Xenon Gyro

[FlyingDoc]

I would agree with that!!! Appears to know more than the owners!!!!

[FlyingDoc]

Finally.... I now have my Xenon ZU-EXU at its home base.. Thanks to Braam and Johan for their effort over the past few months is sorting out some of the issues. Now hopefully the weather clears a bit to get some hours under my belt.

[Gyronaut]

I'll have to be the first to get one here in the Cape. As it is, I have the only MT-03 here.

This may become a competition Glenn I have the only Sycamore here in the Cape and although spares are available the factory is kaput!

The Xenon configuration (side by side with horizontal stabilizer) is first prize in my book!
... oh and yes yes I know the Magni M24 also complies and is an awesome machine but for that price you can buy a nice house. Hope the Xenon is more reasonable, which I kinda assume.

Len

[Vertical Tango]

Alan, your patience has paid off. It was far to be a turnkey solution Regardless who took you for a ride, you are ending up with a machine that many gyro pilots would like to have. Good luck and happy flying

[FLYNOTE]

Hi guys , so now I've also joined the world of forums ! Have been following all the posts re. gyros over the years and found it very interesting and enlightening ! It will be great to share thoughts with you. I am off to Poland today to see my new Xenon test flown. I am obviously very excited ... after 5 Magnis since 1999 this is a bold step for me and I will most certainly give my thoughts and experiences on this forum.

[Magnifan]

Hi Johan

Nice to have you on the forum. I look forward to hearing your comments on the Xenon, especially as you have such extensive experience on Magnis.

I hope that your new baby will be a high note!

Regards

Jonathan

[FlyingDoc]

Well today I received my long awaited ATF for the Silver Xenon. Thanks Braam and the guys at SACAA.

Flynote, hope you have a great time in Warsaw and that your craft is what you expect.
Alan

[FLYNOTE]

So I'm back from a bitterly cold Poland. In South Africa we don't fully appreciate the term "cold".

My visit was very enjoyable and productive and I managed to sort out most of what we set out to do. The aircraft was completed according to all my specs and ready to fly within the promissed production time by the factory ( 6 weeks).

I was accompanied by a very experienced colleague who instructs on gyros and flies Magnis, Elas, Xenon etc commercially in South Africa. He has a company that patrols power lines by gyroplane for Transnet/SA Railways and ESCOM, the national SA power supplier under contract . They fly 1000's of gyro hours per year, by day and night , to combat cable theft.

I did my conversion with him in Poland on my own machine in snow , rain , mist and ... cold , very cold conditions.

Thanks to the Xenon's heater however, it was a very comfortable and pleasant experience. We put a total of 10 hours on the gyro.

The odyssey , at some stage, registered airspeeds of 124mph and climb rates of 1200 fpm at 62mph.
We comfortably cruised at 90 mph at 4900 rpm, 34 inch.on the RST.
Ok ... @300 ft msl and cold temps but still not too shabby at all I would say ???

There were still a few minor cosmetic issues to be looked at when I left the factory where the aircraft is being dismantled for shipping. I have had feedback from the factory this morning and it seems that all outstanding matters have been addressed.

As far as the engine is concerned ; it performed very well , has a lot of "oemff "and I am satisfied and comfortable at this stage that I have made the right choice in the RST.

Yes, it must still prove itself but one can not always start your game at the top of the foodchain. Us, first RST guys ,will have to accept that we are part of the pioneer group or am I unaware of other RSTs at 500+ hours?
There is however nothing at this stage to disprove the Factories faith and trust in the engin with it's turbo configuration. ( I am aware of past problems with the gearbox but believe this has been sorted)

My Xenon also weighs in at around 317kg so here comes my yearly January diet in March. I am going to lose plenty kilos where it counts. I've been overweight for far too long now and this is just the excuse I have been waiting for ! My Magni also weighs 317 kg (extra oil pres valves, thermostats, pneumatic prerotator, loaded intrument panel with AH, Garmin 250xl radio/comm/gps , carpets etc etc... it adds up quickly)
With the Xenon and Odyssey I need no extras as it already has it all .

Does the Xenon fly better than the Magni ? You cannot compare as Xenon is a totally different machine!

The huge cabin space and leather seating makes the cockpit an extremely comfortable environment. The controls are pleasantly light and responsive.a Little more rudder input than Magni is required but I prefer this as you get the feeling that you are actually flying/piloting the machine and not just a pax in your own aircraft.

You can however fly hands off and take your feet off the rudder and she will fly straight and level so the basic set up in the factory has been done well.

Piloting the side by side as oposed to a tandem requires no special adapting. Maybe ones fixed wing background played a role here but the conversion was more to get the feel of the lighter, more responsive controls and rudder input required especially on take off , judging the height of your flare, sussing out the Odyssey... No big deal otherwise.

The Odessey EFIS system is fantastic. What a pleasure !... and it looks so great in the cockpit too ! Well done to the proudly South African guys from Somerset-West !

A Piper is not better than a Cessna, it's different. You can crunch numbers to compare performances etc. but in the end one needs to ask yourself what it is that you want in an aircraft.

