Would an Amphibious Gyro rotor get damaged if the gyro is hit by powerboat waves when stationary (say fishing or enjoying the tranquil lake/bay) ?

[WaspAir]

If the tail rotor is swamped while turning at speed, it will do serious damage. Dipping a stopped tail is not destructive. Never had a power boat speed by closely. They tend to be intimidated by the spinning bits and either keep distance or pass slowly. When you're on the water in the U.S., you obey all the Coast Guard rules for boats, and when in the air, all the FAA rules.

 

[Resasi]

I believe there is a two seat amphibious gyro operating in Florida, saw it Benson Days. but have not seen or heard any posts on it at all.

 

[Eric S]

Where does one go to get a float gyro endorsement? At the Sport Pilot level you'd have to have fly with 2 different float gyro CFIs who can sign off a proficiency check. Are there 2 float gyro CFIs in the US? I've had an amphib. trike and an amphib. plane and I'd like to try an amphib. gyro.

 

[Aerofoam]

Crazy:

Early crazy?

 

[GyroChuck]

As I recall wasn't It Krucker who installed his rotor head bolt upside down. Causing the bolt to unscrew causing his crash and untimely demise.

 

[WaspAir]

Where does one go to get a float gyro endorsement? At the Sport Pilot level you'd have to have fly with 2 different float gyro CFIs who can sign off a proficiency check. Are there 2 float gyro CFIs in the US? I've had an amphib. trike and an amphib. plane and I'd like to try an amphib. gyro.

Not needed.

For fixed wing, the airplane category has single- and multi-engine, land and sea classes, and ratings are required for each combination. Rotorcraft category has only helicopter and gyroplane classes. There is no land - sea distinction and no endorsement or rating is necessary.

For a sport pilot, so long as it still meets the light sport definition, you're fine. For a pilot with a full rotorcraft gyroplane rating, you can fly a seven engine jet amphibious taildragger 10,000 pound 10-seat 6-blade twin rotor gyro (if you could find or build one) without additional ratings or endorsements.

I think training is a great idea but there is no legal requirement for it.

 

[Kevin_Richey]

As I recall wasn't It Krucker who installed his rotor head bolt upside down. Causing the bolt to unscrew causing his crash and untimely demise.

No, that was a young fellow named Dan...(cannot recall his last name ATM) in WI or MI. Your Chicago PRA club had visited his farm @ least once & watched him blast off from outside his shop. He was a fellow who was a machinist & liked to fly in short-shorts & bare-chested, full of piss & vinegar when flying. He was preparing to kit out his gyro design.

 

[Aerofoam]

Bummer......

 

[Gyro Technic]

I think of all the beautiful, remote, northern Minnesota and Canadian lakes I could check out with floats...
But, I never will.
Amphibian gyros scare the crap out of me!
You will notice that in the Sport Copter video that Dave posted, Jim never does any maneuvers even slightly aggressive in the footage when the floats are installed.
You get yourself into a situation when you unload the rotors and loose all that drag up top.... and you have added all that drag way down low...
It is not going to be a good day for you or your loved ones.
Denis

 

[WaspAir]

Slip-roll coupling (adverse roll with yaw) and drag-over are both made more likely by increased surface area down low if not compensated by other structures.

 

[Eric S]

Like trikes, gyros don't have a way to directly control the pitch of the floats when trying to get on the step. A plane with an elevator provides solid pitch control to avoid porposing when close to liftoff speed.

 

[Resasi]

Having been a sea plane instructor I can endorse both Denis and WaspAir's cautions. Your centre of balance and your pitch control will both be severely compromised in a gyro.

An autogyro's effect of controls via the stick may seem similar in effect to that of a fixed wing but are derived by different means, and those have been insufficiently studied due to the extreme rarity of amphibious gyro operation.

There is an insufficient bank of operational experience to call on. We are a very niche area of aircraft operation in the land based versions, let alone amphibious.

 

[T-Bill]

Okay so I am happy that my first post generated a fruitful discussion with many people chiming in

Considering my initial message and the use that I'd like to do of the would be purchased aircraft (ability to reliably and consistently land both in water and on land as well as ability to reliably and consistently takeoff from both water and land)

Considering all the above then what is the most sensible option?

Ultralight helicopter such as Mosquito or Dynali and install fixed floats on them?

I found a nice video of a pilot doing exactly what I would love to do (except not in a cave and minus the acrobatics):