Oshkosh 2022 Trip - Day 1 - Kallithea gyro travels from Los Angeles to Oshkosh
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- Oshkosh 2022 Trip - Day 1
Departed Whiteman Airport (KWHP) on July 22, at 5:30 in the morning. I wanted to make sure every minute of daylight is available to me later in the day when I was going to be flying over unfamiliar territory.
After meticulous planning, my route was wel set and reconned on various mapping platforms... yet, there were some surprises that made the day exciting.
Heat was definite factor. Density altitude was making it obvious I should be on my toes as I get reach even higher-elevation airports.
My cameras overheated in one time or another, so some of the most spectacular terrain I flew over was not even filmed properly.
Overall, thoigh, the day's plan was executed as planned.
In future videos, could you please give some flight details every 5 minutes or so. ie...cruising altitude and air speed...etc. Maybe on one stop of your trip show the fueling procedure and preflight check...etc. What an adventure. Thank you.
All of these are things that get lost in the editing and the strive to make a video to appeal to wide audiences. If you follow my Facebook pages, there is usually some additional information. Additionally, i am always available for chats with someone interested in the finer details, or people planning similar trips.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!! Thank you for taking the time to create this truly informative cross country gyrocopter video illustrating what would go into a trip like this.
Some of the fun is in the detailed planning. The better you plan, the easier it is once you hit the road…
@@lagyro -- "Details" narrative wasn't planned !
These videos are exceedingly well done. It looks and sounds easy enough but when you watch the stick, it vibrates the whole time. I think it was far more difficult than it looks. I would say supreme flying; one man in an ultra lite, about 4300 miles. Fabulous.
Thank you for watching… and thank you for the kind words. The trip was exhausting, but also a lot of fun. I had the opportunity to see the country from an unique angle. Met many wonderful people. Enjoyed every minute of flying.
I would loved to do the same trip with a bunch of friends - few gyros flying together.
@@lagyroздравствуйте, мое восхищение вам и привет из Казахстана, скажите пожалуйста как называется ваш автожир и можно ли такой заказать к себе в Казахстан?
@@Roman_Ossetrov, thank you for watching... The gyroplane in the video is a Kallithea designed by Niki Rotor Aviation from Bulgaria. Google them, and you will be able to find their corporate website. They would be extremely happy to provide you with any information you seek... and they speak Russian as well... Good luck, and should you purchase a Kallithea, please let me know and send pictures.
@@lagyroбольшое спасибо Вам, обязательно вам сообщу!
@@Roman_Ossetrov Thank you for watching...
Excellent! Reminds me of my first few VFR cross-country flights. I recognize many of the landmarks on your flight. Good narration. Keep up the good work my fellow aviator friend.
Thank you for the kind words…
This trip is wanderfoul. Thank you.
Thank you for watching, and thank you for the kind words.
The trip really was fantastic, a modern day adventure.
Did you see the clips from the other days?
3325 km de distance! Ce gyrocoptère est vraiment une excellente machine, ça vaut bien un voyage avec des paysages incroyable! Merci pour cette magnifique vidéo. Un abonné de France 🇨🇵 👍
Thank you for the kind words. GYroplanes are not usually designed for this kind of trips, but they are fully capable of doing them... and flying low an slow really shows you some fantastic views over the land...
Nice video. Terrific narration. Strong content. Good job.
Thank you for watching… and thank you for the kind words…
@@lagyro I enjoyed your flight too, it was satisfying to know that you weren't having your ears blasted by ICE powered rotar blades,
Awesome views. I'm really enjoying this cross country flying.thanks for filming it.
Thank you for watching… Making these videos allows me to relive the memories…
Thanks for inviting us onboard the Cavalon for this spectacular trip L.A. Gyroplane Aviation! . . .
Watching with great interest from nippy 🇳🇴👍
*Safe Flights Always!* 👌
The weather during the trip was the opposite of nippy… it was blistering hot, but once in the air, it felt good.
One small correction, my gyro is not a Cavalon, but a Kallithea - designed by Niki Rotor Aviation…
Thank you! It was like seeing my impossible bucket list, realized. So good.
Thank you for watching… Nothing is impossible, sometimes we just need a little luck… 😉
Amazing video of an epic cross-country. With my first ride in a Hughes 500 in Hawaii I realized the best way to see remote scenery is from a heli or gyro. I understand following roads in such barren regions for rescue reasons but my thoughts would be constantly haunted by the remote chance of a midair with an aircraft doing the same thing in the opposite direction. I can't wait to watch the rest of the trip. Thanks for taking the extra effort to film and edit your adventure!😄
I never gave it a though about hitting someone else flying like me but in the opposite direction... Most airplanes fly much higher, and I do monitor my ADS-B traffic interface.
