The Rotortec Clouddancer project

[okflyer]

After identifying a demand for fun among our flying PPL and LSA friends, we (a friend and I) decided to add a gyrocopter to our existing airplane charter. A market survey left only 2 alternatives:
Autogyro Cavalon and Rotortec Clouddancer
Reasons were (amongst other items):
Side by side due to WAF (Wife acceptance factor) and the requirement for Cabin with heating (due to our weather)
Xenon due to poor performance (I have seen a full loaded Xenon needing 800 meters to lift off on a hot summer day) and uncertain company future, was no option.
Rotortec won because off better rotor(4 carbon blades) and engine concept (Rotax lack of power ), dedication to support us and outstanding quality (we visited the factory and met the boss).
Autogyro did not seem to be interested in a buying customer very much (Attitude: We are the best, you can queue up if you want one ) and we did not like the way they treated customer with problems (defects liability etc.)
Due to the new design of the copter it is a risk, but the guys spend years (and a hell of money) to get the proven Weber engine (2 cyl. 750 cc turbo with 135 hp) suitable for this purpose. Copter will be delivered to us around end of July 2012. The copter for our instructor (the blue one) end of May. We started our conversion training for the Gyro endorsement on a MT03 and will then switch to the Clouddancer.
For more technical info: http://www.rotortec.com/index.htm (Alas! German only, english version soon)
135 hp, 12-14 Liter/hour, 249-260 kg, cruse speed above 140, 110 liters wing tank (with anti explo filling), pneumatic prerotor etc.
But check the pictures:

[Air Hog]

This is amazing fuel consumption! For a 135hp motor.

[Learjet]

There is no single perfect gyrocopter and it's always interesting to hear what someone's individual needs and motivating factors are in determining their choice of aircraft. Hope you guys have many many fun and safe flying hours in your Clouddancer. Please keep us up to speed with the build progress and delivery.
regards
Dave

[okflyer]

This is amazing fuel consumption! For a 135hp motor.

Engine got fuel injection, overhead camshaft and optimized ECU and small displacement (look, where the car industry is going to). Engine block has been throttled down from 180 hp to 135 hp.
Most of the parts from motor mounts (casted and X-rayed) down to gear box and even wheel rims are produced by the manufacture itself and optimized for weight and stability, Carbon blades are produced together with  Eurocopter  and were developed with a German technical university.

Developer (Jochen Steinbeck) is a certified commercial Helicopter pilot and got a major degree in chemistry, running a high Tec company since 1995.

Figures were determined by test flights with the prototypes (which were, due to installed sensors and test equipment, much heavier) and published by the manufacture. But we will have the opportunity to get the real data flown under tough conditions (gyro used as a trainer) soon.

Then, I will be able to give you more input and I will be very honest (we are customers and not shareholders of Rotortec) if our expectations will be disappointed.

[Steve_SP]

Hi

""Xenon due to poor performance (I have seen a full loaded Xenon needing 800 meters to lift off on a hot summer day) and uncertain company future, was no option.""

I think this is partly due to German registered Xenons being restricted to the bottom of the range "Xenon R" using the Rotax 912ULS - approx 100 HP

The biggest seller is the "Xenon RST" using the more powerful Rotax 912 RST turbo - approx 115 HP - many of this version operating in South Africa

There are also half a dozen "Xenon RT" using the 914 Turbo - approx 122 HP

The CD looks a great new project - enjoy.


Steve

[okflyer]

SA Xenon owners: no offence meant. I am sure it is a good and proven design. I guess the more powerful versions did not match the german noise regulations (65 dzb.) so I can only judge the birds which are available here. A lot of people are trying to sell their Xenons in Europe now due to legal and distribution problems and the uncertainty who owns the design and where the production is (2 companies in Poland claim to build the real Xenon).

Hi

""Xenon due to poor performance (I have seen a full loaded Xenon needing 800 meters to lift off on a hot summer day) and uncertain company future, was no option.""

I think this is partly due to German registered Xenons being restricted to the bottom of the range "Xenon R" using the Rotax 912ULS - approx 100 HP

The biggest seller is the "Xenon RST" using the more powerful Rotax 912 RST turbo - approx 115 HP - many of this version operating in South Africa

There are also half a dozen "Xenon RT" using the 914 Turbo - approx 122 HP

The CD looks a great new project - enjoy.


