www.PSFmagazine.com | December 2018 - January 2019 | 27 26 | December 2018 - January 2019 | Powered Sport Flying by John Rountree Gyroplane First Flight I was offered my first ride in a gyroplane on the RotoryForum where I’d been learning about these unique aircraft. Ron Awad, who owned a two-place Dominator, posted “find me at the fly-in and I’ ll give you a ride.” What I did not know, at the time, was that all of my friends on the Forum who were at the fly-in/convention had suggested that Ron scare the heck out of me… just for fun! I arrived in Mentone, Indiana, as a high-time in mainly certified FW (fixed-wing) aircraft, at Popular Rotorcraft Association’s private airport, which is maintained for public use. I saw the campground and hangers filled with every make and model of gyroplanes from the first type that Bensen made to the modern enclosed cross-country machines. I discovered Ron near the flight line and walked up to his spindly-looking contraption with rotors for wings. Before I climbed in I did my own inspection of the frame, the rotor head, seats, safety belts and the landing gear attach bolts. I realized the reason this one appeared spindly was solely because you can see the frame. I do have experience–our family owned a Piper Dealership/fbo with flight training where I learned about airframes from my brother Greg, who became and held an IA. I assisted him whenever I could in all maintenance aspects including inspecting most frames in every make and model. Using this experience, and after my inspection of Ron’s Dominator, I was impressed. The frame and rotor-head had bolts and attach points that were actually stronger than the entire single-place Piper line for the same loading and components. I thought alright, I’ll fly this. The flight started with a slight amount of grief while boarding her as I almost needed a ladder to get into the high-stance Dominator; however I’m also ‘vertically challenged’ as well! Once I was strapped in I felt an excitement and anticipation I did not expect or remember feeling the first time I flew a hang glider, paraglider, sailplane, or ultralight fixedwing. I believe it was because I had no real idea, or even imagination, of how this type of aircraft would handle. We taxied and I noticed the first difference right away: the pilot must manage the rotor blades keeping them nose to tail, level and stopped. The blades are considered a wing so they must not cross the hold short line until either cleared or you announced that you’re taking the runway. Inexperienced rotorcraft pilots must also look behind the aircraft while turning to make sure you don’t strike other aircraft parked on the flight line or a fuel pump you’re Wonder HowThose Contraptions Fly? Images by Tim O'Connor Press Pass American Autogyro International, Inc. (aai) announced that it is restarting production of the SparrowHawk iii Gyroplane Quick-Build kit. In addition, aai stated that it will provide enhanced support for the more than 100 SparrowHawk kits sold thus far. Factory representatives stated that, “When the original SparrowHawk Gyroplane was first introduced, the homebuilt gyroplane kit industry had a poor reputation due to accidents. The majority of these could be attributed to flawed designs that misplaced thrust vectors. The SparrowHawk corrected this issue by introducing the innovative “center-line-thrust” placement of the propeller and appropriately aligning the rotor thrust vector.” They claim that over the next several years, other gyroplane manufacturers adopted centerline thrust (and certain others left the market) and the accident rate declined. They believe that as a result, the gyroplane market has experienced significant growth and renewed interest. The award-winning SparrowHawk design has been widely featured by leading aviation media, including the Experimental Aircraft Association (eaa), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (aopa), and Popular Rotorcraft Association (pra). aai says that in the opinion of many, the SparrowHawk iii Quick-Build Kit is by far the easiest to assemble and now with thousands of flight hours, the SparrowHawk iii has been widely accepted as one of the most capable, affordable, and safest gyroplanes in the kit market. In addition, from time to time aai stated that it is open to purchasing existing SparrowHawk Kit Aircraft, of course preferably well-built with reasonably low flight time, but they can review those at any level of assembly or flight time logged. Learn more at americanautogyro.com. Classic Gyro Reintroduced
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