That being said, Once I entered the green fields of Iowa, I stayed above 2,000 feet AGL because I was concerned for the numerous crop dusters flying all over the place.
Remember...east is odd west is even odder 😉
Great video and thanks for sharing experience.
Thank you so much for sharing us this excellent cross-country trip.
Sharing the trip allows me to fly it twice…
Thank you for the great video of this cross country flight. You have put a lot of work in the preparations, filming and editing, it’s like I came along with you on this flight. 👍🏼 I am looking forward to day 2 of your journey. Greetings from a tiny village in the Netherlands. (Ps. I have flown a lot in a Dynamic WT9, but would love to experience flying in a gyro plane.)
Thank you for the kind words... If you ever find yourself in Los Angeles, please give me a call... But you do not have to come to America to experience a gyro flight. Please do not hesitate to get a demo flight from a local gyro pilot oir instructor. You must get your "gyro grin"... ;)
Love this video.
Thank you for watching!!
awesome aircraft
we all appreciate the effort in the video as well
Video editing is time consuming… one of the reasons why my computer hard drive gets fuller and fuller with unprocessed video footage…
This is great, thanks for posting
Thank you for watching...
thank you for letting me tag along it was amazing!
Thank you for watching… sharing the trip allows me to relive it twice…
the pilot is very extraordinary, super steady and very cool to be able to see the view from the air huh...
Thank you for the kind words…
I’m amazed at how you have so much knowledge of the things you pass over.
Thank you for the kind words...
I always liked georgraphy, so this knowledge comes naturally to me. I also prepared for this trip months in advance with detailed study of almost every inch of the route on Google Earth, and other charts with more precise elevation numbers.
That must feel amazing to be up there by yourself like that. You are like a hi-tech eagle!
I have to admit, flying a gyro over magnificent views feels like being on a magic carpet…
Thank you for an excellent and informative video :)
When i share the trip, i get to relive it twice…
That’s a long haul from LA to Oshkosh at ~ 80-90 knots ! Thanks for posting your flight !
You are correct about the long haul... and it can get a bit too much from time to time. But the upside is seeing the country from few feet off the ground almost like nothing else, and that makes it worth the effort... in moderation of course... ;)
@@lagyro - I flew my Grumman Tiger from SE Virginia to Waukesha for AirVenture in 2019. Made a stop for fuel in central Ohio. I was more than ready to get out of that cockpit when we stopped at that FBO in Ohio ! Much respect for your fortitude.
@@USNVA11 I hear you... this is one of the reasons why I plan the legs for about 1:45 to 2:00 hours...
Holy shit. That contraption sounded like a damn lawn mower engaging the blades lol. Brave soul right there
Haha, you are not far from the truth, the prerotator’s belts do screech in the beginning.
BRAVO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great stuff man!! thanks for taking us along!
Sharing the trip makes me relive it multiple times… lots of fun…
What a cool video I'm amazed at these gyro copters, thanks for sharing these videos I'm hooked and subscribed.
Thank you for watching... I am currently processing the return trip to Los Angeles, so by the time yuo watch the rest of the videos, the new batch would be ready and available...;)
Great video!!! How I wish I'd taken this up to enjoy other than work all the time to know nothing but work.
Work hard, play hard... I heard that somewhere... Not sure if it works exactly as it sounds... ;)
What a cool way to fly cross country. Enjoying the videos
Flying on a magic carpet above beautiful landscapes…
Excellent flying and video.
Thank you for the kind words…
Nice video--enjoyed seeing that part of the country from your gyro. You made good progress in a day of flying!
Thank you for the kind words… Even with the unexpected stop, the overall progress was great. Long cross country flights require good planning, precise execution… and a lot of luck…
awesome thanks for sharing your experience...
Stand by for the other days of this fantastic journey...
@@lagyro looking forward to it for sure
*I would like to see comparison between Kallithea and Calidus*
*(I would also like to see them flying together)*
I have couple of friends who fly Calidus gyros, so we can probably do comparison videos, then go fly together.
I also have a friend who sold his Calidus and bought a Kallithea. His reasoning was that the Kallithea has much better visibility from the cockpit, has the option for a 915 engine, and the seating arrangement is much more comfortable…
Until one has spent time in the Great Basin, it's difficult to appreciate it's scale and beauty. Thanks for the low altitude perspective. Another fantastic flight would be to travel the entire length of highway 395. Mountains on the one side, the Great Basin on the other. 395 is literally the dividing line between the two and runs from San Diego to Canada.
Looking at maps, charts, Google Earth even, give you just a limited appreciation for goegraphical features, but once you fly over the terrain, you realize the difference in scale... sometimes it looks bigger, and sometimes it looks smaller than anticipated...
