March 2012 • Rotorcraft 1
2 Rotorcraft • March 2012
PRA PresidentScott Lewis
Rotorcraft EditorLisa Kluttz
Contributing Writers& Photographers
Chris BurgessDesmond ButtsMichael Burton
Bruce H. CharnovJennifer Gilmore
Duane HunnRon IaconisRon Menzie
Tim O’ConnorPaul Patterson
Technical EditorDoug Riley
Historical EditorDr. Bruce Charnov
Regulatory CommitteeChris Burgess, CFI
Gary Goldsberry, CFITim O’Connor, CFI
Paul Plack
Chapter CoordinatorDave Bacon
PRA Office ManagerJane Feldman
PRA HeadquartersPO Box 68
Mentone, IN 46535
Phone: (574) 353-7227Fax: (574) 353-7021
www.pra.orgE-Mail: [email protected]
In This Issue:
On The Cover:The Thurston ‘Gadfly,’ pages 8-9.
Rotorcraft makes every attempt to provide accurate information. Views, opinions and statements expressed are not necessarily those of this publication. Rotorcraft reserves the right to edit material that is submitted and the right not to publish material that is deemed detrimental.
3 A Tribute to the Late George Charlet
6 The Ugliest Autogyro?
10 Rotorcraft Asks...
12 What’s Flying at the PRA...
14 Classifieds
Rotorcraft welcomes your submissions pertaining to fly-ins, builds, upcoming events, and any other items regarding the world of rotorcraft.
Deadline for submissions is the first of the month. All articles, photographs and information should be emailed to [email protected].
Article Submissions
Advertising rates are available by emailing [email protected]. Deadline for submissions is the first of the month.
Classified ads are free to PRA members. You may submit your ad by sending it to [email protected].
Advertising
PRA members, our greatest asset, make up the most important community in the world of homebuilt rotorcraft! You may join PRA or renew your membership by visiting the PRA website at www.pra.org.
PRA Membership
March 2012 • Rotorcraft 3
GGeorgeCharlet,formerpresidentofPRA(succeedingKenBrock)passedawayquietly,Saturday,March3, 2012, at approximately8:45CT,aftersufferingastrokeandlapsingintoacoma.GeorgewasaCFIandhelpeddesign the first two-place gyroplane withlong-time friend,Bill Parsons.George alsoworkedwithDonFarrington toobtain theFAAFlightTraining5209Exemption.
As Rotorcraft’s special tribute to George, we have included the following recountsfromthosewhowereclosesttohim:
JENNIFER GILMOREGeorgehiredme tobe thefirst full time
secretary/officemanagerforPRA,followingthe last convention held in Middletown,OH. He encouraged me to attend theconventions, and my first was the one atHearne, TX.I had no idea that gyroplanes existed
whenIinterviewedforthejob.HetossedoutaRotorcraftmagazineandshowedwhatwewere talking about.Dennis Fetterswas onthecover.IremembertellinghimIthoughtthat typeofaircraftwasstrictlysomethingbuilt for James Bond type movies. Helaughed.Sometime later, he was asked to do a
piece for a local public TV station. Again, encouragingmetotakepartandlearnwhatmyjobwasallIabout,hetowedmealong.Withtremblingkneesandwildeyes,ItookmyfirstgyroplaneflightinhisblueBarnett.Whatathrill!Iwashooked,andthestory
continuedwithmemovingtoIndianawhenPRAboughttheMentoneAirport.Always encouraging me, George was a
friend,mentor,andmuchlikeadadtome.
DUANE HUNNImetGeorgeCharletwhenIwenttowork
forBillParsonsyearsago,intheearly1980s.IwasaflightinstructorforBillParsonsfor2-1/2to3years.Billhadashopwherehedida lotof testingandbuildingofgyroplanesandteachingatFlaglerBeach,FL.ImetGeorgewhenhewouldstopbyand
visitwithBill.Atthattime,Billwasworkingon a two-place tandem gyro. George
became interestedand started to helpwiththebuilding.The two-place
machine completely changed the gyrocommunity. Itenabled a flightinstructor toflywithhis students in onemachine, insteadof pulling a two-place side-by-sidegyroplane with arope.Thiswas“back
A Tribute to the Late George Charlet
George Charletformer PRA President
when the earth was cooling off,” as Billwouldalwayssay.Together,BillandGeorgetookthetandem
to a different level. Bill was a dealer forArrow Engines. Utilizing his access to thenewengine andmorepower, he created atandemtwo-placewithanenginepowerfulenoughtocarrytwopeoplesafely.At one point, we had a guest who
manufactured floats for aircraft. Bill askedhimifhewouldbuildasetforthetwo-placegyro.Theywerehuge.Weallputsometimeintoworkingonthefloatsandhookingthemuponthetandem.Whenwewerefinished,the testing started. This is where the funbegan.Iwasn’ttherewhentheyputitinwater,
butthisisthestoryIwastold.WithGeorgein the back of the tandem and Bill in thefront,theybeganthefirsttests.Theypushedthetandemoffintothewater.Andbygolly,it didn’t sink, so you guessed it! Bill yells“Clear prop!” History was in the makingandtheywere“livingthedream!”Now you have to realize they had a
6-cylinderarrowengineonboardwith800lb.ofthrust.Theydidn’trealizethepropellerwasa littlebit inthewaterandkickinguproostertailouttheback.NowpictureMuttandJeff!They didn’t have any radios, so Bill
couldn’t hear George’s warnings to stop.Theymanagedtogetitintotheairandflewlow level around the patch and landed.After they shut it down and got off they
“Always encouraging me,
George was a friend, mentor,
and much like a dad to me.”
