The fun and utility of gyros

[loftus]

Having followed this forum for so many years, it seems like a lot of the debates about which gyros are best, what is the best way to learn etc are debates between the traditional approach to gyros as fun machines - simple utilitarian and flown learning the old fashioned way, but not really designed for much else.

On the other hand we have the newer gyros designed to provide, quick build, more comfort and utility like more traditional fixed wing for longer cross country, sharing the experience with a passenger in these which are almost exclusively 2-place machines etc. With these designs companies have tried to appeal to the larger audience that comes with a machine that has the utility that approaches that of a fixed wing; they do this by making the approach to training more cookbook, follow the POH etc.

The truth is that the purists on either side give up something. Those who see modern gyros as little more than a pig with lipstick still have a lot of fun, but certainly give up some of the utility of modern gyros, if they have even ever experienced it. Those who pooh pooh the old approach to gyro building, training and flying, can still fly their impressive cross-country flights, but probably give up some of the fun of the traditionalists, even if it's tooling along the runway wheel balancing and doing impressive cranking and banking and drop in landings.

Probably there is no one machine that can provide the extremes of either approach, but there is certainly a place for folks with modern gyros and older gyros to consider that there is value to both the fun and utility aspect of gyros. Jusy my two cents.

 

[Resasi]

Certainly no doubting their utility in Australia, where I would venture some of the most experienced gyro pilots probably work them all year round.

 

[Eric S]

I think there's a HUGE difference between single place, light, highly maneuverable gyros and 2-place pigs. A single place gyro is one of the most amazing and fun aircraft I've ever flown. It will do things that aircraft are not supposed to be able to do.

 

[Abid]

I think there's a HUGE difference between single place, light, highly maneuverable gyros and 2-place pigs. A single place gyro is one of the most amazing and fun aircraft I've ever flown. It will do things that aircraft are not supposed to be able to do.

And perhaps most pilots and new pilots should not do.

 

[Doug Riley]

The utility of ANY single-engine VFR aircraft is quite limited. No reason to single out gyros.

The old joke on this subject refers to a flight in your C-152 to the neighboring airport for a "$100 hamburger." Nothing's changed except that the burger costs considerably more than $100 now.

 

[Resasi]

With regard to the ability of single seat gyros to do extreme manoeuvres, it is that that amazing ability...in the hands of an experienced and competent gyro pilot, that makes them so useful when mustering cattle.

Videos of various pilots like Birdy, Wolfy, Ron Awad, Nicolas Karaolides, Gregg Spicola and Barry Thigpen, to name a few, have shown just how responsive and agile these small aircraft can be when flown to limits that are definitely not recommended to inexperienced or low time pilots, but only after building this ability over time.