Guess you havent studied tectonic plates and geography the assumption that the 395 divides the US and Canada in any stretch of the imagination is fantastical imagination at best..but make that your reality that you chose
@@lutomson3496
You might want to re-read the OP's post.
@@lutomson3496 lmaoo how horrible of a person are you for you to come up with a response to the original comment like that? get a grip, jesus man wtf
I traveled 395 south from Mono Lake to 136 east into Death Valley. Aside from a speeding ticket in Bishop, it was a fun little adventure on my meandering way from San Francisco to Dallas. The U.S. is a big beautiful place if you know how to look.
Thank you for video... Nice journey... Sorry for sweating inside the cabin
Thank you for watching and leaving a comment...
Yes, it was quite hot while taxiing on the ground, but the air vents did work very well once in the air.
I would say that the overall feeling from the flight is exhilarating, and the small stuff like the heat is not remembered for long...
Καλλιθέα, όνομα και πράγμα. Καλό τάξιδο.
Funny that you have to use the long runway when I'm sure you could land in the parking lot, LOL!! Also is amazing your craft stays together with the amount of vibration I saw and you are not totally numb after two or three hours flying.
On the landing... it is not a good idea to go against what everyone expects from you, so landing on the runway is the way to go on unfamiliar airports. On one of my local airports, the tower allows landing on the taxiway, and they even encourage it...
About the vibration... there are always vibrations, but what you see on the screen is not even close to the actual feeling when flying. You are looking through the lense of a camera that vibrates on its own, and its image stabilization is introducing another layer of distorsion for the viewers.
I live in Criciuma, in the south of Brazil and I am also passionate about aviation. I've already been to Lakeland 2019. Your adventure is very interesting. Congratulations. Francisco
One never knows what an adventure such as this would bring, and that is probably the allure of the long cross country flight… maybe we’ll see you at Bensen Days one of these years…
@@lagyro It would be a pleasure to meet you and hear your stories.
I loved your video as well as the nerrating. I just became very interested on Gyros
I, myself, discovered gyros on UA-cam before actually getting involved in flying them...
This video started my interest into gyroplanes. Thanks for taking the time to make this amazing footage. It’s awesome.
Gyros are fantastic machines, and with proper handling can be so much fun you have to pinch yourself…
I would recommend visiting some gyro flying events like Bensen Days in Wauchula, Florida, or the PRA Convention at Mentone, Indiana… Also, it might be fun for you to take an introductory flight with a gyro flight instructor.
@@lagyro I literally have the same sentiment as @martinholloway7694. I couldn't find a gyro instructor near my home in Maryland but I am currently on a visit to LA and will contact the good folks at LA Gyro for an introductory flight. Thank you for taking me on this journey with you. Im watching the entire thing again for the 2nd time.
@@blakjedi you’re always welcome to visit L. A. , but have you tried looking at Frederick Airport? I think there was a gyro instructor there.
Also, you may consider visiting Bensen Days in Florida at the end of March. There you can hook up with almost any gyro instructor in the country in one place…
I will be in LA this week and have requested a 60/90 min introductory flight through your website. Looking forward!
@@blakjedi oh, that was you… awesome… I sent a reply…
Awesome video friend 👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you for watching… and thank you for the kind words!!!
I would have liked to have been there . Good publicity for the gyro Greetings from Bavaria 🚁
Greetings from California… Oshkosh is something a pilot should experience once in a while just to recharge the batteries… You are 100% correct about the publicity, the gyro was a guest of honor everywhere i went.
You do a good job of narrating the experience of the trip - the scenery, etc…
Normally, videos like these tend to have little narration, or narration that is irrelevant to the content.
Good job on the vid and beautiful gyro!
Thank you for the knd words... The goals is to take the viewer on the journey with me...
@@lagyro - at some moments I noticed your control stick was shaking significantly. Is it turbulence which causes a lot of feedback?
@@manofsan at high airspeeds the dissimetry of lift in the rotor causes more vibrations. There were moments when i was very close to the top allowed speed.
All that being said, you should keep in mind that you are looking through the lens of a camera that is vibrating itself and trying to apply image stabilization to the video. All of this creates the wrong illusion of exactly what in the cockpit is shaking and how much…
Excellent stuff bro
Great content my friend! I found it to be more interesting than a Netflix series. Every moment was enjoyable, would love to see more. Thanks a lot for your efforts!
Thank you for the kind words…
I am planning to publish the return trip as well - another 4 days going home to Los Angeles…stand by for some exciting footage…
@@lagyro Wow! will be waiting for it. All the best.
Autogyro is incredible! Much cool! 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿
Thank you for the kind words…
I F R = "I Follow Roads", I like that. Sounds better than "Instrument Flight Regulations" which would let you fly at night. It is like I am sat in the cockpit behind you.
