How to Get a Gyro Into the Air

GyRoss · 03-09-2006, 05:03 PM

Ok
Now that I have got your attention, I need your help.
What I want to do in this topic is get some of you to describe in detail how you get your gyro airbourne.
Why? To get some information out there, and to give students and others a feel for different characteristics for different types of gyros.
What I'm lookng to demonstrate is the different techniques used for different machines.

Give some details as to your machine configuration, engine /redrive type, prerotator type, type of blades etc.

Describe what you do from the moment you start the engine till your in the air.

Have fun

Gyross

russ · 03-09-2006, 08:12 PM

The best information you can get "out there" is....................go find an instructor

training......... is theory and hands on experiences.

30 yrs ago, we ALL read "the books", and hopped into our single seaters to put the "theory" into practice.......mate we was coming unstuck left right and centre.

Thank christ for twin seaters we now got............

GyRoss · 03-09-2006, 10:17 PM

I'll have a go to get things started

Gyro: NEWO, Two Seater, Rotax 618, hydraulic prerotator, Goodwin Rotors

Do standard preflight.
Now even before we get in, need to get a look at the wind direction and also consider the prop blast. Position the machine so it is nose into the wind, not going to damage other aircraft or hangars with prop blast, and the last thing is aim it at something a long way away or something very soft. Why? Just consider what will happen if it starts and goes to full thottle.( thats an experience you won't ever forget)
Get myself and student /passenger in and bucked up and headsets on. At this point its good to get an idear how heavy your passenger is.
I have a set of prestart checks ABCFITS
All clear
Brake set
Controls free
Fuel sufficient
Instruments ok and set
Throttle set for start
Secure all harness and loose objects
Next its Clear Prop and get the engine going
Need to do a warm up and check water temps and egts are commimg up
Next the warm up Next Checks are SMIRFSTAB
Switches are set
Mag checks, check both ignitions
Instruments are OK , Alt
Radio, radio check
Fuel sufficient
Secure, loose objects and hatches helments harness
Throttle , ok and not stuck
All clear , pre taxi no aircraft moving around in front
Brake, now time to realease the brake
I know some of these checks are repeated but better safe than you know
Now Ready to taxi and prerotate
This machine has a hydraulic prerotator, so this is an interesting sequence (an extra hand would be useful)
Hold the brake on, stick fully forward
RPM to 3000
Gently squeeze the prerotator handle, make sure engine rpm does not drop below 2800
As Rotor rmp increases, gradually bring back the stick
Now start to increase the engine rpm slowly to 3500, while squeezing the prerotator handle all the way in
As rotor rpm gets to about 60 , its time to start moving
Stick fully back, engine approx 3000, prerotator still fully engaged , start to roll forward, radio call if you have a spare finger
At about 80 rpm release the prerotator
Now I bring up the blades as per normal
Gradually feed in more air as the blades come up to speed.
Before the take off roll commences I do a ABCFITS check as per above
Now the take off roll
Gradually feeding in more throttle as rotor speed increases
As I feed in more power I need to maintain right rudder pressure, its got a tall tail so its just rudder pressure, not extra rudder , just pressure.
At approx 180 rotor rpm the nose will want to lift, so at this point , gently forward on the stick to keep her balancing on the mains. So continue to feed in the power gently untill we get full power.
Two important checks DO I HAVE FULL ENGINE RPM 6800
DO I HAVE A WORKING AIR SPEED INDICATOR
If both these are OK we are Ok for take off
Need to now keep balancing on the mains and let the airspeed build to 40 knots
At 40 knots it will just fly off on its own. Dont let it off before 40 knots
Now this is an important time to remember how heavy the person is who is sitting next to you.
This is a side by side two seater so it is now going to tilt to the heavy side unless you compensate with a small amount of stick movement
So the machine is now in the air and doing 40 knots. Its not over yet. We have two people being lifted by a Rotax 618. So its not an easy task. Now need to keep the machine at about 5 feet and gently lower the nose and allow the airspeed to build. This takes only a few seconds and at 50 knots you are ready to climb out , so at this point ,gently back on the stick to maintain 50 knots in climb.

So you can see from this sequence I use a number of check lists, some are specific to this particular aircraft.
Your instructor should help you to develop a set of suitable checks for you machine.

The important thing in all of this is to look at the parts of this sequence common to all types of gyros and what is going to be specific to your machine.

