I'm working on getting current after several years off. Only instead of power planes or gliders, I'm focused on gyroplanes this time. Ron, your videos are super-useful introduction to fundamental concepts. Thanks for posting!
I had ‘46 Culver V for about ten years and it had a curved instrument panel. During my initial transition training, if sitting on the left seat, upon landing, the plane would dart to the left. If in the right seat, the aircraft would dart to the right upon touch down. I spoke to a respected grizzled pilot and he told me to ignore the windshield and the instrument panel entirely. He said put that white line in the center of your chest. Keep that line square to you, using the rudder, provided you are seated square in the seat. Instantly he cured my unintended crab. It was an optical illusion.
How I wish you had had these videos back when I was training!!! So nice to be able to see the optimal and desired look of the horizon relative to the aircraft accomplished by a pro.
Thank you Ron for your excellent training, friendship and all the things I learned at your flight school. I enjoyed every minute of it. Today I had a grand time returning to aviation school and finding your digital form there. Good to have ya back.
Hey Ron. I don’t have any physical experience flying a gyro, all I do is watch vids like this and others, I feel I could get flying with all of the vids I’ve watched. Your thought would be greatly welcomed.
I can’t help imagining, as a fixed wing pilot, the rotor coming off or breaking and the subsequent rapid descent. Guess I am getting old and not even feeling safe without a Ballistic Recovery System.
Hi, Ron. Thank you for the video. I am interested in learning how to fly (so far 6 hours in Cessna) and I'm mixed between fixed (Cessna) and rotor (like R22). Needless to say, R22 is more expensive. So that's why I am curious about the Gyro. So my main question is this as I've been reading and receiving conflicting answers : In order to learn to fly the Gyro, do I first need to get my PPL in Cessna and then switch to Gyro / receive additional rating; OR, can I achieve certification with just the Gyro alone, to where I can fly and perhaps fly a passenger such as friend, family, etc if the aircraft is a 2 seat? Thank you again. Have a great and safe day. Matthew
It's sounds like a cross wind Landing is dealt with opposite of a fixed wing airplane? That is Rudder into the Wind, stick/cyclic with the wind? Did I get that right?
aside from the engine, do parts wear out on an auto-gyro? Do certain parts have a fixed number of hours before they must be replaced? Thank you. I enjoy watching your videos!
The rotor system and the rotor head has a 2500 hundred life cycle. Ive had many different makes and model gyroplanes over the years like a automobile, just keep up the minimal maintenance and the gyroplane will provide you with good service. Thanks for watching
Hi, I'm fascinated by these videos and the expertise of the pilots. I would love to fly one of these machines but is there an age limit to obtain your pilots licence for a gyro? I am a fit and healthy 63 year old in the UK.
Garry: I’ve been a flight instructor for 45 years. My very first student was a 65 yo accountant who walked in one day and asked me, “Can you teach an old dog new tricks?”! He was a great student and I took him all the way through his private pilot license. If you have the desire, I’m sure you can do it, too.
Why can't you pre-rotate at the hold short line, THEN taxi to the threshold and immediately start your takeoff roll--especially with incoming traffic in the pattern?
This is a pilot-controlled airfield. There is no ATC. Even if there were ATC, all you have to do is notify them of your intentions before takeoff. You would tell ATC that you are “remaining in the [traffic] pattern” or flying “Closed Traffic”.
Ron mentions a coupling from engine to rotor called the "pre-rotator." While stopped on the runway he engages drive, then "runs" the rotor speed up to a certain RPM before releasing parking brakes and beginning the take-off run.
I retired in 2021, decided I wanted to fly gyros, received ppl in 98 and after 2001 had not flown again as PIC. in June 2023 I bought an Air Command gyro, I've spent the last year or so getting it into flying condition where it is now. Some of the gyro pilots at the airport I fly out of are in there mid 70's and they do just fine. I'm 58.
I'm working on getting current after several years off. Only instead of power planes or gliders, I'm focused on gyroplanes this time. Ron, your videos are super-useful introduction to fundamental concepts. Thanks for posting!
Great explanation of takeoffs and landings!
So glad you are sharing your HUGE depth of knowledge and experience in this medium!
Very informative!
Yes, our Ron is back !!! 😊
I had ‘46 Culver V for about ten years and it had a curved instrument panel. During my initial transition training, if sitting on the left seat, upon landing, the plane would dart to the left. If in the right seat, the aircraft would dart to the right upon touch down. I spoke to a respected grizzled pilot and he told me to ignore the windshield and the instrument panel entirely. He said put that white line in the center of your chest. Keep that line square to you, using the rudder, provided you are seated square in the seat. Instantly he cured my unintended crab. It was an optical illusion.
How I wish you had had these videos back when I was training!!! So nice to be able to see the optimal and desired look of the horizon relative to the aircraft accomplished by a pro.