A friend of mine was amazed how familiar he was with the cockpit when he sat in it for the first... just because he has seen many of the videos...
I love that
Love the vibration in the stick, bet that got old quickly.
I can understand how that might be the visual appearance while watchig the video, but keep in mind that you are looking through the lens of a camera vibrating on its mount while trying to implement image stabilization to the captured footage. That, in general, distorts the perception of the vibration of objects that are close to the camera vs those further away.
That is not to say there are no vibrations in the stick, but those are much less than what appears on screen...
Insane 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼❤️❤️❤️
looks like a fun machine, just found this, well have to check more of your videos
Few years ago I discovered gyros on UA-cam myself… 😉
I was very relieved to see you break out the aviator sunglasses
Haha… these are invaluable …
Love the video it's really nice thanks for sharing New Subscriber here Hello From Australia
Thank you for the kind words, and thank you for watching.
I live in the high desert, you're not wrong about anything you said.
The control stick vibrates a lot. Damping it might make it easier on the hand(s). I don't know if anyone else commented on this, so my apology in advance if someone already did. Great & unusual video so thank you for posting it.
Yes, many peopla comment on the stick's vibrations... I guess the reasoin for that is because the stick is a natural focal point on screen.
Keep in mind you are looking through the lens of a camera that vibrates on ots mount while trying to apply image stabilization on the captures video... things get a bit distorted, so the shake look a but worse than it really is...
IFR gives you plenty of road landing opportunities. I fly my C206 near highways in some mountain areas. Roads are lightly traveled in remote areas of Nevada, Utah, Wyoming….
Absolutely…if you never need it, you just have the company of the truckers on the road… but if you need it, boy, there is do much less walking…
I enjoyed that trip.
Please watch the videos from the other days in the journey… that was really an epic trip… I would recommend to anyone to do something similar if they can…
@@lagyro I did watch them. I thought gyroplanes had shorter take offs. Even in high altitudes. I learned a lot, didn’t know about pre-wind, all very interesting.
The short takeoff is somewhat possible in species circumstances, but usually that is being advertised by sales reps…
South Utah has a town called Hurricane. It is aptly named. Safe flying
I was planning to land there as a fuel stop, but at the last moment chose St George. Beautiful area at the doorsteps of Zion National Park...
@@lagyro it's a nice little town, it can get pretty windy. The locals think it's mild and call it normal. Keep your weather radio on.
Glad I found this channel! What a fun adventure! Well done, and great production despite the China cameras giving you issues.
Cameras overheating is a real bummer…
I feel like you could scale up the cooling system used in a liquid cooled computer. Mount a heat sink on the exterior of the gryo and it shouldn't produce much drag. Just cycle coolant to the heat sink with a small pump letting the exterior airflow pull heat off the heat sink. Could be used to cool you off or your camera gear. It wouldn't be ice cold but it could still make a big difference on those hotter days.
Interesting suggestion... The reason why I was surprised by the overheating of the cameras is because my previous trips were not that long, and the camera was not really exposed to that much sunlight. Once I discovered the problem, I managed to keep some shade on top of the heat sensitive devices. In general, flying gyroplanes is syninimous with "simlicity" so anything that is over complicated is not going to fly (no pun intended).
@@lagyro oh I get it lol. Thanks for the video again. I plan to watch some more soon. I always wondered how it would fair flying one of these cross country and this gave me a lot of insight into long trips in one. Most the videos I come across are short trips
@@tommylewis8457 I recommend to everyone who can do it to embark on such adventure... prety much the last frontier...
It does not have to be across the whole country, but overnight trips are very exciting as well.
It sure took a lot of Runway to become airborne
Gyroplanes should not be considered a Short-Takeoff aircraft in general, and when you add a significant density altitude component, it is not difficult to expect a long ground roll.
Can gyroscopes take off from a short field? Yes, under special conditions - weather, weight, wind, pilot skills, runway surface, etc.
It's bad news when flying parallel to the highway, the cars and trucks are passing you! You've got balls flying that contraption that far though - give you that!!!
Well, during most of the trip I was zooming at 85-90 knots, a decent speed for a gyroplane. If a car wants to drive faster than that, my hat is off to them...
Also, similar contaption (two of them) has done a trip around the world, crossing oceans and high mountains. As proud as I am of my trip to Oshkosh and back, really it is not an Earthshattering achievement... ;)
Very cool video. If you take distance flown 624 miles or so and time engine was running 8.2 hour (includes ground time of course) you get around 70-75mph overall. Probably around 14 mpg? But well worth it for the view and experience.
My fuel consumption was 5.5 gallons per hour when the engine was being pushed above and beyond normal use. The Rotax engine is a fantastic piece of machinery that makes the light sport aircraft viable...