4 Rotorcraft • March 2012
found out therewasn’tmuch of the propleftandrealizedtheywereallwet.That’swhenthelaughingbegan.Later, Bill took off the floats, and it sat
aroundforawhile.OnedayBillranacrossa Air Command two-place side-by-side.Hmmm... you guessed right! He made itinto a three-place. It was side-by-side inthebackseatandsolointhefrontseat.He
gaveridesatWauchula.Maxie Wildes andmyself rode the backseat.Whataride!
Later, George became president of PRA. Isaw him regularly atairshows. For yearsafterward, we wouldjoke around thecampfire about ourexperiences.
Georgewas a big part of the PRA andhelpedinthedevelopmentofthetandem.I will really miss the camaraderie andfriendshipthatweshared.
RON IACONISWhen Jennifer Gilmore sent me a text
message regarding George Charlet’shaving suffered a serious stroke and thatBetty Charlet felt that George might notsurvive the ordeal, I preparedmyself fortheinevitable.GeorgeservedontheNationalBoardof
PRAasourPresidentbackinthelate1980’sandintotheearly1990’s.Georgewas aBensendealer inClinton,
Louisiana, and he, Ken Brock, BillParsons, Dave Prater, Russ Jansen, BobTozer, Don Farrington, Jim McCutchen,Gary Goldsberry, Willard Meyers, EdAlderfer,FloydBrown,andsomanymorewonderfulfolkswereagreatbrotherhoodofgyronauts.Ihavemanygreatmemoriesofourmeetingsandflyingactivities!AfterKenBrockhadhis injury,George
waselectedpresidentofPRAandGeorgedid us good. He operated four funeral
homesinLouisiana.Jenniferwasemployedby George in the funeral home business and was also our secretary. George usedto communicate with us board membersregularly, sending us requests to answerlettersfromthemembersatlarge.Overall Georgewas very active in PRA.
Somewillremember“TheFrogPond”thatGeorgeandBillParsonsusedtoholdatourconventions!Aftereveryonegot“politicallycorrect,”theywerediscouragedtocontinuethe party atmosphere, but I thought thatitwasagreatway tohave fellowshipandcamaraderie!ThentherewasthegreatgatheringatBob
Fitzpatrick’sfarmin1985inIllinois!WeallhadfinishedupouractivitiesatourannualPRA convention in Shelbyville, Illinois.AllthatweregoingtoEAAAirVentureinOshkoskfollowingourconventiondecidedto motor home convoy as a group, andwe stoppedover atBob’s farmhalfway toOshkosh.There,wehadanabsoluteblast!Alongwiththecornroast,wehadgatheredaround the fire and most participated insharing“slammers!”Iwon’tdescribewhatthat was, but those that were there knowanditwassuperfun!Rememberthesong...“Don’tmesswithmytoottoot?”GeorgeandBettyCharletwerethecenterofthefun,fun,fun, party! George had an old greyhoundbus that he converted into a motor coachand did Betty and George know how toP A R T Y!What a wonderful time we had with
GeorgeandBettyCharlet!And in closingon this tribute toGeorge
Charlet,“George,thanksforthememories!”
George with his Barnet two-place gyro. Also pictured are Ken Brock, Willard Meyers, Don Farrington, Jim Mc-Cutchen, and others.
7th ANNUALCENTRAL SIERRA
HELICOPTER MEETMay 4 - May 6, 2012
The only All-Helicopter Meet in the West. All Factory, Home Builds & Experimental helicopters are welcome. There will be Helicycles, Mosquitos, Rotorways, Bell 47, Bell Jet Rangers, Etc. Some factory reps will be on hand. Bring your ships finished or not, or bring a photo album. Bring items for the Heli Swap.
Camping available on-site • Motel nearbyAbout 14 miles East of Groveland, CA. On Hwy. 120 to Cherry Lake Rd. turn left. Go about 2½ miles. Ranch will be on your left.
Any questions, call Hap or Nancy at 707-833-5905. (Week of meet, call Les at 209-962-
4828 or Nancy at 209-768-0028)
Website: cshelimeet.com
March 2012 • Rotorcraft 5
6 Rotorcraft • March 2012
Bruce H. Charnov Ph.D J.D. FRAeS
PRA’s Popular Rotorcraft Flying andRotorcraft, and non-PRA publications,regularly present Gyrocopters andgyroplanes renowned for the daring of
their aero-nautical vision and beauty ofconstruction,muchtothedelightofallgyro-enthusiasts–butwhatabouttheopposite–the‘ugly’gyros?Beingapopularly-based,home-grown, every-person-flying-by-the-seat-of-their-pants from the back yardmovement (see some of the early Bensenadvertisements!), it can be said that sometruly strange and sometimes genuinelyuglymachineshavebeenproduced.These
aircraft did not, I believe, start out withthe intentionofbeingugly – it just sort ofhappened. HerearetwoInominate–andeagerly look forward to suggestions byRotorcraftreaders:
Fritz Wigal’s “Flying Freak”Fritz Wigal, of Jackson, TN, developed
a 1963 tractor-design that was sort of a“back to the future” approach andwhich,perhapsjustifiably,hasbeenlosttohistory.Thiswasavery,veryweirdgyroplane,laterdubbed a “flying freak.”iWigal, PRA #31,wasfeaturedinanarticleintheSpring1964ii
Popular Rotorcraft entitled “Rotor Starter”which described the product of Wigal’s“inquisitive mind” and “constructivediscontent,” asauniquetractorgyroplanethat featured a ‘tilting engine-mount.’iii Wigal was directing the prop wash(slipstream),ashetitledtheenginetowardsthe ground, towards the two-bladed rotor,abovewhichwasafour-bladed‘stubrotor’locatedabovethemainrotorwhichcaughttheflowofairandcausedthemainrotortorotatepriortotakeoff.Wigal claimed in the June/July issue of
Air Progressiv that his 12’ long single-seatgyroplane had an emptyweight of 320 lb,a gross weight of 570 lb., a top speed of75-mphwith a 72-hpMcCulloch engine, acruisespeedof60-mph,atakeoffrunof100-ftandlandingat15-mphwithits20’rotor.v IntheSpring1964issueofPopular Rotorcraft Flying,Wigalstated thathehadmade“[n]umerous towed flights” (complete with aphotograph),butnotedthat“Ihavenotyetbeengrantedanairworthinesscertificateforpoweredflight”as“[d]uringinitialpoweredlift-off trials for the FAA inspector therewas evidence of insufficient directionalcontrol”. But the June/July issue of Air Progressclaimedthat“[a]t4-hourflighttrialpointspecswere:topspeed75-mph,cruise60-mph.” SoitdoesappearthattheWigalgyroplane did achieve powered flight,
The Ugliest Autogyro?
