Xenon Gyro

[Vertical Tango]

Hi Darren,

I fly mine from the right as I had before a Magni and was used to have the throttle in the left hand and and the stick in the right.
Therefore I have mounted my wheel brakes lever on the right stick. I don't know what the manual calls for and how the factory built machines are configured. I don't have any stability issue that way.

Jean-Pierre

[Gyronaut]

I have always flown helicopters with my right hand on the cyclic, left hand on collective so I battle to fly Gyro's the other way round. Cilliers, also a former heli pilot, moved his brake to the right stick and Voila! Works like a charm, now even I can fly it comfortably.

The law is silent about which seat the PIC must sit in. What it does say is that he/she must have full control of the aircraft at all times. This is possible from the right seat in a Xenon if you move the brake. (if you, like me, are not fully ambidextrous - I used to be ambidextrous but now I am all-right).

It brings to mind the question of whether the instructor in a tandem machine has full control from the back. Can't reach the mags to kill the motor (if a child ran closer while taxiing for e.g.) He also can't reach the fuel pump switches in the event of a roll-over and is dependent on the student to kill the fuel pumps/master.

I have flown back seat in MT0Sports that have beautiful covered flip-switch mags at the back, but no master. Perhaps something instructors should consider installing in their tandem training machines. Side-by-sides are no problem.

Fly safe!

[FlyingDoc]

Darren,
I ordered mine from the factory as a right hand control. Flies well and I prefer it this way with my right hand on the stick.
Alan

[FlyingDoc]

Darren,
I ordered mine from the factory as a right hand control. Flies well and I prefer it this way with my right hand on the stick.
Alan

[braam hechter]

Hi All.

I just spoke to Johan. He landed at Ceres for a fuel stop. Thanks in advance to Len and others for lending support.

Johan took off from Wagtail at 05h48 this morning with approx 200 lt fuel on board. The planning was to refuel at Colesberg and then to stop at Morningstar. Due to the famous headwind component, he decided to divert to Ceres for refueling. Len is on his way with fuel and i would think they should be at Morningstar around 18hoo.

Greetings

Braam

[OzGyro]

Hi All

Thanks everyone for the info, my preference would be to fly from the right seat. I think putting in dual brake leavers is also a good idea. From the guys who currently fly from the right seat, how does it affect your trim?? Are you compensating by offsetting the trim heavely to the left??

Cheers
Darren

[abezzi]

Johan took off from Wagtail at 05h48 this morning with approx 200 lt fuel on board. The planning was to refuel at Colesberg and then to stop at Morningstar. Due to the famous headwind component, he decided to divert to Ceres for refueling. Len is on his way with fuel and i would think they should be at Morningstar around 18hoo.
Braam

I was flying with a PA28 from FACT, just a local flight after tre weeks of gyro flights to see if I still could remember how to fly a fixed wing , and around 17.20 I heard ZU-RJR fliying formation with another gyro, two minutes out of Morningstar, and then landing there! So we have another new gyro in Morningstar?

[Wargames]

Johan took off from Wagtail at 05h48 this morning with approx 200 lt fuel on board. The planning was to refuel at Colesberg and then to stop at Morningstar. Due to the famous headwind component, he decided to divert to Ceres for refueling. Len is on his way with fuel and i would think they should be at Morningstar around 18hoo.
Braam

I was flying with a PA28 from FACT, just a local flight after tre weeks of gyro flights to see if I still could remember how to fly a fixed wing , and around 17.20 I heard ZU-RJR fliying formation with another gyro, two minutes out of Morningstar, and then landing there! So we have another new gyro in Morningstar?

Not a new Gyro to morningstar. Have been there for quite some time

I saw last week that his brother is not missing any more...

[Go Vert]

Johan took off from Wagtail at 05h48 this morning with approx 200 lt fuel on board. The planning was to refuel at Colesberg and then to stop at Morningstar. Due to the famous headwind component, he decided to divert to Ceres for refueling. Len is on his way with fuel and i would think they should be at Morningstar around 18hoo.
Braam

I was flying with a PA28 from FACT, just a local flight after tre weeks of gyro flights to see if I still could remember how to fly a fixed wing , and around 17.20 I heard ZU-RJR fliying formation with another gyro, two minutes out of Morningstar, and then landing there! So we have another new gyro in Morningstar?

Not a new Gyro to morningstar. Have been there for quite some time

I saw last week that his brother is not missing any more...

Actually abezzi is correct a brand spanking new and super gloss bright orange Xenon was ferried to Morning star late yesterday from up North and Len flew out to meet and acompany the new machine to MS the owner was very happy with his new toy but I believe it wll only live at MS for a short while before going to its permanent home. Len's wife took plenty of pics perhaps he could put one up. Of the Xenon not the MAgni's tyre

[Wargames]

Actually abezzi is correct a brand spanking new and super gloss bright orange Xenon was ferried to Morning star late yesterday from up North and Len flew out to meet and acompany the new machine to MS the owner was very happy with his new toy but I believe it wll only live at MS for a short while before going to its permanent home. Len's wife took plenty of pics perhaps he could put one up. Of the Xenon not the MAgni's tyre

Oh, I see. Well congrats is in order then.

[FlyingDoc]

If it wasn't for the integrity of the Xenon cabin, and the four point harness, I don't think I would be writing this!

What happened! Pre-rotated to my normal 250-270 RPM with the engine at 2500 RPM. I had switched off the solenoid at 90 RPM ( my normal practice.) pushed the Pre-rotator lever forward, pulled the stick all the way back, and applied engine to 4000, checking that the rotor RPM came up again to 270, increased engine power to 4400, nose came up, held nose and increased power, then noted an "unusual" vibration! ( this was not an engine, or rotor vibration, nor a wheel one) I was just considering pulling power, when the craft lifted off the ground, and then "all he'll broke loose!!".

The rotor struck the ground on the left, then we ( myself and my trusty Xenon) proceeded to tumble down the runway, we tumbled four times (I suppose 3,5 times) as we came to rest upside down! Still in the harness I was able to push the button, fall to the ground (roof) and proceeded to exit the craft asap!!
I should point out the weather was clear with a 5 - 10 kph crosswind from the south, I was using 08.

As I said, besides a small cut on my left thumb, I am fine, ( other than the fact that my craft is a pile of composite and aluminum)
(tried to attach an image but having hassles with the iPad)
Alan

[THI]

WOW!!

Glad you are OK!! Any idea what caused the problem??

Sjoe!

[Learjet]

Alan thankfully you are ok.

[saraf]

Glad you are ok Alan. The gyro can be replaced.

Regards

[Jabbanaught]

Glad you OK , Got your PM . Will see what i can do .

Anybody got a lift for a fellow gyronaught ????