Autogyro scene in Canada

[Gogona]

Where abouts do you plan on such a facility? I suspect there's a decent market down here?

Yes, it seems to be. The school location is still under discussion, depends on the airport who is ready to have business with us. But most likely it should be within Toronto Terminal area.

[Strato50]

Where abouts do you plan on such a facility? I suspect there's a decent market down here?

Yes, it seems to be. The school location is still under discussion, depends on the airport who is ready to have business with us. But most likely it should be within Toronto Terminal area.

Just an idea, and I'm in no way connected with or sure of this, but recently the Burlington Air Park was planning / undergoing expansion, and it seems like that area would be very accommodating of gyro's! They have grass and I believe now a paved strip, and lots of GA hangar space. Surrounded by farms!

Anyway, I'm excited this province is getting anything!

[Gogona]

Yes, Burlington Airpark is actually the candidate #1, cause that's the closest airport to our home base and it has the most friendly environment.

[Strato50]

I just wish there was more interest in this country / province! As I said before it seems that the TC regulations are a major hamper on potential owners / operators of gyro's here..

It's even harder looking for any sort of used market in Canada, I couldn't find a single machine... and thats my next quesiton; what are any rules / regulations as far as importing a gyro from the US? I assume you'll have to pay import duty, but what will the border guard have to say when he looks at this machine on your trailer... hehe

[Panama Jack]

I assume you'll have to pay import duty, but what will the border guard have to say when he looks at this machine on your trailer... hehe

"do you have any firearms, alcohol or tobacco?"

[Indanao]

How much of a scene are you looking for, there has always been a scene: http://www.rafpilots.com/
http://www.start-flying.com/new%20site/ ... htm#Canada

http://www.flight-training-instructors. ... o-training

That particular design has problems, as you will hear. But, although not many, there have been gyros around for a long time. Reason they're not too popular is because you can't go anywhere, carry anything, or get there in a hurry. And, you can probably build an Ultra Light cheaper. Interesting theory of flight though.....

[Taiser]

I just checked the "airprogyro" site in Quebec and it's gone!!!

Was thinking of going there in the near future and checking it out as I go to Quebec regularly...Anybody know what happened?

[Panama Jack]

Indanao, your http://vancouverbc.gyro.ws/ link has as much to do with gyro aircraft as the Rotary Club has to do with aficionados of Wankel engines.

[Indanao]

When your right - you're right. I removed the Link, which was from a quick google, but I have seen gyrocopters in somebody's back yard all over the country including B.C.. The interest has waned since RAF left, but is coming back. ( Actually, there were people working on putting a Wankel in gyros..)

( Edited to avoid the language Police.)

[Beefitarian]

Not in Canada so look soon before the mods remove the link.

http://www.rotecengines.com/Projects/MurrayBarker.html

[Cat Driver]

The RAF was a very poor design and in the end it was the number of fatalities due to the design that ended RAF's career.

The little wing in the above post does not have the high risk design feature the RAF had and would be the perfect gyroplane for training.

[La Mouette]

@ Taiser : Try that one. South shore of CYQB

http://www.ulpaviation.com/autogire.html

Cheers!

La Mouette

[Gogona]

Cat Driver is right. When you gonna take even a short sightseen or introductory flight in the gyro (not talking about training or buying!) make sure, it has a safe design, which is not exposed to the pilot induced oscillations.

I personally would recommend to stay away from RAF2000, AirCommander and classic Bensen gyroplanes, which are the most popular models in North America. it was inevitable in just a decades, but now we are lucky enough to have a choice.

[Cat Driver]

The pilot induced oscillations can and do kill people in a matter of seconds in any gyroplane with a pusher engine that has its thrust line above the vertical center of gravity.

A gyroplane derives its lift by having the relative airflow pass through the rotor disk from below.

If the machine is allowed to pitch nose down to the relative airflow to a point where the airflow is coming into the rotor disk from above its path through the air the lift is reversed.....if the thrust line is above the vertical center of lift you have a power pushover which bunts the machine end over end and is always fatal to the occupants.

I am posting this to give people a simple understandable picture of the aerodynamics of gyroplanes and as a warning of just how serious a subject this is.

[Cat Driver]

In 1991 I decided to add gyroplanes to my flight school to add to the fixed wing and helicopter training I already owned.

I became involved with RAF because their gyro appeared to be so modern.

My first dissatisfaction with their gyro was its lack of pitch stability.

When I asked them why it did not have a stabilizing device that every bird has they told me it was not needed because they had designed a stable rotorhead........which of course proved to be false.

Had RAF admitted their design was flawed in several ways they could have redesigned it to fly safely, and maybe there would be more gyroplane activity in Canada.

By the way of all the flying machines I ever flew the gyro was the most fun to fly.

[Gogona]

Had RAF admitted their design was flawed in several ways they could have redesigned it to fly safely, and maybe there would be more gyroplane activity in Canada.

Actually, the stabilization kit for RAF2000 has been developed as early, as ten years ago, however, it was too late – RAF's reputation is still badly affected, and not only in Canada.
And here is the interesting discussion about RAF design and its upgrade - http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8920

[Cat Driver]

I have no desire to rehash the history of RAF and its design flaws.

However for anyone who is interested in the effects of flying with and without a horizontal stabilizer here is a test you can perform very easily.

Get a ordinary dart that is used in the game of darts.

Remove the tail feathers on yours and then go play darts with your new device.

Anyone who even begins to believe all the B.S. That RAF handed out about horizontal stabalizers needs to give their heads a shake......

.......

[Strato50]

Just from reading a few different forums I've already come up with a list of gyro's I'm not interested in learning in OR flying in! That list is only 3 models... which is ok, considering I'd be perfectly happy in at least 4-5 models already, again just from reading.

[Cat Driver]

When deciding what gyroplanes are safe to fly be very sure you understand the physics and aerodynamics of gyroplane flight.

They are quite different from both fixed wing and helicopters especially aerodynamically.

Briefly, it seems to me that the TC requirements for what in the US can be flown with a simpler permit are a bit in excess.

The gyroplane license is quite difficult to get in the USA....if you actually go through the full the licensing process.

[Shiny Side Up]

I have no desire to rehash the history of RAF and its design flaws.

What would you say would be the best design available out there?

[Cat Driver]

What would you say would be the best design available out there?

For stability the Little Wing because it is a tractor design.

There are several pusher designs that are close to zero vertical thrust offset and are also quite stable in pitch..

Here is a good forum on gyros where all the info one could want can be found.

http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/index.php