Fritz Wigal’s“Flying Freak”
March 2012 • Rotorcraft 7
butnothingwasheardof it since the1964description repeated in the1970editionoftheLambermont/-PiriebookHelicopters and Autogyros of the World. The1966 BritishCommando comic (Commando War Stories in Pictures),initsdistinctive7x51/2inch,68page format, dubbed theWigal gyroplanea“flyingfreak”andthelackofsubsequenthistory has done nothing to negate thatdescription.
While Wigal’s solution to the problem of prerotationwasnotelegant,itwasinmanywaysa“backtothefutureapproach”as itwastrulyacaseof“beenthere,donethat.”Juande laCierva, the Spanish inventor ofthe Autogiro, had confronted the sameproblem of effective pre-rotation and hadtried severalmethods to little or no avail.InitiallytheCiervaC.6Autogirowastaxiedup an down the runway until the rotorachievedthenecessaryrotationalspeedfortakeoff.Thiswasfollowedbyseveralnon-mechanical solutions, all of which provedunsuccessful and at least one which hadpotentiallylethalresults.Theseincludedanarrangementofwoodenpegsonthebottomof theblades toallow fora starter rope tobeusedto‘spinup’orprerotatethebladesattakeoffasevidentinaphotographoftheCierva C.6A at its English demonstration
at Farnborough in 1925 showing the menwindingropesattachedtoknobsaroundtherotorhub,muchlikeachild’sspinningtop.vi
That solution was inefficient, and stillrequiredlengthytaxirunstobringtherotorsup to speed. Additionally Cierva Pilot,Frank Courtneyvii (6) had even attemptedto achieve sufficient rotationbywinding acablearound theC.6C’s rotorhub, stakingthe other end to the ground, and taxiingdown the runway. While the blades didspinupasthestakedcablerotatedtherotorhub, the cable snappedoffat theendand,justbarelymissingthepilot’shead,cuttherudderintwo.Needless-to-say,thatmethodwasabandonedafterasingletrial!Ciervahadalsoattemptedunsuccessfully
to develop a mechanical pre-rotationdevice. In 1930 Cierva built an AutogiroatHamblewitharotorspin-updrivefromtheengine.Thatdrive,attributedtoenginedesigner Major Frank Bernard Halfordviii did not prove successful. Demonstratedon January 8, 1930, it proved too heavyat 165 lb. Cierva had also patented, inJanuary1929,a rotorstartingdevicebasedoncompressedair,steamorwaterpressurewhich would accelerate the blades fromnozzlesattachedtosomeorallofthebladetips. The ideahadbeenbriefly testedandrejected as impractical given the current
C.6 Cable Winding
While Wigal’s solution to the
problem of prerotation was
not elegant, it was in many
ways a “back to the future
approach” as it was truly a case of “been there,
done that.”
8 Rotorcraft • March 2012
stateoftechnology.Ciervahadeventriedto spin up the rotor with a “scorpion”deflectortailarrangementonthemodifiedCiervaC.12Autogiroin1929thatdirectedtheengineslipstreamupwardtowardstherotor. But this arrangement, also seenonthePitcairnPCA-1A,theoldestAmerican-built rotary aircraft currently displayedin the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center nearWashington Dulles International Airportix wasfoundunacceptableasitonlyrealizedabout 70% of takeoff requirements in awind,and60rpmincalmconditionswhichnecessitated a lengthy taxi to takeoff.Thesolution, an efficient mechanical clutch–gear box–drive, was finally achieved inAmerica and incorporated in the PitcairnPCA-2,which received thefirstAmericanrotary-wingATC(No.410)onApril2,1931,andsubsequentlyintheCiervaC.19Mk.IVAutogiros inMarchof the followingyear.Thisenginedriveforrotorspin-uphadbeendesigned by Pitcairn associate Agnew E.LarsenwiththehelpofHeraclioAlfaroandJean Nicol of the Jos. S. Pecker Company (later the Autogiro Specialties Company)and fabricated by the Machine and ToolDesigningCompanywhichmanufacturedthe 48 lb clutch-and-engine-drive (65 lbwith its fittings) in late 1929 – early 1930.
Itwas initially capable of spinning-up therotorbladesto80/90rpmin30-40seconds,enabling the aircraft to take offwith onlya short taxi run to accelerate the rotor totakeoff speed, and later achieved the 125rpmnecessaryfortakeoff.
One early British rotorcraft attempt todesign a two-place aircraft was the ill-fated“ThruxtonGadfly.”x Announced in1964astheE.S.101,reflectingthenameofits designer Eric Smith, it was originallyto be produced by the Wiltshire Schoolof Flying, but the Thruxton Aviation andEngineeringCompanyLtdwaslaterformedto manufacture this ambitious two-placegyroplane.Theannounceddesignfeatureda futuristic fully-enclosed bubble-shaped
Cierva C.19 with “Scorpion” ‘deflector (box) tail’
Thruxton ‘Gadfly’
One early British rotorcraft attempt to design a two-place aircraft was the ill-fated “Thruxton Gadfly.”
