What is the mile range of LWs?

[thirdy8special]

Is it possible to get a 3hr flight with 30min reserve out of a single place LW? Thinking a 3hr flight is enough before landing.
Thx.

 

[Vance]

Very few Little Wings are built the same. It just depends on what engine you use, fast you fly and how big a tank you build for it. I have no doubts a 912 powered Little Wing could be made to fly for three hours with a half hour reserve.

I like to have an hour reserve because where I fly the fog can come in and shut down the coastal airports leaving me headed for Taft 45 minutes away.

 

[thirdy8special]

Just seems like a lack of info for the range question. There's a pic of a yellow LW with what looks like a gas tank under the aircraft between the front tires.
I have a boat aluminum gas tank, probably 20gallons, came out of glassstream boat, wouldn't mind filling at least half full and putting under belly. Make a fairing for it.

 

[thirdy8special]

No Title

Wish LW owners would post mpg/range.
I want to fly from front seat.

 

[Kevin_Richey]

My single-seat Little Wing has two fuel tanks. 12 gallons tank right behind the pilot's seat, and the other is 5 gallons between one's feet under the instrument dash.

The Yamaha 3 cyl. 4 stroke engine in gyros seems to consume approximately 4 GPH in a gyroplane, due to the draggy nature of the airframe and rotorblades.

Consequently, this particular gyro could be aloft approximately 4 hrs., w/ a reserve to satisfy the FAA requirement.

 

[Kevin_Richey]

Wish LW owners would post mpg/range.
I want to fly from front seat.

For a tandem gyroplane, the pilot's position is not under the rotorhead (the approximate center of gravity). It has to be the one further away from the CofG, so when one carries a passenger, that balance isn't severely disrupted, putting the aircraft either extremely nose up, or down.

 

[thirdy8special]

That's great, & much needed info, Kevin. Thx! I was trying to figure a way to add fuel capacity. Either seat tank plus belly tank, etc, and not messup cg.. The tank on the floor is a great idea.
Plane weight plus my weight leaves 200lbs. Figured why not use it up with fuel. 3hr flight plus 30min to hr reserve is enough to get somewhere.

 

[Alan_Cheatham]

Woodstock is the long range standard for Littlewings if you want to go to the extreme.

 

[thirdy8special]

I'm wondering how you get in back seat with fuel tank in front....can't fold seat-back forward.
A belly tank and like Kevin's setup ought to have a decent range. Wondering where I can stow my golf clubs......plenty of space to land at a golf course.
I wonder if bottom of airframe below pilot seat frame could be deepened/lowered so a seat tank could be installed and used by a 6'3" pilot.