Steve

[Pieter Smith]

Baie baie mooi! Baie sterkte, geniet elke oomlik. Veilig vlieg.

PS: Net jammer vir daai groot stert!!!!!

[whirly]

Wow, that blue and black one looks stunning!!

What is the difference between the 2 and 4 bladed ones, seeing that the 4 bladed one has now flown?

What would the price for the II be, and what is the 19% MWST, a tax? Would that be applicable when exporting?

Whirly.

[okflyer]

Wow, that blue and black one looks stunning!!

What is the difference between the 2 and 4 bladed ones, seeing that the 4 bladed one has now flown?

What would the price for the II be, and what is the 19% MWST, a tax? Would that be applicable when exporting?

Whirly.

Mwst. = Mehrwersteuer,Mehrwert= value added, Steuer = tax -> Is GST or VAT (how ever you want to call it I do not see any value by paying an added tax). Only applicable for German residents.
4 blades: faster take off. Less vibrations caused by rotor. Higher drag during cruise.
Less danger of side slip stall. Check YouTube for Rotortec videos.
It is technically possible to remove 2 blades off the 4 blade config, but we are not sure if the official operating permit will be unaffected.
It will start around 65k€ net. Almost everything included. Made in Germany. Pricing is (in the moment) at least 20% less than the the Cavalon (if you compare apples with apples) with much better engine performance. But AutoGyro is the market leader.

[okflyer]

On Friday we flew down to Kaufbeuren to do a test flight with the exhibition modell from the Friedrichshafen fair to get an impression how our ordered modell will fly. What you see there is currently used for testing. So it was a equiped with a much smaller rotor (normaly used for the single cab clouddancer 1) and bigger coolers (will not be visible in the serial configuration) to simulate high densitiy and hot air lift offs (africa). We were able to get airborne with two heavy oaks (> 90 kilos each) and 50 liter petrol, 26 degree celcius and field elevation of 2400 ft. Took us less then 200 meters.
Only possible with this 136 hp turbo engine.
Du to the broad landing gear safe taxi with 50 km was no problem.
Flying impression is like sitting in a heli. Engine noise is much lower than a Rotax configuration. (the full water cooling engine shields)
with the 4 blade carbon rotor the noise will be even lower due to earlier power reduction after takeoff.
Cant wait to see how the 4 blade carbon rotor will take me up.





Me, flying with the designer of the Clouddancer




See, how short the rotor is

[lion]

Wow, that blue and black one looks stunning!!

What is the difference between the 2 and 4 bladed ones, seeing that the 4 bladed one has now flown?

What would the price for the II be, and what is the 19% MWST, a tax? Would that be applicable when exporting?

Whirly.

Mwst. = Mehrwersteuer,Mehrwert= value added, Steuer = tax -> Is GST or VAT (how ever you want to call it I do not see any value by paying an added tax). Only applicable for German residents.
4 blades: faster take off. Less vibrations caused by rotor. Higher drag during cruise.
Less danger of side slip stall. Check YouTube for Rotortec videos.
It is technically possible to remove 2 blades off the 4 blade config, but we are not sure if the official operating permit will be unaffected.
It will start around 65k€ net. Almost everything included. Made in Germany. Pricing is (in the moment) at least 20% less than the the Cavalon (if you compare apples with apples) with much better engine performance. But AutoGyro is the market leader.

What is a side slip stall?

L.

[Vertical Tango]

4 blades: faster take off. Less vibrations caused by rotor. Higher drag during cruise.

At last you will have the full width hangar to yourself

[okflyer]

the blades can be folded easily for hangar storage. Take less space than the longer 2blades

4 blades: faster take off. Less vibrations caused by rotor. Higher drag during cruise.

At last you will have the full width hangar to yourself

[okflyer]

Wow, that blue and black one looks stunning!!

What is a side slip stall?

L.

last 12 month several deadly incidents happen (Mallorca with a Magni, Breidscheid with a MTO etc.) where slipping into the wind (strong crosswinds) close to the surface (100 to 300 ft.) slowed down the rotor so much that the copters stalled and falled to ground like stones. It is assumed (offical report) that wake turbulances caused by obsticals in a crosswind situation while using side sleep technique let the airflow collapse or flow over the rotor. Therefor side slips have been removed from the instruction schedule in Germany. Pls. Google the official reports because that is above my skill level to explain it in a foreign language.

[lion]

Thanks for the reply - hadn't heard of this and will check it out.