March 2012 • Rotorcraft 9
perspex cabin,xi but the prototype didnot come close to achieving the proposedproductionvalues.Afteralmostthreeyearsof turbulent development, Smith left theproject, presumably disheartened withtheevolutionof theprototype,whichthenpassedtothedubiousdesigntalentsofRayHillbourne, a former physics teacher, for a redesignthatwastoproduceanincrediblyuglymachine.TheprototypewastakentoBlackbushe forflight tests inMayof 1968,but was returned to Thruxton in January
of 1973, apparently never having flown.xii
And while one can assert that there is anachievement of ugliness that reaches acertain level of beauty, the Gadfly maybe described as having almost-but-not-quite achieved that level. Even today, itsappearanceandforebodingissooff-puttingthattheviewerisnotsurprisedtolearnofitsearth-boundfate.
So, these are my two initial suggestionsfor the ‘ugliest gyros’ – let’s hear yours.
i “Flying Freaks – Wigel Autogyro” Commando. No. 227 p. 2
ii “Rotor Starter” Popular Rotorcraft Flying. Vol. 2 No. 2 Spring 1964 p. 14
iii For contemporary view of Wigal, see “Fritz Wigal Shows New Tilt Engine Autogyro” Vertiflite. March 1964 p. 22; Lambermont, Paul M., and Anthony Pirie Helicopters and Autogyros of the World. Rev. ed. New York: A. S. Barnes 1970; London: Cassell, 1958, 1970 Previous edition: New York: A. S. Barnes: 1959 Introduction by Igor Sikorsky p. 405 (claims 1963); “One-Man Rotary Wing Craft” Air Progress Vol. 16 No. 3 June/July 1964 pp. 77 – 79; “Rotor Starter” Popular Rotorcraft Flying. Vol. 2 No. 2 Spring 1964 p. 14; “Flying Freaks – Wigal Autogyro” Commando. No. 227 p. 2; “Wigal’s Autogyro” Sport Aviation. November 1963 p. 17
iv “One-Man Rotary Wing Craft” Air Progress. Vol. 16 No. 3 June/July 1964 pp. 77 – 79
v See Lambermont, Paul M., and Anthony Pirie. Helicopters and Autogyros of the World. Rev. ed. New York: A. S. Barnes 1970; London, England: Cassell, 1958, 1970 Previous edition: New York: A. S. Barnes: 1959 Introduction by Igor Sikorsky p. 404
vi See also the photo in Almond, Almond, Peter Aviation: The Early Years (The Hulton Getty Picture Collection). Germany: Könemann Verlagssgesellschaft mbH 1997 on p. 343 showing a Frank Courtney demonstration flight at Farnborough in 1925 clearly shows the line of four men holding the rope on the left side of the image preparing to spin up the rotor.
vii Regarding Frank T. Courtney, see Courtney, Frank T. Flight Path. London: William Kimber 1972. Also published as The Eighth Sea. New York: Doubleday & Co., 1972; Hannan, W. C. “Bill” “Those Infuriating “Palm Trees” Popular Rotorcraft Flying Vol. 7 No. 6 November–December 1969 p. 30
viii Brooks, Peter W. Cierva Autogiros: The Development of Rotary-Wing Flight. Washington, D. C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1988; Shrewsbury, England: Airlife Publishing Ltd. 1988p. 83; for information on Halford, see Gunston, Bill World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines(4th ed.). Sparkford. Nr. Yeovil, Somerset: Patrick Stephens Limited, 1998 p. 85
ix See “Exhibit Spotlight: Pitcairn PCA-1A” Vertika. Vol. 7 Issue 2 October 2000 p. 5
x See Brooks, Peter W. Cierva Autogiros: The Development of Rotary–Wing Flight. Washington, D. C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1988; Shrewsbury, England: Airlife Publishing Ltd. 1988 p. 291; “Thruxton Aviation” Lovegrove, Peter Gyroplane Miscellavia. Volume 6 England: The British Rotorcraft Associa-tion April 2005 pp. 104 – 106; “The Thruxton Aviation and Engineering Co’s “Gadfly” E 101, Two-Seat Gyroplane” Lovegrove, Peter Gyroplane Miscellavia. Volume 6 England: The British Rotorcraft Association 2004 pp. 216 – 223 (expresses the view that this aircraft may not have been built); “The Light Autogyro in the U.K.” Air Pictorial. Vol. 27 No. 3 March 1965 pp. 93 – 95 reprinted in Lovegrove, Peter Gyroplane Miscellavia. Volume 6 England: The British Rotor-craft Association April 2005 pp. 102 – 108; Ellis, Ken British Home Built Aircraft Since 1920. pp. 176 – 177; “British Ultra–Light Rotorcraft” Helicopter and Hovercraft World. Vol. 9 No. 9 September 1966 pp. 274 – 275
xi Lambermont, Paul M., and Anthony Pirie Helicopters and Autogyros of the World. pp. 135 – 136
xii Ellis, Ken British Home Built Aircraft Since 1920. Liverpool, England: Merseyside Aviation Society Publication 1979. p. 177
So, these are my two initial
suggestions for the ‘ugliest gyros’ – let’s
hear yours.
