Emergency Spares

[BirDY]

On Friday I flew in to Gariep for the North meets South gathering - what a lovely experience!
Saturday morning, we took all the gyro's out of the hangers for the Aerial photo.
Later on, MAGNIficent and I decided to go for a flip over the dam wall.
He started the warm-up on ZU-CZH and realised that something was wrong with the oil pressure.
We switched off and Weidie started looking for the problem.
He immediately realized that it was the Oil pressure sensor.
Where do you look for spares in this part of the world?
With Johan von Ludwig being an AMO, I suggested that Weidie must ask him.............
Well, to the rescue - Johan had a spare sensor available.
That is what I call "A FRIEND IN NEED"!
Thank you once again WAGTAIL!

Christa

[Low Level]

I just need to add to this as well.

On Friday I landed with gyro and engine in perfect working order. On Saturday morning, when I started up, no oil pressure. What happenned afterwards can only be described as the working of a well oiled solid support machine.

I started fiddling with my gyro, and soon Frans Strydom (Sycamore CCN) and Jan Ludolf ( Wagtail ) started to help. Jan spoke to Johan von Ludwig - who was busy helping someone else - to borrow a new oil sensor. This was done and Jan replaced it on my gyro, but the oil pressure stayed down. We removed it again - and it ended with Weidie and Christa - sorting their problem.

We then started using spares from Francois's gyro, to see if maybe mine packed up. By now Johan and Riaan from Wagtail was also giving much appreciated advice and help.

Testing electric and monitoring system

Eventually Glen Meyer - trusted AMO - also had his head in my engine. We stripped, replaced, faced, strippoed again, started, stripped, removed, replaced... , and not once was Glen irritated, that he is spending his day under my gyro. He just relentlessly carried on to save the day. I can only applaude him for what he did for me on Saturday.

Now into the fuel pump and oil system

We were busy for almost six hours and through this time - guys that I can just remember off my head - Ashley, Peter Goldsmith, Ozgyro, Roelf Palm, Martin from Gariep, the guys from Wagtail and people I don't even know, helped, gave advice etc. All of the support carried us, until we eventually solved the problem and I could do a test flight with the sun setting over the dam.

Centugyro had a serious propstrike on Friday, where he had lost the tip on one of his DUC windspoons' blades, resulting in an emergency landing on a road 30 miles out from Gariep. With spoeg and plak he limped to Gariep. His dad brought him a new prop from Pretoria, courtesy of Anthony Cohen, and arrived only at about six. Glen then, in the dark of night, also replaced Centugyro's prop with a new one.

Jacques - Centygyro besig met spoeg en plak

After all this effort, we could point CFW's and RDA's noses to the north on Sunday morning for a trouble free flight to the big smoke.

Thumbs up for everyone who supported with help, advice etc. Every bit was well appreciated.

[Jabbanaught]

I just need to add to this as well.

On Friday I landed with gyro and engine in perfect working order. On Saturday morning, when I started up, no oil pressure. What happenned afterwards can only be described as the working of a well oiled solid support machine.

I started fiddling with my gyro, and soon Frans Strydom (Sycamore CCN) and Jan Ludolf ( Wagtail ) started to help. Jan spoke to Johan von Ludwig - who was busy helping someone else - to borrow a new oil sensor. This was done and Jan replaced it on my gyro, but the oil pressure stayed down. We removed it again - and it ended with Weidie and Christa - sorting their problem.

We then started using spares from Francois's gyro, to see if maybe mine packed up. By now Johan and Riaan from Wagtail was also giving much appreciated advice and help.

IMG_9005.JPG

Eventually Glen Meyer - trusted AMO - also had his head in my engine. We stripped, replaced, faced, strippoed again, started, stripped, removed, replaced... , and not once was Glen irritated, that he is spending his day under my gyro. He just relentlessly carried on to save the day. I can only applaude him for what he did for me on Saturday.

