Low Rider

Last year I found an old air command low boy gyroplane kit that I am converting to a center line thrust machine. It will have a 3 Cylinder Yamaha engine, a Tangogyro tail, 3 blade Bolly Prop and Tangogyro Rotor head and blades. I will raise the mast a bit higher too. Lone Star Rotorcraft Club always has something in works too. For example, the modified the Green Aviomania AKA Kermit last year from a Yamaha powered machine to a Rotax 912 machine. Plans are in the works for it to change hands inside the club and have a new look and engine. Currently, the fuel tanks are leaking due to ethanol. There are other builds happening in the club too, including a Parson's trainer with a GA engine, Lycoming or Continental?

Recently, I decided to change the gear box on my Tangogyro from a 3:1 ratio to a 3.47:1 ratio. The Yamaha Nytro engine runs at 8200 rpm for peak torque and horsepower. My goal was to turn the prop slower with more pitch to make it quieter and more efficient at cruise without losing climb performance. My friend and CFI Ben Cadenbach has been flying very successfully with this combination in his Tangogyro.

My early flight tests went well, but, I started having some issues that I thought were related to the clutch that had almost 200 hours on it.  I removed the new gear box to check the clutch and I found that the main bearing inside the adapter plate was bad, so I replace it and the clutch pads. The repairs did not resolve the issue. I was told to open the new gear box and check it. I discovered that the nut on the main gear which drives the prop had not been torqued properly at the factory and was slipping on the shaft. I torqued the nut to over 100 foot pounds as directed by the manufacturer. I did not fix the problem, I believe that the inside of the gear was damaged on the shaft and has to be replaced. I am sending it back to the manufacturer for the repair. In the mean time I am using the original 3:1 gear box.

The Gyrocopter Experience York, England

Last June Danita and I took a trip to see her daughter in England.   We took a day trip to York and stop by gyroplane CFI and author Phil Harwood's York Gyrocopter Experience. Unfortunately Phil was not there, but, we did get a tour of the facility along with these photos from York including this one:

They have a number of vintage gyros on display and an awesome training platform that includes class rooms and simulator!

Lockhart, Texas

I am very thankful for the time the Army gave us in Georgia for my final assignment before retirement.  The guys at Peach State Rotor Craft helped me rebuild my Air Command,.  Jon Carleton with the help of Kurt Carlson and Lewis Gulley provided me with training that allowed my first gyroplane solo.  I really miss my friend Alexander Vagner owner of Tangogyro.  Alex passed away recently.

Unfortunately, my time in the Army and Georgia came to an end in late 2018.  I miss my Georgia gyro buddies, but, most of our family lives in Texas and I accepted a teaching and coaching job back in Texas.  So the flights I have been taking since are all in Texas.

During 2018 we started using 4 Blade Luga and NR Props in several different Tangos including mine.  Unfortunately they did not handle the stress.  Here are pics after I took a round trip flight from Lockhart, Texas to Blum, Texas early in 2019.  NR Prop cracks.

It was a long trip with strong winds.  I called 800-992-7433 (800-WX-BRIEF) for a Standard briefing before the trip.  The briefer told me the winds would be 20-25 knots from the surface to 4500 MSL.  However, on the trip back they were 35 knots or stronger as a direct headwind.  I made it back to Lockhart right at twilight!

My next long cross country trip was from Lockhart to my home town, Dublin, Texas for our 2nd Annual Gyroplane Flyin.  Pictured is Lucky McBeard (AKA Brad Stanford), Dublin Airport (9F0) manager.

Here are more photos from the event, Dublin, Texas St. Patricks Day Gyroplane Flyin

Later in the spring, I flew down to 1.4 hours to (50R-KBEA) Beeville, Texas to visit fellow gyro pilot and friend Ben Cadenbach.  Ben and I built our Gyros at the same time.  It was a fairly warm day and Ben, who is a pretty big guy gave a ride to another large person.  With fuel and all, the Tango carried over a 600 pound payload!

Here is the link to more photos and a video of the trip.  Beeville 2019

I also flew all the way around San Antonio in April of 2019 to a Young Eagles event at EAA Chapter 35 from there south to Castroville for fuel and back to Lockhart.   

Check out all my cross country flights as recorded on Naviator.

Catching Up

During the past couple of years, I have neglected to post here.  In 2018 my wife Danita decided that she wanted to share my experience in Gyroplanes.  So, we sold my Air Command Gyroplane and purchased our Tango 2.  Here are photo links from 2018:

Photos of my Air Command for sales purposes: 2018 Air Command

Some of the photos were from my trip to Bensen Days in March!  The Air Command sold during Barry Days in North Carolina the next month.

I started building the Tango with Alexander Vagner at his shop in Roswell Georgia just prior to the sale of the Air Command.  The photos in this folder were used as part of the build log submitted for the Air Worthiness Certificate.

Tango 2 Build Log Photos

FAA Build Log and Documents

Here are photos and videos from the PRA convention in 2018 where we put over 17 hours on the ship as a demo for Tangogyro. 2018 PRA Convention Mentone, IA

This a later trip from Cedartown, GA to Piedmont, AL with fellow Tangogyro pilot and builder Medi from California with our instructor Jon Carleton. 2018 Cross Country

By the end of 2018, I had enough time and experience to study for and pass the FAA Sport Pilot written and practical tests.  I took the written test in San Antonio and the practical with DPE Mark Sprigg in Gulf Shores, AL.

I will post 2019 flying activities in a later blog.

Air Commands Low in the Georgia Fields

Air Command Cross Country Trip to Piedmont-Centre, Alabama

I have another action camera that I used for this trip today.  It did not work at all for the trip over to Piedmont from Cedartown, GA and I failed set or remove the time and date stamp.

I purchased a video editor and I like the features it offers. I added photos, titles and the music came with the software.

Pattern Work Videos

Here is another couple of videos from my Air Command flying in the pattern in Cedartown, GA.  My friend Rex Garner is in a Red Baby Ace on a right hand base leg in the first video.