What constitutes optional equipment?

[BeefBear]

In determining the empty weight of a gyroplane, what then is considered as optional equiment? And is there a legal limit to the amount of optional equipment that you can carry other than the physical limits imposed as in 'Can i actually get off the ground"?

If Birdy is considering travelling across in one of his gyro's and needs to have extra fuel on board to make the distance, could he for example strap an extra temporary tank on as optional equipment?

Ted

(see below for CAO 95.12.1 for reference)

SECTION 95.12.1
Issue 3
EXEMPTION FROM PROVISIONS OF THE CIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS 1988 — 2 PLACE GYROPLANES.

2 INTERPRETATION
2.1 In this section:
ASRA means the Australian Sport Rotorcraft Association.
ASRA Operations Manual means a manual prepared by the ASRA and approved by CASA, being a manual that contains the procedures and instructions necessary to ensure the safe operation of gyroplanes registered with the ASRA.
empty weight, in relation to a gyroplane, means the weight of the gyroplane, including unusable fuel and undrainable oil but excluding recovery or personnel parachutes, flotation equipment and items of optional equipment.
gyroplane means a power-driven heavier-than-air aircraft supported in flight by the reaction of the air on 1 or more rotors which rotate freely on substantially vertical axes.
gyroplane pilot certificate means a gyroplane pilot certificate issued by the ASRA in accordance with the ASRA Operations Manual.

:paper:

[russ]

Read a current ops manual................it's all there

fuel limits...................yes
MTOW.......................yes
min & max heights........yes

plus,plus,plus

[BeefBear]

Righto yer Grande old Sage. What are the limits? And don't come back with read the docs, I wanna hear it in black and white.

Ya Tosser

Ted

[russ]

OK...........now I've gota find me manual......the thing with the "rules" [bin a few yrs since I last read it] :paper:

ordinarily [ usually........actually, ALWAYS] I just load her up and go, sometimes it takes a bloody long time to get off the ground, and chasing them thermals to get higher is a priority.

Love them "Kites" [hawks].........they help out good there..........[locating the lift]
Get to a couple of thou or so........nice n cool.........off we goes :wave:

[Birdy2]

what then is considered as optional equiment?

Anythn other than rotors and controls, rudder and controls , sum sorta thrust providing gadget [912] and fuel supply[ seat tank] and a simple frame to mount everythn to.

[BeefBear]

Birdy,

So I could strap on as much fuel capacity as I want, providing I do go above my MTOW then?

Ted

[Birdy2]

Ted, you asked wots optional. Theres a million options for gyros, so i thought itd be easer to list wots mandatory. :blahblah:
I didn't say nuthn bout wots leagle.

[BeefBear]

Birdy are you saying its not legal then to add on extra fuel even though it only takes you up to MTOW?

Ted

[Birdy2]

I didn't say [and won't say]nuthn bout wots leagle.

[bones]

I was going to be a smart ass and dig out my new gyro report from when it was built to find the motw of it, though its not on there, so what and how do you find out the motw of a gyro?????