IMG_9019.JPG

We were busy for almost six hours and through this time - guys that I can just remember off my head - Ashley, Peter Goldsmith, Ozgyro, Roelf Palm, Martin from Gariep, the guys from Wagtail and people I don't even know, helped, gave advice etc. All of the support carried us, until we eventually solved the problem and I could do a test flight with the sun setting over the dam.

Centugyro had a serious propstrike on Friday, where he had lost the tip on one of his DUC windspoons' blades, resulting in an emergency landing on a road 30 miles out from Gariep. With spoeg and plak he limped to Gariep. His dad brought him a new prop from Pretoria, courtesy of Anthony Cohen, and arrived only at about six. Glen then, in the dark of night, also replaced Centugyro's prop with a new one.

IMG_8842.JPG

After all this effort, we could point CFW's and RDA's noses to the north on Sunday morning for a trouble free flight to the big smoke.

Thumbs up for everyone who supported with help, advice etc. Every bit was well appreciated.

Thanks LowLevel , Again this makes me proud to be part of Gyro Community .

Next year we will have an AP with Spares on Standby (i Hope )

[Gyronaut]

We had one gyro with TWO flat wheels at Richmond.

This taught me... never fly without a jack, a 24 spanner for the wheel nut, a 14 and a 10 spanner for the spats, some allen keys, a small shifting spanner, a spare tube, patch and solution and a small compressor. We used both our new tubes that we had on board, the garage patched the tubes and off we went with spare tubes just in case.

Voila, no problem!

Can't wait for next year!

[MAGNIficent]

WE plan to have a EMERGENCY SPARES and TOOLBOX available NEXT YEAR.

"For ALL in need of EMERGENCY SPARES and TOOLS" for GYRO'S...

[Jabbanaught]

WE plan to have a EMERGENCY SPARES and TOOLBOX available NEXT YEAR.

"For ALL in need of EMERGENCY SPARES and TOOLS" for GYRO'S...

I like this we are already planning for next year !

[fransstrydom]

Wonderfull people these aviators.Maybe we should put a contract on Glen Meyer for he is already rigged for field service
franss
Proud Sycamore Owner
ZU-CCN
Rhino Park

[Jabbanaught]

Wonderfull people these aviators.Maybe we should put a contract on Glen Meyer for he is already rigged for field service
franss
Proud Sycamore Owner
ZU-CCN
Rhino Park

Good Idea !

[Gyronaut]

I agree, good idea to nominate Glen. (We'd rather NOT put a contract out on him)

I was most impressed to see him roll up his sleeves and work on Leon's Sycamore. I was always wrongfully under the impression that he only worked on MT's.

Good on you Glen! Thats the Gyro spirit. We will all support you if you supply tyres, tubes, service spares, components and useful gadgets at next year's fly-in.

[Low Level]

I agree, good idea to nominate Glen. (We'd rather NOT put a contract out on him)

I was most impressed to see him roll up his sleeves and work on Leon's Sycamore. I was always wrongfully under the impression that he only worked on MT's.

Fortunately, he is now on his own, operating from Springs, and doing field service, and can work on whatever HE wants.

This taught me... never fly without a jack, a 24 spanner for the wheel nut, a 14 and a 10 spanner for the spats, some allen keys, a small shifting spanner, a spare tube, patch and solution and a small compressor. We used both our new tubes that we had on board, the garage patched the tubes and off we went with spare tubes just in case.

This must be the one major thing that I have learned on this trip. NEVER fly without your survival kit. Not the crap that CAA wants. Stuff that really matters. Ask old no 7, but not for his bag's contents. Half the gyros will not get in the air with his survival bag in the back.

The ONE time we needed it - it was on the trailer, and we were between hell and nowhere..

[Centu Gyro]

I love all the stories.

Thank you once again Glen for assisting with the prop. Glen even called late Sunday just to check in and to make sure we arrived safely at Springs. Also many thanks to all the fellow aviators, how quick are they to jump in and offer assistance and to help with arrangements. What a spirit!

[Centu Gyro]

Glen fitting new prop.

[Centu Gyro]

Anthony Cohen to the rescue offering a set of blades in order to get back home.