To Gyro or not to Gyro that is the question....???

[Aquillaguy]

I know this is the Microlight forum.....

Have been flying as such for 7 years now.... ZU-BST

Any thoughts on the comparison...

Am intrigued by the performance/versatility and being able to play ALL DAY LONG!
Can anybody give me a downside to gyro besides high aquisition cost?

I'm a hardcore Triker,but would like to learn something new in the realm of flight..

Andreas

[gertcoetzee]

First give us a breakdown of costs, maintenance etc, then let us vote. As for flying in all weather with gyro - old trikers please comment

[The Agent]

The inset cost to geta Gyro is ahell of a lot higher but the speed and comfort and no waiting for the wind to die down and so much more is just no comparrison but thank goodness at least they both fly.

[FlyGirl]

Approx R100/hour excl. tbo cost add another R100/hour for that I've been informed.

Essentially question is also ...

What can a Trike do that a Gyro can NOT do?

...A

[RV4ker (RIP)]

What trike costs R300K+ (Assuming Rattex gyro rather than RAF with Subaru)

PS
Maybe 3 axis vs gyro?

[t-bird]

To Gyro is the ultimate !!!

But to compare trikes , 3 -axis and Gyro's doesn't make sense. Each one of these aircraft have different flying abilities and there own place in the sky.

I have started my flying on a Thunderbird and it helped a lot in doing my GPL.

The main thing is to start flying . Cost is usually a big constraint . A trike is a lot cheaper than a Gyro and if operated correctly , almost as safe.

Start flying and stop comparing. You get penguins and pilots. Penguins compare and pilots fly anything from a broomstick to a kite.

[Yoda]

I've been flying trike for almost 5 years now. Just finished my license on the gyro. To tell the truth, I will never fly trike again. I feel so much safer in the gyro. The wind becomes your companion when you fly gyro and its almost always your enemy when flying trike. What I love about the gyro is the fact that I can almost always fly when I want to.
The only disadvantage of a gyro I would say is that it dosnt tolerate a mistake on landing as good as a trike and also a little mistake can cost you a lot.

[Yoda]

Just thought of another huge difference that I became aware of when started on the gyro.... It loses altitude a lot faster than a trike!! When you get an engine cut, you need to start looking for a spot a lot quicker than in a trike. You can put down a gyro in a very small spot, but believe me, its not as easy as it may sound. It takes a lot of practice to be able to do that well, because you cannot land like a helicopter. Especially if you dont have a head wind, your forward movent can easely cause you to overshoot your spot and then your in trouble.

[Smiley]

Demon Wrote:

My dream trike - the Pegasus Quick 450

What's the price on one of those babys??

[Smiley]

And a dream it will stay for me!! Maybe I win the lotto this week-end, then I can buy one for each day of the week.

[RV4ker (RIP)]

UKLotto is 85 million GBP

[Griffin]

UKLotto is 85 million GBP

Shall we enter?? If we win it we can buy one of each for all the frequent posters :D

I think you are all missing one important fact. Trike pilots are far more sociable than Gyro pilots. This is because they spend all that quality time in the hanger with thier buddies while the gyro pilots are out playing on thier own.

[Eagle]

I had the privilege to have flown in just about every aircraft type one can get. Very nice fixed wings like Beechcraft Kingair C90, Impala MK 1 with Bill Jones, Cheetah with Vladimir at Rainbow Aircraft, did some Chopper training with Thys Kuhn, I also flown in Gyros with Butch Brown of Magni and in the ELA with Anthony, but I have been flying Trikes the last eight years myself and have to say that of all the flying machines I ever been in my Trike is still the most pleasurable flying experience of them all.

I mean lets face it there is absolutely nothing that gives you the flying sensation of a Trike in good weather (No wind or turbulence) and that is just where the Gyro guys got the edge over the Trikes – they love wind and turbulence – I was flying the Africa Cup in 2001 and my two flying buddies was a Sycamore Gyro on the left piloted by Anthony and a Magni Gyro on my right piloted by Johan von Ludwig – the worst thing was that they were making jokes about me over the radio why I have so many hick-ups ( Caused by lots of wind and turbulence) Of about 800 km’s of flying distance covered only a 100 km’s was a pleasure the rest I felt like a little boat in the deep sea caught in a storm !

On the other hand a Gyro is very noisy for me and got lots of drag which in turn uses lots of fuel and should be maintained quite regularly. At an average price of R 450 000 not many can afford the luxuries of a Gyro. Maintenance on my Trike is quite cheap. Choppers an Expensive Fixed Wings are very nice to fly but the flying costs are just way above the average person’s budget. In conclusion if you can handle all the wind & turbulence and put a ballistic parachute on your Trike just to have that psychological edge and have it available the day you need it I have to say for me the Trike is still King !

[Smiley]

I have been flying Trikes the last eight years myself and have to say that of all the flying machines I ever been in my Trike is still the most pleasurable flying experience of them all.

I agree!! Flying over scenic area's is best seen out of a trike!! I LOVE YOU BABY, I LOVE YOU!!