Gyroplane Training 
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Web by: Rebel Systems Training Days April 7 - 22 2001 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 May 26 - June 2 2001 April 1 - 11 2002 |
Day 14 Well, yesterday was tantalizingly close to actually be single seat: I did get the rotors turning! Today has dawned bright, with a 7 knot northerly forecast and 40% chance of rain, so it is looking good. We had arranged that we would all go in early if the weather only allowed a VERY early window, and possibly a late one as well. Since it looks like all day should be usable, then normal time it is. However I am already up!!! All, togged and ready to go. A GA student just rolls out for circuit training. That's us cooked! No single seat until he is down. Once down the wind has got up beyond what is acceptable, so it's a wait until this evening. Things are busy here today. The place is swarming with press, and a military puma is in and out ferrying press around.
An Augusta appears, (my favorite heli!), with more press
Then a high-up government bod turns up and the press are all over him. I make no apology for focusing on the aircraft! (It was the Minister for Defense)
And the Brigadier giving the why's and wherefores. No airs and graces here. Coffee in hand and fag in the other whilst on camera.
We waited, and waited for the wind to abate. It seemed like it was ok, and so Dave was off. 15 minutes and that was called off. It was 1900 before we started again, and Dave got another 30 minutes in on the single seater, just starting to feel the nose. Then it was my turn. Slow runs, feeling the nose all the time. Another couple of runs and the nose came up, Left rudder to hold in trim as the wheel left the ground. Back wheel hits the tarmac, so stick forward and front wheel hits, still with a lot of left to counter the torque, so we slew to the left. A fair few times of this, and still not catching it as it comes up, more like as the rear wheel whacks the tarmac. Good stuff for 45 minutes. This is me during one of the runs.
It was very difficult to anticipate the front wheel coming up and check it. Both Dave and myself would let it come right up until the back wheel hit, then push the stick forward, resulting in the front wheel hitting, and the gyro skewing off due to the amount of left rudder in to counter the torque. Now we both know what to look for, we can start feeling for the nose to come up. It will take a little while to get this "feel". Meanwhile I think India Oscar is in for some nose/tail wheel abuse. |