I couldnt do long distance in one of these with the stick wobbling the whole time would drive me nuts! 😔
Don't knock it, till you try it... ;) The vibrations look much worse than they realy are...
@lagyro I have flown one but only for an hour, loved every minute of it but the vibrations were rather annoying after a while 😄
Enjoyed the video though thankyou, especially the night shots 😎
I guess a little ac would have made the trip a bit more comfortable huh? The flight looked great though. Grazie for sharing. 🥸
True… AC would have kept things cooler, but to be honest, while in the air, the cockpit was very comfortable.
Great video....thanks for posting! That being said, whenever that engine and rotor make that ungodly loud run-up sound, my tinnitus would be so much worse for wear if I ran that baby to Oshkosh. lol Also, running through Barstow/Baker in the middle of July would be a beast. Kudos to you for making such a trip. p.s. also, my Insta360 heats up quite a bit when in continuous use...guess that's natural for the camera.
- The screeching of the pre-rotator belts is really crazy, until all goes in sync and then it sounds like a turbine engine... You never have to worry about this sound in flight, it just lasts for few seconds.
- The desert gets a bit toasty during the summer months, but what is more annoying is the persistent afternoon thunderstorms in that area - VERY ANNOYING...
- The camera does get very hot during continuos usage. When I fly the open cockpit machine, the wind cools it down somewhat, but in the enclosed cockpit, things are not so easy. In general, as long as it is away from direct sunlight, it runs fine even when hot, but as I left Boulder City, it just died and I missd on some fantastic scenery through the Valley of Fire...
@@lagyro Thanks again for the video. You're the absolute Boss for making this trip and allowing us to be along for the ride!
Thank you for the kind words... stand by fo rthe return journey footage... ;)
This looks like a very enjoyable trip, and I wouldn't mind buying a gyrocopter myself. There are only two things keeping me from doing so: No air conditioning and the thought of crashing.
I hear you... AC would be a good addition to any emclosed aircraft... or you can remove the doors and fly it open cockpit... About crashing - any aircraft is potentially exposed to that problem, why do you say gyros scare you more than others?
@L.A. Gyroplane Aviation When I watch an extreme professional such as yourself, operating the aircraft, you make it look easy and definitely enjoyable. The same goes with Tucker Gott and his paramotor. Both of you managed to learn and master the skill without being killed along the way. HOWEVER, when I watch crash compilation videos with both types of aircraft, in almost every case, the crash was due to rookie pilot error. That is the part that bothers me. They pull up too steep, and the rotor touches the ground and obliterates the aircraft. They are in flight, pull up too steep and then tip the nose down. The pilot is suddenly upside down and is toast. The paramotor pilot pulls the rope incorrectly, and a wing collapses. In both aircraft, they take off and then immediately make an error that causes them to whip around like a lacrosse ball and slam into the ground. Watching professionals like you make me want to buy one, but watching rookies crash makes me say I better keep my feet on the ground. It is disappointing nonetheless.
@@Dave-co1cv I appreciate calling me a "professional" and I would be very happy if it was possible to just fly and not have another job.. ;)
When it comes to training, it is important for all types of flying. Airplanes are not any safer than gyros, but they also require more training because traditionally a Private Pilot level was the lowest level you can achieve. It took me 75 training hours to get my fixed wing pilot license, and I see some gyro pilot trainees who are ready to give up after less than 5 hours of gyro training, or think they are good pilots after 10-20 hours of training. Gyros, or any aircraft, are very safe and controllable if you respect them and do your due diligence to train and keep your skills fresh. As you said, rookie mistakes cost a lot of money... and even on my level, there are maneuvers that I would not even considering doing, yet I still enjoy flying...
@L.A. Gyroplane Aviation My definition of "professional" doesn't necessarily mean a paid profession, but simply that the individual is at a "professional" level in a particular field. In your case, I watched you take off and land several times over, and it was textbook perfect. This makes you a "professional" gyro-pilot in my book. This doesn't mean you aren't human and infallible, but you know exactly how to fly one without making the mistakes that killed so many, or at least destroyed their gyrocopter.
@@Dave-co1cv in any case, thank you for the kind words.
You bring a very interesting point... Many people go to do demo flights with an experienced gyro pilots, dealer, representatve of a brand. Everything during the flight is perfect, takeoff is effortless, landing is smooth, price looks affordable. So these people love everything about the gyro, and want one. Of course the pilot would never admit of the hours it takes to become profecient. People purchase the gyro, then decide to go cheap on training, or training is not readily available, then they get busy and do not fly the gyro for a month or so, then when they go to fly it, they are lacking the muscle memory and what they kinda remembered from their training has evaporated... then bad things can potentially happen.
