotor flap, exactly what it is, what it causes, how to avoid it and how to recover from it. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Stephen
I have some experience flying a Cavalon (Puff) which has a very similar pre-rotator and rotor system to an MTO Stephen.
In my opinion you are not likely to flap the blades if you carefully follow the procedures in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook.
It is not fool proof because people keep finding different ways to be foolish.
In my opinion a blade flaps the same way a wing stalls; too high an angle of attack.
In my opinion as long as you have rotor rpm above about 220 you are not likely to flap the blades unless you try to force a takeoff.
I have tried pre-rotating to less than 140 rotor rpm just to see how it would work out. Take off just took a little longer and I did not come full back with the cyclic until I had reached 180 rotor rpm.
I also fly a gyroplane (The Predator) with a prerotator that won’t get the blades much over 100 rpm without the help of the wind. I have only flapped a blade once and it was pretty much of a nonevent.
I was trying to rush a takeoff from 65 rotor rpm and a blade hit the rudder. The fix at the moment was to get the stick full forward and that was it. New starter motor for the pre-rotator and straighten out the bend in the rudder (tube and fabric.
The CFI I used to learn to fly the Cavalon was Michael Burton and he taught me to take off like it says in the POH. As far as I know he has never flapped the blades in any of the aircraft from AutoGyro.
I have seen people do the prescribed takeoff in an MTO, Cavalon and Calidus badly without incident.
At the risk of insulting Ed (Turbo) in my opinion as long as your disk is flat (cyclic forward) you are not likely to encounter blade flap from taxiing to fast. There are plenty of other reasons not to taxi too fast.
Good luck with your gyroplane adventure Stephen.
Regards, Vance