Microlighters

Flying from Jo'burg to Cape Town in one go - eeeeishhh.

FAI has ratified the following Class E (Rotorcraft) records:
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Claim number : 14998
Sub-class :E-3a (Autogyros : take-off weight less than 500 kg)
Category: General
Group : Group 1 : piston engine
Type of record : Distance without landing
Course/location : Palmers Island, NSW (Australia) - Townsville, QLD
(Australia)
Performance : 1 268 km
Pilot : Wilhelm EWIG (Australia)
Aircraft : Autogyro Europe MT 03
Date :08.03.2008
Previous record : 993.27 km (22.02.2004 - Andrew C. KEECH, USA)
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and
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Claim number : 15000
Sub-class :E-3a (Autogyros : take-off weight less than 500 kg)
Category: General
Group : Group 1 : piston engine
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course
Course/location : Palmers Island, NSW (Australia) - Townsville, QLD
(Australia)
Performance : 156.5 km/h
Pilot : Wilhelm EWIG (Australia)
Aircraft : Autogyro Europe MT 03
Date :08.03.2008
Previous record : no record set yet
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How did he refuel?

Presume he fitted a long range tank. My guestimate would be he needed round about 170 liters of fuel, ignoring wind conditions. His pax was Miss. unleaded.

This is unfortunately all I could find with a quick search. See, he couldn't even shave while up there.

What's more interesting to me than the need to carry a significant amount of fuel and fly for ~12 hurs non-stop, is the fact that his average speed is given as 156kph! He must have enjoyed a tail wind of note from take off to landing. Then there's the matter that the that VNE for the MT03 is 100mph (160kph).

Some time ago I sent a mail to the Autogyro people in Aus to get more details on the actual flight, but have not received a reply.

Although the records are documented by the FAI, I'm not so sure about the speed!! (Perhaps it was the MT-0S??)

John
zu_jht

Looks like a standard MT03. Also remember it ground speed that gets recorded. if he went high the IAS will be significantly lower than the GS.
http://records.fai.org/pilot.asp?from=r ... ft&id=6548

I did one of these a while back for the hell of it and at Fl095 I averaged 184.2 kts. VNE on the RV is 181kts, but indicated was never over 170kts. There was a slight headwind (5-7kts)

http://records.fai.org/documents.asp?fr ... g&id=14725

Agreed, RV4ker! This was one of the reasons I tried to get more info on conditions (altitude, wind, etc).

I'm going to try again and will post the detail should I get a response.

John
zu_jht

I think Willi was flying a modified MT-03 - it was (I believe) the prototype for the MT-0Sport with a "cut and shut" mast to move the rotor head further forward. If you look carefully at the pics you can just about see where the mast was cut and the plates welded to the side to strengthen the join.