Now, that is not something unique to the gyros, but they are so sexy and look so accessible, which makes them a bit more visible when things go wrong... I have an open offer to every rusty gyro pilot in the area to invite me for a flight when they need some assistance to get back in the saddle...
Woow ❤️
I've always been interested in gyros. But don't think I could take the stick shake for that long of a time.
Stick shake is something rotorcraft inherently do... There are ways to reduce it, but not eliminate it. I cannot say that I ever landed with the thought that the stick shake spoiled the fun of flying a gyro...
Was the very first thought that went through my mind as well. Not only does his hand shake but can see it go all the way up the pilots arm into his shoulders. Probably wouldn’t bother me too much flying local but a long cross country trip would be grueling (just my opinion as a fellow fixed wing pilot).
@@erichboese7209 I understand how vibrations may look excessive on the video, but I don't remember landing and being glad to rest my arm and shoulder. My grip on the stick is very light in flight, so that dampens the vibratiosn significatly.
Maybe I was just too excited to be flying in a gyro... 😉
@@lagyro it’s all good! Just about anything that gets you up in the air is A-OK in my book! 😉
Beautiful scenery, but your crazy as a loon for taking a gyro on such a long trip through those elevation changes. At least your course kept you away from the more challenging routes, but I was thinking the same thing: "What the heck does he do in an emergency"?
Most of the route was fairly safe, with decent emergency landing spots. Here and there i had few sketchy places, but before i got too deep in trouble, i assessed all aspects of the flight and concluded it was ok to proceed.
quite interesting, but the speed of gyros….one could use a UL too🧐but nice insights views and relaxing to watch, but for what reason did you check your oxygen levels when you are not too high anywYs….
Thank you for watching... I had to check my oxygen level becaiuse I was not 100% sure how my body would react to staying for long hours above 6-7000 feet. Once I realized all was good and I was not losing my oxygen levels, I stopped checking. Usually after a day in these conditions the body addapts. Additionally, I made sure I am properly hydrated the entire time... that helps.
Interesting video but some technical info such as what is the "Flying speed" you mention at 55:20 when you do say the rotor is turning at 220 RPM? That would be nice to know...but that is just my opinion. Thanks for taking us along on your journey. Cheers!
Thank you for watching, and I appreciate your feedback...
Average speed during the trip was around 80-85 knots (~100 MPH). The rotor was spinning at ~440 RPM, which is above its normal of 410 RPM for the same load. Density altitude and flight altitude was taking its tall on the performance. Approach and takeoff speeds are around 55 knots (60-65 MPH). I tried to stay around 2,000 feet above the terrain.
I'm a sailplane pilot. I can't imagine hours of holding the stick with that kind of vibration rattling my hand.
If you noticed I am mentioning heat, density altitude, unhospitable terrain, other stress factors during the first day of the trip... but never mention the vibrations. Why do you think that is? Am I trying to hide something, or are they really a "nothing burger"... ;)
@@lagyro I meant no disrespect, is that rotor vibration typical of gyros? I logged some helicopter time in a R-22 some years ago and I remember the cyclic vibration making me anxious. The instructor mentioned it was due for balancing which I guess is part of the regular maintenance. Anyway I lived in Vegas and spent time in the surrounding areas 10 years ago. I have also flown in to Daggett field on a cross country flight to Phoenix. Great video, thank you and safe travels.
@@tappan48 Gyros do vibrate, like any rotorcraft. Rotor balancing is an artform, and it helps to have a well balanced prop and rotor. How much thinkering with rotor balancing is worth the effort is up to the pilot, I beleive my rotors are in servicable condition. It is also up to the passengers to figure out for themselves if the vibrations are too much to handle. In my experience, I have never heard anybody who just got their forstgyro flight to say they are happy to escape the vibrating death trap, quite the opposite, they were grinning from ear to ear.
Additionally, videos made by action cams (GoPro, etc.) are not a good way to judge the level of vibrations - way too many factors are thrown in the mix to be able to trust what you see on screen is a fateful representation of reality.
I'm stunned by the non-footage of the Hoover dam and Lake Mead!
It was very upsetting to me to discover my cameras dead from overheating.
But i got some good footage on my return trip.
Love your travels! Can you say something about your camera setup, how it tracks, etc... Thanks
Thank you for watching... Your praise makes it all worthwhile... My "main" camera is an Insta360 OneX, a 360 camera, that captures the world around it. In post production I select where the "lense" faces and the zoom level. This makes the video appear like there was a human operator moving the camera. I also use footage from other cameras as they are available during flight. I shoudl probably do a video of how I manage the raw footage. IF you follow my Facebook page, theer is a post from couple fo years ago descussing the camera mounts, etc. Contact me via my email (peter@lagyro.com) if you would like more detailed information.
