Another Proud Gyronaut in the Western Cape

[Jabbanaught]

Jean (on the forum as jtresfon) passed his Gyro Pilots Licence flight test today!

Well done Jean. I know you will be an asset to the sport and will keep it safe. Congratulations on your purchase of your Magni M16, ZU-RDL, I know you will have many happy hours of safe flying in her.

Look forward to flying alongside you soon!

Len

Congrats

Len when will your M16 be ready ?

[Gyronaut]

Len when will your M16 be ready ?

I have no idea actually Paul, its in Eric Torr's capable hands at the moment, overhaul, new pod, new rotor head etc. Don't want to rush him, rather want it right!

[Gyronaut]

Aldo Bezzicheri (Abezzi on this forum) went solo in the Magni M24 Gyro at Cape Recreational Flight Training - Morningstar today!

Congratulations on a perfect circuit and a greaser of a landing Aldo!

Aldo is an accomplished fixed-wing pilot and took to the Gyro as a natural. A real Italian in the Magni M24 Italian Stallion has been a pleasure. I look forward to Aldo completing his training and joining the growing band of Gyro fanatics in the Fairest Cape.

[Jabbanaught]

Congrats , Hope to see you flying the Italian Stallion !!!

Well Done Len , Glad your new School had its first SOLO !

[abezzi]

Thanks Len! It was your ability as instructor that allowed me to solo in few hours!
Technically this was my third "solo"...two in fixed wings and now this one, but the butterflies on yuor stomach when you are ready to firewall the throttle, in this case was to pull the pre rotator handle, are always present!
Then the take off and the circuit...they were fast!!! Len looks thin, but maybe is made of steel, because I just jumped in the air and the downwind was very very fast!
Thanks again Len, and now let's start to understand how to fly a gyro!!!

[mak]

Congrats Aldo and Len . Aldo wishing you many happy and safe flying hours. You are fortunate to train with one of the best.

[Gyronaut]

Wow! Thanks for the huge compliment Mak. I am humbled.

Seems your friend Birdy on the rotarywing forum doesn't agree.
I have been biting my tongue because I think thats the best thing to do for now. Don't want to rain on his parade. Perhaps you should suggest that Birdy, the Sky-God, stands at the 3o'clock position next to his gyro and looks at the rotor when it is in the 12o'clock and 6o'clock position. Then he should look carefully at the rotor and determine the angle of attack of the blade. Remember that Gyroscopic/Aerodynamic precession happens +90degrees later. So to flip the Gyro onto its side, it requires an angle of attack at the 6/12 o clock position. If the stick is centered laterally (left to right) there is negligible angle of attack at the 6/12o'clock and therefore it WILL NOT generate lift here. Lift is required, and lots of it, to throw the gyro onto its side. By then Drag will have overcome lift and the gyro will be pushed off the runway rather than being 'flipped over'. Seems he knows better.

Come to think of it, a great exercise in understanding how a rotor works is to watch your rotor at the 6/12 position and notice that the blade angle of attack does not change when you push/pull the stick forward and back. Now turn your rotor 90 degrees to the 3/9o'clock position and do the same. Notice the significant change in the blade angle of attack foreward and aft? (advancing and retreating blade) Thats why they fly!

Understanding leads to wisdom.

Fly safe!

Len

[Sky Knight]

Well done abbezzi and Len ! Many happy and safe hours in your gyro.
Regards

Sky Knight

[Gyronaut]

Johan le Hanie went solo in a Magni M24 at Morningstar today!

Well done Johan, perfect circuit, not your best landing yet but it was crosswind, was still good - and you've got time to practice.

Johan is one of the few that has written (and passed of course) all his exams before going solo!

Well done Johan, I know you are going to be an asset to the Gyro community that you are now part of.

Gets kinda lonely up there for a moment or two?

Then things get better...

greaser!

Proudly taxiing back after a well executed solo circuit.

Again, not sure who is happier, Johan or I? I know that I am more proud.

Ducking the traditional dunking! Skelm wetter.

Its also Johan's Wedding Anniversary today! Well done Johan (on both counts)!!

[Jabbanaught]

Congrats Johan

[THI]

Baie geluk Johan!!!

[mak]

Congrats Johan, don't worry even good instructors get it wrong when on camera

[Jabbanaught]

Congrats Johan, don't worry even good instructors get it wrong when on camera

He still claims it was not HIM

[abezzi]

Congratulations Johan!

[Gyronaut]

Steve Howard went solo in the M24 Yesterday!

Well done Steve, it has been a pleasure training with you and I do believe we have learned a lot from each other.

I know you will be a great ambassador for our sport out there amongst the 'tin pushers'

Steve flew a perfect (and square) circuit and greased it like a pro. I sometimes joke and say that my favourite students are the guys that can fly the small slippery composites for their power and speed management skills, followed by the 'big tin' guys for their renewed enthusiasm for seat of the pants flying, followed by the helicopter pilots for their rotor ground handling (sorry guys, thats all I could come up with hehe - kidding, I used to be one so I take the liberty of teasing).

Steve is a combination of those three since he has impressive prior experience on all three - needless to say the Gyro took to him and they bonded very quickly. It now does exactly what he wants it to and they have worked out each other's limitations. Just like a horse actually, come to think of it, beware, sometimes they can bite if you let your guard down.

But I digress...

Congratulations Steve, looking forward to letting you out of the cabbage-patch.

Steve acknowledging the applause for a greaser

If you look carefully you can see the "Gyro Smile"

The boy can MOVE! Must be the adrenalin still coursing through his veins ;-)

Len