10 Rotorcraft • March 2012
Paul Patterson Edmond, OKBeing an old Army swing-wing aviator, I was naturallyattracted to anything withrotors; however, helos areexpensive to purchase andeven more expensive tomaintain.So,foralongwhileI putted around the countryin my Taylorcraft, allowingmyself no more flights offancyaboutdelvingintotheworldofprivatehelicopter
ownership.Then late one evening, about 10 years
ago, I was doing some lesson prep for aremedial science class that Iwas teachingat a local high school. I thought that agyroscope would make an interestingintroductiontocentripitalforceandhowitactsonarotatingbody.Tomakealongstoryshort,Iinadvertently
typed in “gyrocopter.” One thing led toanother,andtherestishistory.Funnyhowthingshappen.
Ron MenzieSearcy, ARIwastakingmywifeforaSundaydrive
in Rhode Islandwhenwe noticed a loudnoise. Looking up to the sky, I noticed asmall helicopter-type flying machine. Ifollowed it to the Westerly State airportwherewewatchedit taxiandparkonthe
ramp.Thepilot,JackGordon,hadbuiltthisBensongyropcopterfromakit.HeownedadealershipcalledEasternBensonGyroSalesatRichmondAirparkinRichmond,R.I.I was excited and decided to build my
own Benson gyrocopter. I had just beendischarged fromtheAirForceandhadnointerest inflyinguntil I saw thismachine.I continued to complete my gyrocopter. Itaughtmyselfhowtoflyit,astherewasnosuchpersonasaCFIgyroplaneatthattime.When Jack Gordon decided to join the
peacecorps,ItookoverhisEasternBensonGyrocopter sales business.
Michael BurtonSpanish Fork, UTAsa child, Iflewa smallPiperTripacer
withmydad.Iwashooked.Inthemid1980s,Isawavideoofalittle
Sport Copter flying around the fields andtrees. My co-workers and I watched thevideo over and over. Thenwe decided tobuy one. IcalledSportCopterandsetouttheplan.
JimatSportCoptergavemethenewsthatthemachinewouldnotflyatouraltitude.So,thedreamofflightwentdormant.In 2006,when IwasaCFI for airplanes,
I met Nate Oldham.At our first meeting,Natetoldmeofhisplantosellgyroplanesin Utah. At the time, I had forgotten allabout gyros. I agreed to become a gyro CFI, and
we spent several months camped out in
Rotorcraft recently presented a question to our CFIs.
“What was your first exposure to gyroplanes and what spurred your desire to fly?”
Their responses are posted below.
With its start in 1963, Popular Rotorcraft Flying was sure to generate the interest of many a young man with a dream of flying.
March 2012 • Rotorcraft 11
Buckeye,AZ,buildingthegyroandgettingtraining.This timewe letnothingstand intheway!SoonwehadagyroschoolinUtahandtheonlyflyinggyrointhestate!
Chris BurgessFrederick, MDI saw the Bensen in Popular Mechanics
magazine back in themid 1960’s andwas“hooked.”Ieventriedtogetmyjuniorhighschoolshopteachertoletmebuildasetofwoodenrotors.Thislookedliketheperfect(cheapest)waytoflyandthesimplestwaytodoit.Igotmyfixed-wingpilot’slicensein1966
by pumping gas at the airport. From there, Iwent toArmyhelicopterschoolandflewhelicopters in Vietnam 1968-69. I was theyoungestaircraftcommanderinourunit.Thatsealedmyloveforrotorcraft,andof
course,theonlythingIcouldeverhopetoaffordwasaBensen.Ifoundoneinahangaratmylocalairportin1971.Someonebuiltit,butithadneverbeenflown.Thepricewasright,soIboughtit.WithinaweekIhaditflying,andofcourse,Icouldn’tgetenough!Around 1987, I was approached by an
outfit that said they would purchase aParsonstandemformeifIwouldinstructinit.Sowedidit!Iwasthemostexperiencedin the area, and there were no two-placetrainers here. Iwas later selected by PRA as themost
qualifiedtosendtoCFItrainingatPaducah,KY. To this point, I was only rated as acommercialhelicopterandgyroplanepilot.TrainingtoCFIwasundertheinstructionofJohnPotterintheAirandSpace18A.On my 40th birthday (1989), I achieved
my goal of CFI Gyroplane. I have beeninstructingeversince.
Tim O’ConnorBatavia, OHIhavewanted tofly since Iwasa child.
The need for affordable flight sent melookingforanultralightfixedwing.One day, while working on a client’s
computernetwork,Iranacrossagentlemanwho had some flying memorabilia in hisoffice.WhenIcameintoaddanetworkcardtohiscomputer,ItoldhimIwantedtobuyanultralightfixedwing.HerecommendedgyrosandhandedmeaPRAflyerofsomekind(Ino longerhaveit).Hetoldmethattheycouldhandlewindsverywellandthat
thewindsensitivityofultralightfixedwingswouldgreatlylimithowoftenIcouldfly.Ilookeditup,anditwastrue!ThatmademedecidetogetagyroeventhoughIhadneverheardoforseenonebefore.I don’t know who this man was, but I
suspecthewasaPRAChapter40member.Ihaveneverbeenabletofindout.Aboutadecadelater,Itradedanantique
BMWmotorcycleIrestoredforanunfinishedAirCommand447classic. Ihavebeenintogyroseversince.
Desmon ButtsTomball, TXI have been around aircraft from a very
youngage.MyfatherhadthreeCessnastouseinaclubinOgden,Utah.Wespentmanyhours in thedesertswestby theGreatSaltLake.Onedayhetalkedaboutgyroplanes.IlatersawoneinJamesBondandthought“Wow, that’s cool,” but we never didanything about it. I could have gottenmy license for free,
butdidn’tuntilIturned40.IwaslivinginAlaska, north ofAnchorage, and flewmy172overglaciersandPrinceWilliamSound.