@@lagyro Fantastic! while doing housework I have your adventures running and often time the scenery is so distracting I actually stop what I am doing and sit and watch! Thank you my friend!
@@supermanlxvi Thank you for the kind words... I don't want to sound weird, but the views are really spectacular - even sumple things like green fields, and houses look better from the air. I wish my camera had a better color capture... and I also wish everybody would have the opportunity to take a flight in a small aircraft. Once I got involved in aviation, I realized that the industry is doing a lowsy job advertising what it could offer to the general public. And, Yes, you have to drive to airport, and maybe get unlucky with cancellations due t o bad weather, but once you get the chance to fly... Oh, boy, you are hooked...
I live in Boulder City. Cool video
There are some fantastic landscapes in the vicinity... And the Valley of Fire is outlandish...
I did this at ground level ( I-80) and the view was crap all the way ... this looks like a lot more fun.🤗
It is amazing how different things look from 2,000 feet above ground…
Looks like a little 1 to 1 lateral vibration in the airframe . It's due to an unbalance in the rotor system. It is a little tiring, I bet, to fly any length of time with that condition.
Wouldn't take much to work that out. The issue with leaving that condition in besides fatigue is the fatigue on the airframe.
I am not disagreeing with you in general... But even a perfectly balanced rotor only stays in balance at specific airspeeds, usually mid-range speeds around 55-75 knots. For most of the trip I was at 85+ KIAS so the vibrations were a bit above normal...
I'd think a bit of static tint would be nice on the window when needed to block some sunlight, just an idea. You could move it where needed or set aside. Thanks for sharing.
The overhead shade works great and the “glass” does have a slight tint.
@@lagyro Yes, I observed that. Was just thinking of that extra layer to add comfort blocking more rays. Thanks, and be well.
I will have to experiment with this foil you are suggesting.
@@lagyro Same material they sell for automobiles, held in place because of the static to block the sun rays from small children and can be moved about. Good luck.
Would have been nice to see some flight data like your airspeed and such, especially groundspeed. As many viewers of this video are probably aviation enthusiasts, seeing flight data would be interesting. That gyro seems to just crawl along. Also I noticed that the stick vibrates a lot, much be fatiguing.
Capturing flight data is not as straight forward as it may appear on other videos, and in my opinion, it is mostly irrelevant. At the end of the video I mention the totals of the day’s flying.
About the vibrations, there are some, but keep in mind you are looking through the lens of a camera that vibrates itself while trying to apply image stabilization on the video. That distorts the visual appearance of the movement of objects in view. Also my grip on the stick is very loose which insulates my hand from the vibrations that are present.
Wow. Is that level of vibration in the controls normal? Seems like it would get irritating very fast
Gyros and vibrations go hand in hand… some are normal, some are excessive… There is a significant difference between gyros and fixed wings in that regard.
Los Angeles sure looks more like Long Beach to me today. Things sure have changed when KLGB looks a lot like KLAX.
The Metro area is one big blob of urban sprawl… but being able to fly allows me to find the hidden visual gems and enjoy them fully by myself or with my passengers…
The cyclic vibration seems odd.
There is inherent vibration in any gyro, but you also have to keep in mind that you are looking through the lens of a camera vibrating on its mount while trying to apply image stabilization to the captured video. That distorts to a level the real vibration’s appearance.
Looks like the cyclic will remove all feeling in your arm after a period of time
I can understand how that may appear to be a problem. Keep in mind that you are looking through the lens of a camera that vibrates on its mount and attempts to implement image stabilization on the video. That gives a false impression of the actual amount of shaking.
That being said, there are vibrations in each gyro… the big struggle is to keep those vibrations to minimum through balancing the rotor system.
I'd be interested to know what your AGL altitude is at various times--or generally. I have a little experience flying gyros and expect to have my certification in the coming year. Then I'll be interested in doing some cross country trips. Generally I expect most gyro trips to be at low altitude, same as what you appear to be doing.
I recommend aropund 2,000 feet of AGL altitude, in general...but the local conditions may suggest something different. Sometimes I would climb very high if I know there is better wind situation, and sometimes I would stay close to teh ground for the same reason. 2,000 feet allows you to avoid most ground based obstacles, plus crop dusters...
Well it has glass wind screens so I don't see much of the point of seat belts lol. Like ultralight aircraft the belt is to keep u from falling out. It ain't doing shit in the event of a crash lol
The FAA has a different opinion on that subject…
Should have been 2 or 3 Gyro's at Spanish Forks
I believe they relocated few years ago…
There is too much feedback vibration from the rotor blades to the stick and can you imagine all of the little linkages and bearings taking a beating.
Possibly the camera is accentuating the shaking by not being firmly mounted.