With the big 6 zero around the corner for me, I am very happy not to have to pad myself anymore with bulky flightsuits, gloves, don helmet and carefully ease myself and the odd stiff joint into a gyro pod on an early winters morning, bearing in mind that I have to manoeuvre myself out again after a 2 hour flight!

Won't I miss the "open cockpit / motorbike in the sky " feeling of a tandem , especially in Summer t shirt flying weather????

I tried the Xenon with it doors removed a while back in SA ( not in Poland !!!) and the sensation of openess was great. Almost like a tandem with a huge screen but more protected from the wind and the elements. The other experienced Xenon owners know much more about flying with the doors off and will be more qualified than me to offer an opinion. It was fine for me but you may have a bit of buffeting in the cabin at high speeds ?


I love the clear easy communication in the Xenon with your pax next to you in a much quieter, more spacious and comfortable environment than a tandem cockpit. The Filser's intercom is by far the clearest I have ever experienced in a gyro. No windnoise on the mike here !

I love the luxurious look and feel of the Xenon cockpit. It is nicely finished and designed for looks and comfort. I enjoyed being able to spec the color of my gyro and the leather seats.

It's great being able to see the ground below you in flight ,thanks to the large nose windows. It adds to the pleasant sensation one gets in the cockpit. You really do feel cosy,safe and secure in this closed cockpit environment.

My Xenon should be shipped next week and once it arrives I will try to give a complete unbiased report of my experience with the factory from my decision to buy until delivery.

[THI]

Hi Flynote, do you have some pics of the Oddessey in the Xenon?

[Low Level]

Nice comprehensive report Flynote. Congrats, and wishing you many happy hours in your new flight suit.

Glad to see the Xenons taking to the air after all the nitty gritty has been sorted.

Please keep us posted on updates.

Where are you based ?


P.S. Did your camera freeze up in Poland ?

[MAGNIficent]

Dear FLYNOTE

Thanks for the feedback, that's what Forums are for, trust that will enjoy your Gyro shortly.

Would you be so kind to give me the Specifications of RST versus the 914?

As far as the engine is concerned ; it performed very well , has a lot of "oemff "and I am satisfied and comfortable at this stage that I have made the right choice in the RST.
Yes, it must still prove itself but one can not always start your game at the top of the foodchain. Us, first RST guys ,will have to accept that we are part of the pioneer group or am I unaware of other RSTs at 500+ hours?

Thanks

[FLYNOTE]

Hi Flynote, do you have some pics of the Oddessey in the Xenon?

Hope this makes your mouth water! It really works great in the Xenon!

[FLYNOTE]

Nice comprehensive report Flynote. Congrats, and wishing you many happy hours in your new flight suit.

Glad to see the Xenons taking to the air after all the nitty gritty has been sorted.

Please keep us posted on updates.

Where are you based ?


P.S. Did your camera freeze up in Poland ?

There obviously is going to be the odd snag popping out as a surprise, but we will handle it as it comes. From the ten hours flown on the machine, all seems well!

I am based at Tedderfield next to the old solitude in Johannesburg.

Will keep the info coming!

The pic of my Xenon in the snow and mist represents a very happy time doing my conversion, but the one with the Xenon in bits and pieces on the pallet is a happier one because it should be loaded on a cargo plane today or tomorrow and she should arive in JHB by end of next week!

PS: My camera didn't freeze, but some parts of my anatomy did!

[FlyingDoc]

Johan,
Also grey!!!
Panel looks great and I am sure you are very pleased.
Thanks for the chat yesterday after my little set back!!

[FLYNOTE]

Dear FLYNOTE

Thanks for the feedback, that's what Forums are for, trust that will enjoy your Gyro shortly.

Would you be so kind to give me the Specifications of RST versus the 914?

As far as the engine is concerned ; it performed very well , has a lot of "oemff "and I am satisfied and comfortable at this stage that I have made the right choice in the RST.
Yes, it must still prove itself but one can not always start your game at the top of the foodchain. Us, first RST guys ,will have to accept that we are part of the pioneer group or am I unaware of other RSTs at 500+ hours?

Thanks

Thanks for the kind wishes. Hope this helps.

Powerplant ROTAX 912 ULS ROTAX 914T ROTAX 912T ( RST)
Configuration 4 flat cylinders 4T 4 flat cylinders 4T 4 flat cylinders 4T
Power 100hp @ 5800 rpm 115 hp @ 5800 rpm 122 hp @ 5800 rpm
Starter Electric Electric Electric
Mechanical reducer 1: 2.43 1: 2.43 1: 2.43
Intake 2 Carburettors 2 Carbs + turbo 2 Carbs + turbo
Static Thrust 230 kg (615lbs) 260 kg (695lbs) 280 kg (750lbs)
Fuel Capacity 2 X 42 liters (2x11 gal) 2 X 42 liters (2x11 gal) 2 X 42 liters (2x11 gal)
Propeller DUC FC Windspoon DUC FC Windspoon DUC FC Windspoon
Diameter 1.74 m (68,5 ‘’) 1.74 m (68,5 ‘’) 1.74 m (68,5 ‘’)