Rotor Blade Management. - Page 2

Waddles · 06-09-2007, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitch

G'Day Gents,

Very helpfull fellas.

Now after landing on rough terrain, with the possibility of some distance to taxi and no pre-rotator, the need to keep the centripedal forces in the blades (stiff and supporting their own weight), then is it a reasonable process to keep some back stick to keep the rotors spinning, during this protracted taxiing?

Appreciate all the comments.

Mitch

Gidday Mitch,

In my opinion, yes. However, you shold always keep an eye on the rotor RPM either by eye (preferred) or Tacho. This will allow you to modulate the amount of back stick applied to keep the rotors spinning enough to maintain their stiffness but not fast enough to cause a problem if a gust in encountered.

The other option is to land as close to the runway exit point as possible so as to minimise the amount of taxiing over rough ground. The inteligent use of your radio here will keep other users aware of your intentions. eg "Cranborne traffic this is Gyro 123, high final runway 36, full stop, mid field touchdown, Cranborne".

With a rotor brake available, once the rotors slow to the stage that you can see them starting to teeter significantly, apply the brake as hard as possible to stop them as soon as possible.

Hope this helps.

Waddles.

Mitch · 06-09-2007, 05:13 PM

G'Day Al,

Thanks for that...that was were I was headed with all of this.

I had viewed some footage of a gyro and have had emails with a pilot with respect to all of these process'.

Yeah Al, my last post included (landing closer to the pull up spot) but I dropped it to see what would come back.

OK, so it is a permissible way to keep some stiffness in the blades whilst taxiing over rough ground for some distance BUT not ideal....Is that about right???

I need to be very clear on this myself as I am about to get going again, still hand spinning the Patroney's (composite glass blades) and no brake installed as yet. Come on MLS.

Thanks Fella's I appreciate the posts.

Cheers,

Mitch

Mitch · 06-09-2007, 05:23 PM

Just to add to this,

I got blade flap twice at Cooma with the old Bensen Blades.
I got flap once at Lameroo. Bloody windy and thought I'd head out with all the boys on the flight to Lameroo.
I had a chat to Muzza afterwards and he told me I was having the stick back to far for the amount of wind. Next time out, I reduced the amount of back stick during the spinning up of the blades and they then came up a lot smoother.

Today I was able to 'rip' a six minute video from DVD to AVI and I am currently uploading to youtube. I will add a link when the bloody thing finally finishes. Dial up is painfully slow. Blue Emporer Butterfly at Lameroo.
Shows how quick a set of Patroney's will hand spin, with 5 -10 knots.

Thanks again Fellas.

Mitch.

Waddles · 06-09-2007, 05:27 PM

Mitch,

You definitely need stiff blades whilst taxiing over rough ground. With rotors in the vicinity of 29'diameter, you'll need around 80 to 100 RPM. With your blades probably 60 would be enough.

In gusty conditions with no pre-rotator, the best option would be to stop the rotors completly and push the gyro home over the rough ground.

Waddles.

Mitch · 06-09-2007, 10:09 PM

G'Day Al,

Yep I realise I need to keep em spinning.

Got the youtube vid up.

YouTube - Blue Emporer Butterfly

Cheers,

Mitch

Brian · 07-09-2007, 04:22 PM

Hi Mitch, sorry I havent got back on this topic as been busy getting a new water set up.

I did have a typo where I said 'neutral stick'..should have read, full forward but make sure stick is not one side or the other unless you have x wind, where you need stick into wind.

If I have to taxy over rough ground, I keep the rotors above 100 revs if possible, usually I will land exactly where I need to pull up to alleviate the taxying bit but thats not always possible eg Lameroo.

Good advice is that flight is not finished until rotors are stopped !!
Slow turning rotors do not provide any breaking ability so make sure you can pull up whenever taxying.

When getting the blades up whether by hand or pre rotor, get them going as fast as possible before letting stick back, particularly with a strong breeze.Once they are going as fast as you can get them, let the stick back slowly and carefully, you have to let the stick back far enough to get rotors going faster but not too far or flap may result, it can be a slow process in really strong winds so be patient, as soon as you feel the first bit of movement in the stick, push it full forward till all flapping stops, then try again.

Even a slow turning rotor hitting a solid object will result in new rotors !

Allan's and Sam's advice is spot on.

Mitch · 07-09-2007, 07:54 PM

G'Day Brian,

Top shelf info all round, thanks.

This info will help me, Tassie gets a few windy months ahead and my experience with flap at Lameroo, coupled to Muzza's advice there and the on this thread......muchly appreciated.

Mitch.

SamL · 08-09-2007, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitch

G'Day Brian,

Top shelf info all round, thanks.

This info will help me, Tassie gets a few windy months ahead and my experience with flap at Lameroo, coupled to Muzza's advice there and the on this thread......muchly appreciated.

Mitch.

Just one more comment Mitch. As you have probably already realised, your new Patroneys are very heavy and will require you to be more patiant during spinup. The lighter blades can be rushed and will accellerate much more quickly. I bet there was a huge difference between these new blades and your old wooden Bensens.

Regards SamL.

Brian · 08-09-2007, 12:55 PM

Also, the bigger the diameter of the blade, the longer it takes to get them going [usually]

Another point is that when you have got them started [by hand or pre rotator] and are taxying to get them going faster, I have the stick off the back stop [an inch or so]so that I can feel the first little knock of blade flap.It only takes a bit of a gust to upset the apple cart.

Mitch · 08-09-2007, 01:05 PM

Great info fellas.

Thanks again for the input.

Busting my hump to get airbourne.

Mitch.