Rotorcraft are known for vibrations. There are ways to reduce some of the vibrations but not all. The camera does get affected by the vibrations and its steady shot software.
One thing you do at every annual inspection is a detailed check of all assemblies.
Maybe i am used to it by now, but vibrations are not enough to spoil the fun of flying gyros.
Can you put in more of the dialog between you and ground control so we get more of a feel of how that works thx
I am planning to do this in future videos…
Nothing better than looking for the obvious lol
What do you mean?
It would have been interesting to hear you describe the instruments and what they are telling you, how fast the rotor blades are turning, your air speed. I get that most of your viewers are pros but I don't know much of anything about flying.
You will surprised how many casual viewers are watching these videos. I was one of them few years ago. When I think about it, i am sure the reason for not talking about these things is because i don’t pay too much attention to them in flight. Rotor speed is not something i have direct influence over in flight, so occasional glance is all i give it. The air speed is usually pretty constant during the cruise phase of the flight. I did notice that at higher density altitudes the rotor was spinning much faster than normal. I usually observe 400 rotor RPM, but now i was seeing 440-450 RPM. That behavior of the rotor is expected…
Have you published your planning sheets that you have on your kneeboard anywhere. I love seeing different ways that people plan. I have learned many great tips by looking at peoples planning documents.
Contact me at peter@lagyro.com to see what i can share…
You need AC in that beautiful aircraft.
That would be nice, but to be honest, once in the air, the cool air coming from the vents is sufficient to keep the cockpit cool.
Quite nice...but instead of repeating 5 times that you are in the desert....I would like you to tell us how many miles or km between the stopping points....at what altitude are you....what the temperature is outside on the ground...in the air and also in the cabin....the fuel consumed between feedings....the speeds at certain intervals....there are many things more interesting than describing the relief that we see anyway.. ..Good luck and many hours of uneventful flying...
I understand what you’re saying, but keep in mind the audience is quite wide and many people are on the opposite side of you, and want the obvious easy to digest terrain comments. Also, i am quite available for side chats and conversations on the greater details around the trip. Additionally, plotting my route on a chart would give a pilot all the distance and altitude information.
When it comes to the outside temperature… it was HOT… the intro screen of the video is from my stop at St. George, the temperature on the apron was 57 degrees Celsius. Density altitude was a great factor almost the entire trip.
Thank you for the interest in the trip!!!
Good job. My only irritation was the narration. Flight details would have been appreciated over the topography comments. Enjoyed the ride along!
I hear you, but to be honest, there isn't much to talk about the flight itself... The machine performed flawlesly, the engine was humming, so all that was left for me to do was to enjoy the surroundings, and to point the nose of the aircraft in the right direction... Later on, Day 2 & 3 if I am correct, there were some potential issues at high density altitudes, but even there things became routine shortly after the takeoff...
Why is the stick vibrating so much?
“…vibrating too much” is relevant… all gyros have vibrations and the battle is to keep them to a minimum. In this case you have to keep in mind that you are looking through the eyes of a camera that is vibrating and trying to apply stabilization algorithms to the video footage. I am not saying there is no room for improvement, but it all has to be assessed in person.
I live in St George Utah. It was nice from the airport used to be right in the center of town on top of the Mesa. Do you have to use airport I was driving on the 15 freeway 70s and helicopter landed at the Sambo's restaurant in the parking lot
Yes, I like to use airports... it is legal that way, and safer... ;) ...and in the US we have plenty of airports to choose from.
so the average speed over ground was around 40 knots!
The average airspeed during cruise mode is around 80-85 knots. Of course the wind would affect the ground speed, but that is true for any form of aviation.
If you're going to follow a highway, it might be prudent to keep it to your left.
Well, there are no rules for following roads, and I am usually quite lonely on my trips, so staying on the left side is simply not convenient. Keep in mind, I am not following every curve of the road either...
Agree there are no rules, but there are customs & the custom in the U.S. is to stay right. Not to the point of danger or even increased risk, but all things equal, it lowers odds of meeting oncoming traffic also "following the road". Which I wouldn't do anyway.
@@daffyduck5585 it's one of those "you had to be there..." things... :)
Thank you for the vid!
Is there any way you could add a vent system so you don't get so hot flying over the desert?
There are vents in the side windows, and these vents are quite effective once in the air. When I taxi on the ground, I try to keep the door open, and that helps.
The problem is for few minutes right before takeoff, I need both hands on the controls, so I have to lock the door in advance, and slowly enter the runway... or wait for landing traffic. This is when it gets a bit uncomfortable...
I am trying to figure out a system to blow some air on me for few minutes before the vented air starts cooling the cabin.
Also, you have to keep in mind that this is a very small aircraft, so there is no room for an elaborate AC system.
For local flying, just remove the doors and enjoy as an open cockpit machine.