Microlighters

Hi All

Ok with all this talk of single seat gyros, I am after opinions on what the minimum specs that will be required for it to fly here in S.A (JoBurg area) Also trying to keep it as affordable as possible.
My thoughts are as follows.
Engine - Rotax 582
Rotor - 26 Foot
Empty Weight = <200kg
Max AUW = 350kg
Price - < R300 000
So how am I doing, any thoughts or ideas??

Cheers
Darren

Hi OzGyro

I have olso been looking at building a low budget Gyro, the conclusion I came up with was this: The airframe and engine is not to much of a hassle, even the
centre of gravity if you know how to shift weight around. Having the right tools and sorting the rotor head and blades could be a pain. Unless you have some expert involved
in your project.
There is some plans like the Gyrobee freely available on the net, (http://taggart.glg.msu.edu/gyro/gbee.htm) they suggest bying the rotor head and blades, depending on the cost I think a project like that would be less than 200k.
This one is only for the basic, open cockpit, wind in the hair and tears in the eye kind of flying.
Provided you are mechanicly minded and tools available, but then some guys are real Mc gyvers and can build a flying machine from other peoples "scrap".

Let us know when you start something, and keep us updated. I am keen on a basic flying machine but time is little at the moment.

Fly Safe
Pierre

I have also looked at the Gyro bee and downloaded a set of plans.

The Sportcopter could be a better alternative.

http://sportcopter.com/Gyroplanes/Vorte ... fault.aspx


From the Rotary Forum

Hi T-bird

I've got a GyroBee and had a look at a Vortex (Lightning with a canopy) yesterday. The two machines are very different, the GyroBee is small and lightweight while the SportCopter is big and solid.

For you engine choice will be critical.

I used to fly a Benson with a 503 close to Jhb and would be on full throttle most of the time. At that stage I weighed less than 70kg and AUW with full fuel would have been less than 200kg.

If you weigh less than 90kg you'll get away with a very light airframe and either a 582 or MZ202. A heavy prerotator or larger fuel tanks would seriously affect performance. I would recommend a GyroBee with MZ202 and Sportcopter blades as they don't need a good prerotator. This is an amazing fun machine but don't plan on flying much further than 100km (which unfortunately doesn't get you very far where you live).

If you weigh more than 90kg I would only consider a Lightning/Vortex with a 912. With this machine you'll be able to add extra fuel tanks and fly a bit further.

Stability is not an issue with either machine, they will both comfortably fly hands free if set up correctly. Plus they are 10 times more fun to fly than those big European 2 seater busses.

Oskar

Hi T-Bird

We are certainly on the same page. The machine I have been ivestigating is infact the Sportcopter Vortex.
Pricing still remains a slight issue, with the Rotax 582 it will probably cost just over R300 000 and with a 912S 100Hp close to R420 000. The real problem being once we approach the 912S pricing you are almost in S/Hand MT03 and ELA territory. I have already been offered several machines between the R450 -500 000 figure, and I believe with the succesful introduction of the Calidus there will also more than likely be more MT's hitting the S/Hand market shortly. Hence my posting re the performance of the 582 powered machine, if its possible for a 582 to perform adequately in this part of the world, then I believe it is probably one of the best lower cost options available to us. I suppose the big question remains, is the 582 up to the task?

Cheers
Darren

Hi Darren

Why not use a BMW 1200 engin, one could still be available for 35k on this forum. It's light, compact and fuel injection has a serious punch with 108hp.

Regards

Pierre

Some time ago I met a guy at Brakpan who was busy building a modified "Little Wings".

He made jigs for all the welding etc.

Braam, do CAA perhaps have info on the name of this guy (He must have applied for a build licence - if that is what you call it)

Maybe he can share his progress and infi (pitfalls, highs, lows, selections, etc)

Hi All

It is astounding what difference in price the engine makes

Not too long ago I remember seeing a Magni M18 (single seater) and am fairly sure that it had a small (not a 114 or 112) Rotax engine so perhaps the BMW engine is a viable option, particularly at that price.

What about the Jabiru engines?

Hi Condor.

It is Uncle Sakkie, and he is building in Kempton Park. His contact number is 08287two529two, or Graham Cooper can also give more info on the status. This is a first of type and we still have some distance to go.

Greetings
Braam