Excellent video on gyro flying. The best I have seen so far, Hello from Ireland.
Thanks for the informative video 😊
Great video, really helpful for learning. Thanks for the detail and patience, Ron.
Very nice video. Very educational. Thanks Ron.
Thank you Ron for your excellent training, friendship and all the things I learned at your flight school. I enjoyed every minute of it. Today I had a grand time returning to aviation school and finding your digital form there. Good to have ya back.
I flew with you back in the early '90s with the yellow RAF 2000. You are a fantastic instructor!
Wow, thanks!
Hey Ron. I don’t have any physical experience flying a gyro, all I do is watch vids like this and others,
I feel I could get flying with all of the vids I’ve watched. Your thought would be greatly welcomed.
Great video Ron... I am in Jacksonville Florida, getting ready to buy a gyro
Brilliant video Ron - you're wheting my appetite to train to become a gyrocopter pilot! 😎😎
thank you Ron , most informative
I love your videos, always very well explained. Im looking forward to becoming a Gyro pilot soon.
I like your videos, very informative, looking forward to learn how to fly a gyro!😁
Very clear instruction and explainations. How many years have you instructed gyroplanes? Heli's too?
Nice uploads! These are helpful and well explained.
i always wanted to fly these autogyros. no one close to me teaches or sells them though. '. i'm in GA thank you for all your videos
I can’t help imagining, as a fixed wing pilot, the rotor coming off or breaking and the subsequent rapid descent. Guess I am getting old and not even feeling safe without a Ballistic Recovery System.
All good info . I'm going to transition from a 2 place Euro copter to a Brock KB 3 single seat . Ron do you have any advice ?
Hi, Ron.
Thank you for the video.
I am interested in learning how to fly (so far 6 hours in Cessna) and I'm mixed between fixed (Cessna) and rotor (like R22). Needless to say, R22 is more expensive. So that's why I am curious about the Gyro.
So my main question is this as I've been reading and receiving conflicting answers :
In order to learn to fly the Gyro, do I first need to get my PPL in Cessna and then switch to Gyro / receive additional rating; OR, can I achieve certification with just the Gyro alone, to where I can fly and perhaps fly a passenger such as friend, family, etc if the aircraft is a 2 seat?
Thank you again. Have a great and safe day.
Matthew
It's sounds like a cross wind Landing is dealt with opposite of a fixed wing airplane?
That is Rudder into the Wind, stick/cyclic with the wind? Did I get that right?
aside from the engine, do parts wear out on an auto-gyro? Do certain parts have a fixed number of hours before they must be replaced? Thank you. I enjoy watching your videos!
The rotor system and the rotor head has a 2500 hundred life cycle. Ive had many different makes and model gyroplanes over the years like a automobile, just keep up the minimal maintenance and the gyroplane will provide you with good service. Thanks for watching
does the rotor system have to be rebalanced? if so, how often? thank you.
A balanced. Rotor system remains balanced as long as it remains undamaged. Thanks
Hi, I'm fascinated by these videos and the expertise of the pilots. I would love to fly one of these machines but is there an age limit to obtain your pilots licence for a gyro? I am a fit and healthy 63 year old in the UK.
No age limit however as most people get on in age the learning process becomes more difficult. Thanks
Garry: I’ve been a flight instructor for 45 years. My very first student was a 65 yo accountant who walked in one day and asked me, “Can you teach an old dog new tricks?”! He was a great student and I took him all the way through his private pilot license. If you have the desire, I’m sure you can do it, too.
Is there a reason you can't start the pre-rotation before taking the runway? Is it inadvisable to make taxiing turns with the rotor spinning?
Why can't you pre-rotate at the hold short line, THEN taxi to the threshold and immediately start your takeoff roll--especially with incoming traffic in the pattern?
Atc is cool with you just taking off and landing again like that? Do you have to inform them you are doing that before you fly?
This is a pilot-controlled airfield. There is no ATC. Even if there were ATC, all you have to do is notify them of your intentions before takeoff. You would tell ATC that you are “remaining in the [traffic] pattern” or flying “Closed Traffic”.
is the vibration normal?
where are you located, please?
Do you use the motor to ramp up the rotor speed then disconnect? In the video it is not clear.
Ron mentions a coupling from engine to rotor called the "pre-rotator." While stopped on the runway he engages drive, then "runs" the rotor speed up to a certain RPM before releasing parking brakes and beginning the take-off run.
I've wanted to fly one of those for a long time. I'm 67. Is there an age limit on flying these?
No specific age limit if you're healthy.
I retired in 2021, decided I wanted to fly gyros, received ppl in 98 and after 2001 had not flown again as PIC. in June 2023 I bought an Air Command gyro, I've spent the last year or so getting it into flying condition where it is now. Some of the gyro pilots at the airport I fly out of are in there mid 70's and they do just fine. I'm 58.