RAF 2000

[mikemat]

I am based in Cape Town. Sorry about the pic - the file is 400kb and I see the jpeg limit is 100kb. I will email it to you.

[Griffin]

I am based in Cape Town. Sorry about the pic - the file is 400kb and I see the jpeg limit is 100kb. I will email it to you.

[Low Level]

Thanx for the pic Griffin.

mikemat - got your pm - thanx. Start your own thread and keep us posted on your progress with the RAF with pics. Pretty sure lots of guys on the forum interested.

[mikemat]

Started training on monday with Eben and Jnr. Yesterday we did some low level flying over the runway at Upington, and on the downwing leg, Jnr said to leave the stick completely. we flew sonder stick alongside this enormous runway, steady as a rock, and did the 180 degree turn to line up with the runway and descended, all with only power and rudder - awesome!! It's got me to wondering whether the stick is going to be offered as an optional extra, just to give RAF pilots a feeling of involvement! This is a truly amazing aircraft. Watch this space

[Coyote]

The Sycamore Eagle is very stable in the pitch due to a large HS. It is a very well priced aerie and with the 33ft alli rotor an absolute joy to fly.I weigh 110kg and with instructor (75kg) still climb at 700 ft/m PM me and I will organise a flip in my aerie out at FABB (Brakpan)

[gyrofan]

The more I read about gyros the more they impress me. Eagle 1 you mention 700 ft/min climb from the Highveld ( assume early morning ) and when I tried to calulate the All up weight I got to roughly the following:
Pilot + pax = 185 kg
Fuel = 20 kg ( guess)
Empty weight of Sycamore = 380 kg ( guess again )
Giving 585 kg,
Now assuming 60 mph for the climb it gives around 26 m/s forward speed and @ 700 ft/min it gives 3.55 m/s vertical climb.
Now with 585 kg climbing @ 3.55 m/s it translates to around 585x9.81x3.55 = 20 373 J/s = 20 kW for the climb and that means the Sycamore would "calculate" a straight and level flight at around 85 - 88 Hp...."flipin" good efficiency...

Eagle, seeing that we are now trying to put the "wind under your wings" can you give me some more accurate values for the empty weight and the fuel please. I have tried teh numbers before but I was told that the Sycamore weighs something like 420 kg empty...

[Low Level]

Impressive calculations gyrofan. Straight and level with pax I get at 5000 - 5100 r.p.m. If we can believe the 914 hp graph at altitude that translates to about 101 hp less 20 % for altitude - guesswork 80 hp.

Without pax I cruise straight and level at 4 700 r.p.m. - 91 hp less %

Weight for the Sycamore - I couldn't get a straight answer from the factory. I'm so curious about genuine weight for my gyro, I'm thinking of getting a forced landing close to one of this weigh bridges along the highway.

[Technocrat]

SA RAF (Eben and his family) joined us at Swellendam for our annual Fly-in and I took an introductory flight with him in the RAF2000. Wow, am I impressed!; not only by the manouvreability of this little Gyro, but also with Eben’s flying abilities. This is an amazing flying machine!

Thanks Eben!

[saraf]

hi technorat,

I will inform my dad of your post, he enjoyed the fly inn a lot and we will be there next year for sure.

Eben jnr

[Griffin]

Hi Eben
Any progress on the plans for local manufacture?
When will we see the first proudly South African RAF??

[saraf]

Hi

Processes and Plans for local Manuf. is in full steam and we will one of these days in the near future have the RAF 2000 SA.

Eben Jnr