www.PSFmagazine.com | February 2019 | 35 34 | February 2019 | Powered Sport Flying In Memory of Marion Springer Marion Springer, lovingly known as the grande dame of gyrocopters, passed away in January of 2019 at the age of 89. Springer was a pioneer gyro pilot, certified flight instructor and author. Her children said that she, “ loved flying more than anything in the world, next to her family, Docko, her husband and four children, Linda, Dave, Coby, Donna and her two beloved grandchildren Lonni and Crystal. Next came her love for animals. She will be missed by all.” Marion, a Choctaw native, began her pilot career flying an Aeronca Champ. Before she discovered gyros, she spent a lot of time flying her Champ. Her husband Docko first decided that a gyrocopter would be a great thing to build and fly. Marion was less enthusiastic about the project, but went with him to test fly the completed homebuilt project. Their first gyro actually began its life as a gyro-glider and the first flight was to be a tethered flight taking advantage of the winds at Bodega Bay, California. The headwinds were not strong enough to lift Docko, so Marion climbed into the seat and took the gyro into the sky for its maiden voyage. After that experience, they moved their operation to an old navy base near Santa Rosa and took advantage of their 7,000-foot runways to do towed flights. Next was powering the gyrocopter. Marion wanted a McCollough engine, but she wanted the 90hp, not the 72hp version. With that, Marion and Docko were free to take off and fly away from the airport. From there, she had a number of adventures. Much of that she included in her book, “Born Free, My Life in Gyrocopters.” You can get a feel for the kind of person she was. Bruce Charnov wrote a review of her book and said: “Marion recounts her 1960’s involvement with the Bensen Gyro glider and Gyrocopter, chapters amply illustrated with many b/w photos, the story of Marion Springer Gyrocopters and experiences as a certified flight instructor. …Springer devotes a great deal of attention to her family. The result is an enlarged and ultimately enhanced view of the gyrocopter and a lasting and loving tribute to her husband Docko, who played a significant role in her success.” “…Springer’s style is always simultaneously informative and exceptionally engaging. Marion, also variously called “The Queen of the Gyros” and “The Gyro-Flying Grandmother,” is at her best when describing the unique events that have characterized an amazing life in gyros–and the chapter “Becoming a Movie Star’” which recounts her experiences, along with Docko, during filming of the obscure 1981 movie “The Great Skycopter Rescue” is terrific!” Finally, the best words are the ones that came from Marion herself: “Free as the wind blows– free to follow my heart. Those words painted on the tail of my gyro are the very essence of gyro flying.” “ I have never felt such a sense of freedom as when flying my Bensen Gyrocopter. In the gyro the urge to ‘ follow my heart,’ to chase rainbows, to see what ’s over the next hill, or around the next bend, or to simply just play on the wind was so very strong. No matter how long the time spent aloft, the flight always ended too soon.”• A Loss to the World of Rotorcraft Gyroplane Review Conclusion Magni has remained faithful to the principle of “If it ain’ t broke, don’ t fix it"–evolving the design over the years with tested and proven enhancements. Because of this, the M16 is technically mature and for the aviator, very good-natured. I understand why The Aeronauts love this gyroplane as a training aircraft.• Technical Data: Magni M16 TandemTrainer Dimensions • Overall Width. . . . . .71 inches • Overall Length. . . . . 183 inches • Total Height. . . . . . 183 inches • Rotor Diameter. . . . .28 feet • Empty Weight . . . . . <600 lbs (with 914 ULS) • MTOW. . . . . . . . .1,212 lbs. (US) • Payload. . . . . . . . 612 lbs. (US) • Fuel Capacity. . . . . .19 gallons Performance Data • Takeoff distance . . . . 230 feet • Rate of Climb. . . . . .1050 fpm • Top speed. . . . . . . 97 knots • Cruise Speed . . . . . .76 knots • Range. . . . . . . . .> 250 miles Company • Manufacturer . . . . . Magni Gyro, Italy • Web. . . . . . . . . .www.magnigyro.com • USA Contact. . . . . . Magni Gyro USA • Web. . . . . . . . . .www.magniusa.com
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