In2009,mywifeandIwenttoCostaRicaforouranniversary.WestayedattheFlyingCrocodileultralightport.Guido,theowner,hadfiveMTOAutogyros.Ithought“Wow,lookslikefun,”butIhadalsoheardofallthestoriesofpeoplegettingkilled.Ididnotflyagyroatthattime.NowIknowthatmanyof thesebadsituationsweredue to lackofproper training.
Three months later, after selling a company inAlaska, Imovedmy family toCostaRicawheremywifewanted to be amassage therapist. We stayed in a largehouseattheFlyingCrocodilefor4months.Ourfrontdoorwas30feetfromtherunway.Gyroswereflyingeveryday.Ittookmesixweeks of observation before getting intoone.Thentheaddictionbegan!IwaslicensedinCostaRicaandcameback
toAmericawhereIpickedupmySportCFIGyroin2010,CommercialGyroin2011,andnowIamfinishingFullGyroCFI.Ihopetobedoneverysoon.I now live in Tomball, Texas north of
Houston. I have my own MTO and haveflownover450hoursingyrosin10months,includingflying fromHouston toOshkoshlast Summer.
ARIZONA#15 Arizona Rotorcraft Club
Britta Penca(520) 840-0951
ARKANSAS#6 Mid-South
Rotorcraft ClubThom Francis
(870) [email protected]
CALIFORNIA#1 Ken Brock
Rotorcraft Assoc.Terry Smith, President
#31 San Diego Rotorcraft Club
Dave Bacon(760) 941-3266
#58 Sierra Rotorcraft Clubwww.sierrarotorcraftclub.org
Jim Burrow(925) 449-4855
COLORADO#38 Colorado Rotorcraft Assoc.
http://www.copterpilots.orgMark Shook
(719) [email protected]
FLORIDA#26 Sunstate Wing & Rotor Club
www.bensendays.comScott Lewis
(561) [email protected]
GEORGIA#56 Peach State Rotorcraft
Jon Carleton(770) 292-0165
#13 NC / SC / GA Rotorcraft Clubwww.pra13.org
John C. Magnan, (706) [email protected]
ILLINOIS#18 Greater Midwest Rotorcraft Club
www.gyroclub.comTom Milton, (708) 895-0398
#25 North IL-South WI RotorcraftMike McKiernan, (847) 638-4840
#35 Saint Louis Rotorcraft Clubwww.stlrotorcraft.com
Mark Greene, (309) [email protected]
PRA Chapters
12 Rotorcraft • March 2012
INDIANA#34 Indiana Rotorcraft Assoc
www.prachapter34.comSue Goldsberry, (317) 996-2487
#36 Wendell Knight Gyro ClubCynthia Sanders, (765) 795-3489
#81 Mentone Aero ClubBernard Ernst, (574) 633-4675
KANSAS#75 Wichita Wing & Rotor ClubJim Sampson, (316) 685-3430
LOUISIANA#20 Pelican State Rotorcraft
www.pra20.comBill Wieger, (318) 640-5656
MICHIGAN#77 West Michigan Rotorcraft
Wes Clements, (616) [email protected]
#32 Bay Area Rotorcraft Clubbayultralite.org
Brian Anthony, (517) 777-7617
#63 Central MI Gyroplane ClubKurt Pochert, (810) 632-7830
#36 Wendell Knight Gyro ClubCynthia Sanders, (765) 795-3489
#70 Maumee Valley RotorcraftMichael L. Marckel, (260) 316-4022
MINNESOTA#17 Minnesota Rotorcraft Clubminnesotarotorcraftclub.comBrent Bruns, (612) 802-1210
MISSOURI#35 Saint Louis Rotorcraft ClubJohn Wohaska, (636) 296-7188
#67 Mid-America RotorcraftCraig Tompkins, (816) 618-3840
NEBRASKA#12 Nebraska Rotorcraft Club
Warren Hale
NEW HAMPSHIRE#39 Yankee Rotors
www.yankeerotors.netJohn Christopher, (603) 744-6232
NEW JERSEY#14 North Jersey Rotorcraft
Ralf Schumann, (201) 652-6294
PRA Chapters
By Tim O’Connor
I am happy to bring to you some ofthe most important news on the topic ofregulations and safety we have had forsome time.Asyoumayhave seen from theE-Alert
emailedoutusingthePRAdigitalmessagingsystem,thePRAWebinar“RadioUseinthePattern by Light Sport Aircraft” receivedacceptance from the FAA to be eligible for FAAWINGSeducationcredit.
I now have some even better additionalnews to bring to you. The FAA regionalmanager of the FAASTeam program has accepted the presentation and starteda formal FAA review to have it addedto the official WINGS and FAASTeamprogram.Theregionalmanagerhadsomegreat feedback on the PRA presentationsuch as “Wow, I am very impressed,indeed.Excellentwork”and“I’mconfidentthat itwillpassmuster.” While this isnoform of a guarantee that the presentation will be approved and unchanged by theprocess,itiscertainlyaverygoodsign.So,whatdoesallofthismean?ThePRAhasbeenworkingwiththeFAA
sincethePRA’sinception.Manypeopledo
not realize it, but in the past the PRA has contributedmore to the inception of rulesfor ultralights and experimental aircraftthan even the EAA. However, since thistimethePRA’sdealingswiththeFAAhavebeen primarily reactional, such as making sure that gyros are included in SportPilotrulesandworkingwithissuanceofLODAsfor instruction.
What is significant about this newrelationshipbetweenthePRAandtheFAAisthatforthefirsttimein15yearsormore,aproactiveprocessistakingplacetoeducatethe FAA and all pilots (not just rotorcraftpilots)ongyroplanesandlighthelicopters.If the PRA presentation is approved,
it will be the first and only gyroplaneand light helicopter specific informationincluded in the FAA safety and educationprogram, outside of the year 2000 FAARotorcraftHandbook.Thepresentationwillbe available nationwide as a program anyFAASTeam Representative can give at aneventandallattendeeswillautomaticallybeeligibleforWINGScredit.
