maulonir

It would have to be an extremly LTL to flip a machine over backwards but I guess theoretically possible, I don't know of any though. Bones you confused me for a minute there (not hard to do) I thought you were refering to a LTL machine in the bottom paragraph when I first read it as it follows on from the "A LTL in theory will/can flip it over backwards." But i guess you were refering to the RAF which is a HTL machine for those unfamiliar with this particular Gyro. Rob Rob

G'day Bones was just about to reply when you chimed in. Howard, Visually you can generally tell if a gyro is HTL CTL or LTL. HTL would usually have the prop up high and the pilot fuel etc and engine below the thrust line. LTL is generally the opposite to this and CLT is somewhere in between. The only accurate way of telling is by doing a double hang test or weight and balance calcs to find the COG and see where the prop thrust intersects it. Also HTL machine should nose down on application of power and nose up when power is reduced. LTL machine would nose up when power is applied and nose down when power is reduced. CTL machine should not have any major pitch change when power settings are changed but should decend when power is cut and climb when power is applied. This will of coarse vary between machines as air speed and drag will affect the machines reactions aswell. Rob

Hello Howard, HTL,CTL,LTL all relate to the where the thrust line is in relation to the COG. This is a huge subject and as been debated over and over in the gyro world as to which is safest/best design. HTL gyro's have been a major contributor to fatalities around the world, and the last 3 fatals in OZ all invloved HLT designs. Visit www.asra.org.au and join the forum, there is a wealth of information in there. There are also contacts listed that would be more than happy to explain the theory behind the differences in design. As for the tail contacting the ground on TO and landing thats quite normal. On TO the idea is to balance on the main wheels ocasionally or if performing a short field TO the tail wheel will contact the ground. There is not allot of force being applied to it under normal conditions I guess not much different from the tail wheel contacting first when landing a tail dragger FW. Hope this helps Rob

G'day Gordon, welcome from another Gyro flyer. Rob

Rolo, Have a look at asra.org.au and ask there, ASRA is the governing body for Gyro's in Australia. There are a couple of manufactures in Australia with machines that have many thousands of hours on them. rotorcraft.com.au is another site to look at. Rob

Daniel, There is a Recreational flying club in Atherton that meet on the third Sunday of the month at the air field. There are allot of friendly and experienced aviators involved with the club a couple of ex comercial pilots and an ex GA instructor. There web site is FNQUA - The Master Page. I fly my Gyro up over the range from Innisfail to attend the meetings, might see you there sometime. Rob

I 've never been in a drifter, but even if their half as addictive as Gyro's the only problem I could see myself having is that I reckon I would want one. Rob

I was a bit pushed for time on Sunday as I was running out of daylight but I will drop in another day now I know where you are. :) Rob

Went for a fly north yesterday and came across a strip with a hanger beside it and what looked like a drifter parked inside. There was also a bloke in a orange shirt waving at me. Was that you Frank? Rob

Some high tension power lines also have a single earth wire that can be a couple of metres below the main lines and can be difficult to see.

Hello, Sadly the second occupant involved in this accident has passed away. I have cut and pasted some info from rotocraft.com.au. Rob Re: Tassie gyro crash ?????????? « Reply #16 on: July 11, 2007, 01:25:00 AM » Quote Gentlemen, Sorry to inform you that Geoff Jamieson passed away on the 7th hour of the 7/7/2007. His son Jade was with his father at the time. Many of us in the gyro fraternity here in Tassie have watched Jade grow into a fine young man, at 17 yrs. Often present at the airfield, when Geoff was training. His Grandfather, Keith and Geoff were like best mates and Geoffs passion for gyros grew from Keith's and together they embarked on a journey that would see Keith learn his trade at manufacturing wooden bensen blades building their own rotor heads and props including whole aircraft. A journey from glider to powered flight. Geoff was 16 when that love affair with gyros began. Geoff's funeral service is this comming Thursday 12th July at St Mary's Church in Penquin, Tasmania at 2pm. Followed by the laying to rest at a location near by. The Advocate and Examiner News Papers will both be running articles on Geoff and his historically significant journey through the sport of gyroplanes here in Tasmania. With the deaths of two of our fellow gyro enthusiasts, we are all no doubt shocked and saddened by what has transpired, none more than those of us here on the 'Island' that new these blokes. Obviously there will be lots more 'inquiring' but I will share this with you because the student pilot's 'son in law' was said to have offered pictures to those at the funeral who, felt the need to look. These pictures were of the accident site. Further, this Gentleman alledgedly , publicly stated that the deceased student had told the instructor to ...'leave me, I'm stuffed' or words to that effect. And that Geoff had tried to get the student out of the burning wreck. The burns Geoff sustained appear to support this information. Emergency Service were first of the 'officials' to arrive, this may be the source of this information. Even though my student mate has been 'put to rest' I'm not sure if he has been named publicly at this time, so I withhold this for the time being. I intend to speak with his 'life partner' tomorrow/today to share with her how much he had come to mean to many of us in such a short period of time. The blokes who knew Geoff, know how staunch the bloke was, fit, strong, his lifesaving background and no doubt put himself in harms way to try and save his student.....his fellow human being. It's a sad time for all the family members, though I hear and feel the strong support from both families for the passion and desire of these to men to be gyro aviators. Fly Safe Fella's. Mitch