My metal wings!

[Ou Man]

Thinus,
Het jy reg gekom by ons vriend op Sandkloof?
Ek soek 'n vlieg partner!!!!!

[THI]

Thinus,
Het jy reg gekom by ons vriend op Sandkloof?
Ek soek 'n vlieg partner!!!!!

Ja dankie. Ek het spasie gekry by Martin. Dis reg, ons moet die Swartland rooi verf!!

[Gyronaut]

Just got word from Louis of Aerosport that my ATF has been issued!! Thanks Aerosport for your prompt service!!

Now just the conversion!!

Whoop Whoop

Dinsdag!

[Technocrat]

To Thinus & Len:

Come on guys, get your act together before the weekend! We are flying from Swellendam to Vredendal for their Fly-in next weekend and we would be priviledged if you could join us along the way. Len, I can't wait to see your new gyro!

[Technocrat]

Thinus,
Het jy reg gekom by ons vriend op Sandkloof?
Ek soek 'n vlieg partner!!!!!

Ou Man, I landed at Sandkloof yesterday to refuel. What a neat air strip ! My compliments to Martin who keeps the strip in excellent condition!

PS. My avatar picture was taken at Sandkloof.

[Gyronaut]

To Thinus & Len:

Come on guys, get your act together ...

So gese^, So Gedaan!

Thinus completed his conversion onto his Sycamore ZU-CML (Y017) today and is FLYING solo in it !!

Well done Thinus, fly safe and enjoy your baby.

Rgds

Len

[Learjet]

Congratulations Thinus! It's so lekker to see you flying your very own gyro. You had a dream and you made it come true.

[Wargames]

Congradulations Thinus!!

When is your first x-country?? This weekend!?!?

[Technocrat]

To Thinus & Len:

Come on guys, get your act together ...

So gese^, So Gedaan!

Thinus completed his conversion onto his Sycamore ZU-CML (Y017) today and is FLYING solo in it !!

Well done Thinus, fly safe and enjoy your baby.

Rgds

Len

Great !! Thanks Len for all your advice and assistance to Thinus. Hope to see you at Vredendal for a

[FlyingDoc]

Thinus,
Congratulation

Alan

[Jabbanaught]

Congratulations , Hope to catch up with you in the Sky !

[THI]

Thanks for everybody’s best wishes and support! Much appreciated!

I could not have done this with the help of my fellow gyro friends and family.

Thanks Paul (Jabi430) for the hanger arrangements! Ek skuld jou groot!
Len (JetRanger) for all the advice! I’ll be needing it.


Let the fly begin!!

Wargames – My first x-country was when I flown it from Stellenbosch to Moorreesburg. We are planning a trip to the Vredendal Fly-In, so that will be a proper x-country!

[Gyronaut]

Advice is something we pilots have lots of! (thankfully, we will keep learning from each other that way.

ZU-CML: I first saw and got to fly several demo's and displays in her in Cambridge in the UK about two years ago. Dave Collier had bought it and exported it. Paperwork and regulations kept it virtually grounded there. (I flew legally b.t.w. SA registered aerrie, SA registered pilot - Valid SA ATF) It was smooth, clean and the Bose ANR headsets made it sound silent. I spent an awesome day flying in the English countryside. The machine was perfectly balanced and required very little trim. Sycamore's are much heavier on the stick than most but that also makes them easier to fly since one doesn't tend to over-control. The brakes weren't good but on flat grass it didn't matter. I may be totally wrong but the additional weight of the machine makes it quite docile. It does what you want - but almost in its own time. It won't be rushed. Weight and inertia help you there. (well I cant really explain it well but thats how it feels to me). I fit easily as do most average sized people, Thinus is a BIG fella. Watching him enter and exit the machine is quite impressive. I warned him not to forget to undo his seatbelt before he climbs out since he would walk off with the machine on his back.

At FASH, at 5kg's under MAW Thinus and I took off with plenty of runway to spare and he let the speed climb to over 80 and then pulled it back to 65. We climbed out at 400' a minute which stablilised at about 250' at 1000' agl. I know Thinus is from an aviation family so he is hardly an Ab Initio pilot. Checks are good, overall confidence is good, he has control of the machine and is flying it, not letting it do the flying. Time for him see how she does 1-up. I hopped out and off he went. First landing was a bit of a hover approach on touchdown - which is to be understood because it keeps floating and get back off the ground when suddenly much lighter. Second landing was much better ... its called experience.

Two hours later, I'm operating west of Fisantekraal with a student when I hear. "Fisantekraal traffic this is CML on-route from Stellenbosch to Malmesbury, 5 miles out at 1800' anticipate overhead in 4 minutes.

What a lekka feeling to see and hear CML fly here again and in the good care of Thinus. Now two of us own the most beautiful gyro around. I look forward to seeing it at Vredendal and in the skies around the fairest Cape. You have experienced the "Gyrocalypse". Welcome to the club.

A last bit of advice... Be gentle on your prerotator. The rotor system is very heavy and very long. It takes a lot of energy to get it going, but places far less strain on the system if you take your time. Remember 110 minimum (120 in wind) before stick back. As a matter of interest, the longer blades "fly" at lower RPM reducing the required RPM to prevent blade-flap. Otherwise its the same as any other gyro in flight and landing. Its all about airspeed. Sycamores like 65-70. Find her sweet spot at different conditions and weights and she'll please you.

Thinus is going all-out and fitting an MGL Voyager EFIS. Going to be fantastic! Will throw off some unwanted Kilograms for sure.

Uh-oh, gotta get to the office, its an awesome day for flying!

See you at Vredendal

[Wargames]

Wargames – My first x-country was when I flown it from Stellenbosch to Moorreesburg. We are planning a trip to the Vredendal Fly-In, so that will be a proper x-country!

Also planning on going. See you there. I will be looking for the guy with the smile...

[Low Level]

Thinus completed his conversion onto his Sycamore ZU-CML (Y017) today and is FLYING solo in it !!

Well done Thinus, fly safe and enjoy your baby.

Jis daai is nou 'n prentjie van prag - die twee Sycamores.