Once thisprocess is concluded, thePRARegulatoryCommitteeisstillfarfromdone.Thenextstepistocreateaformalagreement
What’s Flying at the PRA…
March 2012 • Rotorcraft 13
NORTH CAROLINA#13 NC / SC / GA Rotorcraft Club
www.pra13.orgJohn C. Magnan, (706) 547-3607
OHIO#19 Buckeye Rotorheads
Brad Dutton, (330) [email protected]
#40 Cincinnati Rotorcraft Assoc.Scott Biser, (513) 383-5046
OREGON#73 Great NW Sport Rotorcraft
www.pra73.netRobert Johnson, (503) 665-4449
PENNSYLVANIA#4 West Penn Rotorcraft Club
James [email protected]
SOUTH CAROLINA#13 NC / SC / GA Rotorcraft Club
www.pra13.orgJohn C. Magnan, (706) 547-3607
TEXAS#62 Lone Star Rotorcraft Club
www.gyrosaway.comSteve Weir, (832) 457-1785
#78 Texas Rotorcraft Assoc.www.txrotorcraft.org
Bob Stark, (940) [email protected]
UTAH#2 PRA Chapter 2
www.pra2.orgDoug Barker, (801) 444-3736
VIRGINIA#22 Nat’l Capital Rotorcraft Club
“Buck” Buchanan, (703) [email protected]
PUERTO RICO#60 Puerto Rico Rotor Club
Charles D. Peterson, (787) 460-6820
INTERNATIONAL CHAPTERSFRANCE
#28 Autogyre St. Ciers CharenteEric Changeur
Moulin du Chatelard, PuyreauxCharente France F-16230
JAPAN#79
Akira Ishikawa2-1-11 Tsujido-TaheidaiFujisawa 251, Japan
gyroakira@j-comhome,ne,jp
PRA ChaptersandcommunicationprocesswiththeFAAatthe conclusionofwhich thePRAwill beaformal Safety Partner Organization.Theresultsofthisthirdstepareexpected
to be profound, aswehope to havemuchgreater PROACTIVE input on not onlypersonalrotorcraftsafetyeducationbutalsotraining, regulations, FAA Advisories andmore.
Although you cannot receive WINGScreditforattendingtherecordedevent,youcanwatchthecompletepresentationintheMembers-OnlysectionofthePRAwebsite.Speaking of webinars, Stan Foster’s
Helicyclewebinar is also now available toview online.A new piece of software hasallowedustopresenttherecordedwebinarsin two formats. The first format worksbest for PC computers with Java enabledbrowsers like IE, FireFox, Chrome andSafari,andthesecondformatiscompatiblewithiPadsandiPhones!Bymid-April thePRAexpects tohave a
totaloffournewrecordedwebinarsontheMembers-Onlypage.
Inothernews...It has come to our attention that Jack
Tiffany, restorer of the Pitcairn PA-18 hassuffered a stroke.We allwish him a swiftrecovery. The PA-18, currently at GrimesAirportMuseuminOhio,issoonmovingtoanewhomeinFlorida.Duane Hunn, gyroplane CFI and PRA
BoardMember, isundergoinghipsurgery.Pleasekeephiminyourthoughtsaswell.RoyT.Hananisanewgyroplaneinstructor
whohasbeenadded to thePRA’sverifiedinstructors list. To contact and learnmoreaboutRoy,gototheTRAININGsectionofthePRAwebsite.PRA member and supporter Norman
Surplus is resuming his around theworldgyrotripinMaywhentheweatherovertheBearingSeaisexpectedtobecomefavorable.
Lastly, the next PRA Board of Directorsmeeting will be held at the Bensen Daysevent in just a few weeks (March 21st).
If you have any issues you would liketo have the BOD address please contacta director soon. You can contact me [email protected].
Remember thatwork put into the safetyprograms, relationships with the FAA,webinars,events,programs,webpagepublicarchives, this digital magazine, chapternewsletter redistribution, CFI listings, theLODA program andmore are all possibleonlythroughMEMBERSHIPDUES.
Justbecauseyouare receiving thisFREEcopyofthedigitalmagazineRotorcraftdoesnotmeanyouareaDUESpayingmemberorthat your PRA membership is current. You can check your membership status by logging on to the PRA Members-Onlysectionofthewebpage.Ifyouneedhelpdoingthis,email:[email protected].
Iwould like topersonally thankallof thePRA members who have made the greatsuccess of new programs possible. Do notforgettohelpeveryonepromoteandattendthe 50th PRA Convention this year: July31-August4th2012.
Come To Have Fun
at the2nd Annual
Mt. Vernon, IL FLY-INAugust 25-26, 2012Directions: On Interstate 57,
take exit 95 and go east 3 miles Lat / Long:
38-19-24.076N / 088-51-30.525W38.3233544 / 88.8584792 (est.)
Airport Communications: CTAF- 123.0 UNICOM 123.0
• Onsite restaurant• Nearly 60 local restaurants• Onsite camping hookups• Over 1,111 hotel rooms locally Sponsored by: PRA Chapter #35
Phone: 618-427-9994; 815-761-3623
14 Rotorcraft • March 2012
Gyroplane CFIs
The following instructors are PRA members. This list is provided as aconvenience for readers, and does not constitute an endorsement of any instructor, aircraft, syllabus or training enterprise by PRA. (Aircraft listed in parentheses are available for instruction.)
