Amputee to start training

[Makoppa]

Hallo fellow aviators

During March 2011 my right leg was amputated above the knee due to a horrible Harley accident. At the time I was the holder of a PPL flying approx 100hrs pa with my C182.

I am fitted out with a prosthesis but are not ab;e to cope with the toe brakes of the Cessna. Ive now bought a Xenon Gyro and plan to start ttaining at Wagtail on Monday the 9/1/2012. Ive purchased bicycle shoes inclusive of paddles and cleets that clips into the paddles so that I can have both pull and pushing authority with my left foot. The right "foot" will be clipped in to provide stability.

Please Keep thumbs up for me to succeed. Any info or suggestions will be hugely appreciated.

Kind Regards

Cobus Enslin

[Splinter]

Awesome!!! Give that man a Bells!
Please keep us updated and good luck, gyros are the best flying machines around!

Splinter

[Makoppa]

Thks Splinter will do

[Grumpy]

Makoppa, I'm also an RAKA and fly a trike. Accelerator moved to left foot and fitted hand brake. Right 'foot' in cup on footpedal. Works like a charm.
Len Klopper a gyro trainer here in Cape Town, recons No problems for me to fly gyro. Easy can be done no prob. I haven't started the training yet, but apparently a strap around the left pedal to allow push and pull can work just fine. give him a buzz if you need some info.
Good Luck

[mak]

Cobus, welcome to the forum and the world of gyros. I know of other amputee's that fly gyros, no problem. All the best with the training and enjoy every moment.

[Gyronaut]

Makoppa, sorry to hear about your accident. Glad it hasn't stopped you from flying!

Rudder pedals on a gyro are used only to taxi, counter the torque effect on take-off and to keep it straight with the direction of travel on landing. Not a lot of force is required so one leg will cope (provided you are strapped in). I would rather go with a strap on the pedal where you stick your foot in and can slip it out quickly to get out in the unlikely event of an emergency. I might be a little worried about having my foot stuck in a cycling shoe while the gyro potentially burns around me. As long as you can unclip quicker than I can Have landed on my side in the road more than once on my bike because the damn pedal wouldn't unclip.

Congratulations on your resolve to fly so soon after your accident. Well done for choosing gyro's, much safer than Harleys.

Keep us posted on your progress with Modling von Ludwig.

[BONZAI BELL]

Welcome , you will definately enjoy this new venture. You are in good hands with " the Stig "
Cheers for now
Swannie

[Makoppa]

Thank you all guys. Cant wait to become part of the gyro community. The reason for bicycle shoes/ clip system is thatbI was used to some seriou rudder work in xwind landings with C182 not to mention ccemetric flying during twin converion. I will time myself though and if I cannot unlip in decent time, there is anew set of no 11 cycle shoes up for free!

The other thing that I think is that my ight leg ( thts the wooden one) can at least provide a certain amount of stability if also clipped in and retingnon the right rudder.

Ill let you know after next week

Be safe

Cobus

[Makoppa]

Well ive started. Did my first four circuits with Johan at Wagtail!

Off to Cape Town Till next week. Will fly again next week Wednesday nd will post some pics of he Xenon with a shoe for a rudder pedl.

Thks Johan

II should have started this Gyro thing years ago. What a thrill!


Cobus

[THI]

Well done Cobus! All the best!