Disclaimer. This is not a teach yourself to fly document, BUT a tequnique and numbers for a specific gyroplane.

Gyross

niquenaque · 03-09-2006, 10:39 PM

Well Ross,

I don't know about everyone else, but at the moment for me it is a case of throwing about $1000 Jack Allen's way, then I can get airbourne.

I did a post for dean [disco1] about a month back - have a look there if you wish.

Cheers,

Nick.

Aussie_Paul · 03-09-2006, 11:42 PM

Ok Ross, this is what I have used.

Now that the attachment seems to be working, I have deleted the text here.

Disclaimer. This is not a teach yourself to fly document, BUT a tequnique and numbers for a specific gyroplane.

Aussie Paul.

Sonnyj · 04-09-2006, 03:11 AM

Well Blokes
From what I see and read here, this is a very good idea.
No I don't suggest that anyone just read this info and run out and start tryin to fly.
But a I can see where it will help a potential student in chooseing an instructor, and give at least some sence of what their about to undertake.

I think you should add to your post's that "if you choose to use this info to train your self, you do so at your own risk." Just like the disclaimers in the casting sites I visit.

Thanx and Cheers
Sonny

GyRoss · 04-09-2006, 02:43 PM

This thread is not intended as a teach yourself to fly thread.
The aim is to demonstrate that there are various techniques required to get different types of machines into
the air. The routine listed above is different to a machine with an electric prerotator and also very different to hand
starting your blades.
Your instructor will show you how to get his particular two seater into the air and should also guide you on how to
get your single seater going.
The check lists I use I have derived, and I also help my students to get checklists set up for their machines.

Anyone else game to have a go.

Gyross

Bob · 08-09-2006, 09:10 AM

Good luck GyRoss !
I commend your attempt but, think its futial... these people are so afrade that what they sujest may be used against them in a court of law or be the downfall of some one trying to teach themselves to fly that I seriously doubt you'll get much of a responce.... its too bad too ! its a fasinateing subject and one that would teach many people many things old and new alike.
...
I would add to your list of what to do to get your gyro in the air except I have never had a sustained flight in my gyro as of yet.
...
I will add that I Attempt to fly in this fashon....
lets asume the gyro was double checked and all the important stuff done and its Just you and the machine and the landing strip on a windless day.
... I start off by makeing at least 4 or 5 seat runs down the run way...
first trip down the run way, with the rotors barely turning...
I am checking the steering and engine responce , if everything checks out I will start spinning rhe rotor for the trip back... to get it on the tail wheel but no further... checking out the rudder sesponce and the alignment when the front wheel comes down from the tail wheel makeing sure it will not Jurk the craft to one side or the other... the next pass is trying to ballance on the mains something i have yet to accomplish very well,
it is eather Up or down , there is no in between.... but I may have found why this last winter so we shall see next trip out...
after about 3 passes of ballanceing on the mains or keeping it on the edge of it... and IF and only IF it feels right , i may attempt a hop or two...
getting it on the mains and slowly increasing the throttle while keeping the gyro going stright till the wheels leave the ground... and back out slowly out of the throttle... this gives a decent hop and is usually fairly easy to control everything....
once the craft leaves the ground is when I start backing out because it takes a few minutes for it to slow back down and come back to earth.
...
I have done many Hops this way and I have also layed it over 2 times now
all it takes is a slight gust of wind or getting behind what is going on with the craft and it only takes a split second to wind up on the side...
....
as You are leaving the ground or getting speed up to do so ...I say "fly the stick !" ... you better compensate or your in a world of hurt !
there is Milli-seconds of reaction time needed to keep the gyro up right.
and if your not top notch ... don't even get in the seat that day !
....
thats how I seez it..
Bob.......

Yoshi · 08-09-2006, 10:28 AM

Hi Bob

Quote:

I would add to your list of what to do to get your gyro in the air except I have never had a sustained flight in my gyro as of yet.
I have done many Hops this way and I have also layed it over 2 times now.
All it takes is a slight gust of wind or getting behind what is going on with the craft and it only takes a split second to wind up on the side...
....

Is it just me or is someone trying to tell you something, but I guess I have to admire your persisitance.

Cheers

Darren

gyrobob · 08-09-2006, 01:38 PM

bob never fly the stick - fly your rotors - oh SH|T

here we go - now I'm going to end up in court

bob you gotta be on that mountain brew mate

- how bout the recipe