ARKANSASRon Menzie (501) 766-6456
2715 S Main StSearcy, AR 72143
[email protected](SparrowHawk, Parsons, RAF)
ARIZONATerry Brandt (602) 739-0554
11423 W Citrus GroveAvondale, AZ 85392
FLORIDADofin Fritts (850) 587-2504
Brewton Muni Airport AL 12JPensacola, FL
[email protected] (251) 867-9446
Roy T. Hanan188 Edgewater River Rd
Edgewater, FL 32141407-754-4679
[email protected](Autogyro MTO Sport)
Robert Martian (772) 546-73358011 SE Helen TerraceHobe Sound, FL 33455
(Marchetti)
Glen Garrick (386) 479-4838635 Forest Lane
Deland, FL 32724 [email protected]
(RAF)
GEORGIASteve McGowan (478) 461-1451
2725 Herbert Small Airport RdMacon, GA 31217
[email protected] (SparrowHawk, Parsons)
ILLINOISDon Randle (217) 414-0108
513 South 6th St.Petersburg, IL [email protected]
INDIANAGary Goldsberry (317) 996-2487
1181 W SR 42Mooresville, IN 46158
[email protected](Twinstarr)
Silas Smith (219) 374-460411709 W 117th St
Cedar Lake, IN 46303(Marchetti)
MARYLANDChris Burgess (301) 668-4124
527 Sylvan Ct.Frederick, MD 21703
[email protected] (SnoBird)
Robert L. Snyder60 W Earleigh Heights Rd.Severna Park, MD 21146
[email protected](Calidus, MTOSport)
MICHIGANDuane Hunn (219) 682-6228
6835 Janes RoadSaginaw, MI 48601
NEW YORKJim Logan (516) 746-3427
163 Primrose Rd.Williston Park, NY 11596
[email protected] (RAF)
OHIOEd Newbold (614) 207-3909
5657 Balkin Pl.Columbus, OH 43231
[email protected](Modified RAF)
Tim O’Connor4230 Barton DriveBatavia, OH 45103
(513) [email protected]
OKLAHOMAPaul Patterson (405) 826-8443
1405 Cedar Ridge RdEdmond, OK 73013
[email protected] (RAF)
PENNSYLVANIAJames Nadig (724) 458-4665
PO Box 724Grove City, PA 16127 [email protected]
(RAF)
SOUTH CAROLINAGary Neal (864) 583-4319
320 Bryant RdSpartanburg, SC 29303 [email protected]
(RAF)
TENNESSEELarry Banks (931) 260-3032
Crossville, [email protected]
TEXASHenry Foster (214) 692-0727
7777 Royal LaneDallas, TX 75230
Trains at Olney, TX [email protected]
(Mod. RAF, SparrowHawk, Air Cmd)
Desmon Butts (907) 841-24098303 Hayden CoveTomball, TX 77375
Trains at David Wayne Hooks [email protected]
(AutoGyro MTO Sport N446QT, Calidus, Sparrow Hawk, RAF,
Air Command, Golden Butterfly)
UTAHMichael Burton (801) 794-3434
Spanish Fork, [email protected]
COSTA RICAGuido Scheidt +506 2656 8048
Ultralight Tour S.A.www.autogyroamerica.com
RF – 170 (3 Seater) For Sale
$15,000.00 Includes:
- 3 carbon prop blades w/covers- one extra set of used carbon blades
- one set of sport Rotors 8”x13’ (New in Box)
Classifieds Classified advertisements in Rotorcraft are a free service to PRA Members.
Submissions should be emailed to: [email protected]
Reasonable offers and trade offerswill be considered.
Click the link below for a Youtube video of David Holmes flying it sometime before he accidentally rolled it. Forward to minute 15:56 to see about 20 seconds of the gyro in the air and on the runway.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGw-yFff8iU
Please contact David Holmes at 251-680-7731 after 3:00 CST
or email [email protected]
March 2012 • Rotorcraft 15
ClassifiedsRAF 2000/Sparrow Hawk Project
RAF - Cabin Kit ..........................................List $3261.RAF - 23 gallon Seat Tank ..........................List $ 441.Rudder, fiberglass .......................................List $ 400.Main Axle assembly (expandable carbon fiber suspension) with balloon tires on aluminum rims ..................................List $ 500.Front wheel assembly (Sport Copter, castering) .......................List $ 300.Engine (Factory EA-81 Subaru, turbo charged, electronic fuel injection. Produces 120 HP) ..................................List $600.Warp drive, carbon fiber, ground adjustable propeller with direct drive hub .................List $700.Folding mast assembly ................................List $200.Set of fiberglass floats - 33 lbs each 11’LX 2’W ............................................List $1,200.Boxes of parts, most needed to finish plane ....................................List $---------- TOTAL VALUE $7,602.+
WILL SELL FOR $3,000.For additional information call Les @ 541-282-4620
or for pictures or questionsE-Mail: [email protected]
Classified advertisements in Rotorcraft are a free service to PRA Members.
Submissions should be emailed to: [email protected]
$4,000.00
For further information, contact Ralph Heading
at 1-604-644-2132
FOR SALE
FOR SALEPreviously owned and flown by the late Mr. Bert Wichers of Hawthorne, California. As you can see below, the Rotax, built by Bill Allen, was featured in the August 1982 issue of Popular Rotorcraft Flying. Mrs. Wichers would like for someone to get some good use out of this machine.
For further information, please call Mrs. Jacqueline Wichers at 760-388-4206.
16 Rotorcraft • March 2012
Bensen Days is one of the oldest and largest gyroplane fly-ins in the world. Each Spring, enthusiasts gather in Florida to rekindle our bond with each other and drill holes in the sky in a celebration of aviation unlike any other.
Most participants camp right on the airport, but there is a fine hotel and bed and breakfast a short drive away. Visitors are welcome, and a day pass is available at the registration tent. Participants are invited to register in advance and make on-site camping reservations on our website, www.bensendays.com. We hope to see you there!