Xenon Gyro

[braam hechter]

Good Day All.

I trust you are well. There has been some activities lately.

The latest gyro has been delivered and she is being set up for the local conditions. The proving flights are in process and the challenges of setting up the MGL and fixing a sticky compass is nearly sorted. She is outfitted with the Kaspar variable pitch propeller and it would seem that this is making a marked difference in speed and fuel usage. The specifics will be available after the proving flights.

The LDG (Light delivery gyro or 3 Seater) is also nearing completion and should be starting test flights towards the end of May. She is outfitted with the same equipment as was tested on the Trojan. This includes the 240 hp Subaru EJ 20 engine, hydraulic pre-rotator as well as a choice of rotors from 33 to 37 ft rotors. The instrumentation will consist of a selfstanding computer with open source software and a 15 inch display. This will allow you to load google earth for your navigation and even to send emails and make phone calls with the satelite phone adaptors if normal cell phones does not have reception. You will also be able to design the cockpit layout to your prefference. There will also be a realtime downlink if required. Engine, flight data and mission critical information of up to to 16 channels can be transmitted.

One of the other major advances being made is that there is a process being put in place to finance the gyros and also to carry out insuring the machines inhouse. The plan is also to have a 1000hr warranty and service plan in place. The idea being to ensure that the owner can just fly the machine. With the advanced computer system onboard, it is possible to manage the maintenance offsite and focus on preventative maintenance. Maintainability and reliability is designed into the system and the 10 000 hrs of commercial experience guided the effort. Support is rendered by mobile support teams. This has also been tested with the commercial operations and a high availablity of the machines can be guaranteed. A fixed wing aircraft is also being prepared to be used by the technicians (flying spanners) where urgent or quick maintenance is required and speed is of the essence.

See the February edition of the African Pilot magazine for more information.

Greetings and keep on dreaming.

Braam Hechter

[Vertical Tango]

Well done Braam !
Some lead, others just copy

[Pieter Smith]

Wow! Dit klink na n baie nice Gyro Braam. Hoop om hom van nader te bekyk op Alldays Fly-in in Junie?

[PTKay]

Congratulations Braam!

Keep us informed.

[Steve_SP]

Braam thanks for the update - I look forward to learning more in due course, in particular the LDG development ( XL ) sound very interesting and hopefully opens some new market sectors for you.

If you are able to post a scan or photos of the magazine pages ( February edition of the African Pilot magazine ) then I'd love to see them.


Regards



Steve

[FLYNOTE]

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=AKOKz5H0 ... KOKz5H0UTQ

[PTKay]

Hi Braam,

we haven't heard from you for some time.

How is the new 3-seter doing?

[braam hechter]

Good Evening Mr Kay.

Thanks for the question. The team has been fairly busy. The gyro is in the final stages of being registered. Most of the fitment work of the undercarriage, the mast, the rotorhead, the flexible control cables to the head and rudders, the engine frame and the engine has been finalized. The engineering data pack was compiled and submitted to the SACAA and a build number was issued. The last outstanding issue is the opensource instrument pack that needs to be installed and then to spraypaint the gyro. Once the registration is finalised, the gyro can be completed and application can be made for proving flights.

Greetings

Braam Hechter

[PTKay]

Hallo Mr. Hetcher,

that's great news.

It's nice to hear that you have decided for the same new control system
for the rotor like the new Zen2 by Aviation Artur Trendak.
They also have chosen flexible control cables.



The new Zen2 is on the exactly same stage of certification by Polish CAA,
like yours in SA.



There is a lot of modifications in the Zen2 compared to Zen1. You can read more here.

http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38281

Best regards

Paul

[Steve_SP]

Hi Braam

Lots of "Wagtails" registered recently - in among them is


ZU-RKG WAGTAIL LDG, LDGA1; 29-Jul-2013


Would this be the project based on the modified "Xenon XL" airframe ?

If so hopefully first flight is imminent - good luck and please post photos when you can - thank you.


Steve

http://xenongyroblog.blogspot.co.uk/

[spinkaan]

Magtig hy worrd al mooier en beter, ek gaan wag tot daar Subaru bloed deur sy are loop. Baie geluk en sterkte Braam en die 'Wagtailers'
Spinkaan

[Steve_SP]

Hi Braam / Team Wagtail



Do you have any news on the "LDG" that you can share please - has the first example ( ZU-RKG ) now had its first test flight ?

Any news on this interesting machine would be welcome and some photos too if possible - thanks.


Regards

Steve

[PTKay]

Very good news.

New ZEN Gyrocopter Agent - Altair
viewtopic.php?f=20&t=22264

Congratulations!

http://www.altairaviation.co.za/

[mak]

Very good news.

New ZEN Gyrocopter Agent - Altair
viewtopic.php?f=20&t=22264

Congratulations!

http://www.altairaviation.co.za/

Thanks Paul, remember next time we are in Poland to visit the factory you owe us a cross country trip.
Hope to see you soon.

[Gyronaut]

This is amazingly good news for the South African Gyroplane fraternity!

Well done, congratulations and we wish Altair every success!