Comments Made - Defending the RAF Gyro

[saraf]

My condolences to you for the loss of your friend. I am not aware of a accident involving a RAF 2000 in the Kruger National Park. Nor do I know of any RAF 2000 where the petrol tank sits between you and the engine. All RAF gyros fuel tank sits underneath the pilot and not between the pilot and the Engine.

When did this accident happen? Who build the RAF , who test flew the RAF and where did your friend do his training and with whom? Who AP'd the RAF?


I will appreciate it if you could send me the report so that I can take a look at it.

My email is eben@rafgyro.co.za

Regards

[saraf]

Hi Willie

We are aware of this accident of your friend , My apologies as it slipped my mind. (note that we were not involved with RAF at that time)

I will get the full report from CAA and post it or you can send it to me or post it yourself.

Regards

Eben Jnr

[Tumbleweed]

Now people who have not read up on all the international forums/ literature can get an indication of some of the contoversies.

Has to be said, in the states where you can order the kit, smack it together in the barn, and just fly, the guys are very outspoken.

Does'nt do much for brand building.

Pity, more people in the know do not share their views so that the public can see and the RAF guys can respond.

[Massimo]

Hi Eben & Jnr,

It seems that everytime you post a topic on this site you get "hammered". I dont know why you bother, and you should actually change you name to "bulldog" for being continously confronted and always fighting back.

IMHO rather focus your energy on enjoying your RAF and giving good training and support to existing and future pilots and let the skeptics remain skeptics. In the end if its a good product it will shine through, and the ones that really want to fly one will do so, and the rest ....well who knows what they will do.

Enjoy

[saraf]

Just me on the forum, not my dad

I like to share my flying experience with guy's that enjoy flying.....alot of you are on here so where better to share this??? But you are right I get hammered every time I post, or most of the time. But I take everything as positive and try and make the bad situ. a good one.

Raf is a good product it WILL shine through i know it. People just have to stop listening to others and find out for them self. I have thought of leaving the forum, but running is not the way you win a fight.

You coming to the Bundu?

Regards
ebenjnr

[Coyote]

My brother witnessed the gyro accident in Palaborwa – he was on the golf course and saw the pilot fly over in serious PIO. This is not fact but rather speculation and he is a pilot so I am assuming that he knew what he was seeing. The aircraft went down behind trees so he never actually saw any more.

I have to agree with saraf on some issues – the aviation community is very quick to slate other products and it is usually when they are trying to sell you their product.

The RAF does have a bad reputation (whether warranted or not) and you must focus on how many are flying safely and how great the aircraft is. I spoke to some RAF owners and pilots at the AGM and they love their aircraft and wouldn’t fly anything else. There is something to be said in that.

[saraf]

I am still waiting on the report from Willie so that we all can take a look at what happend.

I have also contacted CAA and they will be sending me there report......



Regards

Fly save

[t-bird]

Everyone are asking about a RAF crash in which a person died.

Nobody has a question for Boet from Bushbabie's about Junkie who recently died in one.

Nobody has question the Sycamore Gyro in which a person died.

Or the VPM Gyro which is in essence a magni.

You can get any Gyro in a PIO. Not just the RAF

Willie sincere condolences with your friend, but I see from your signature that you are flying a KR & Trike which has also killed a few people.

[Massimo]

good stuff eben,

no definite plans yet but would really like to. would be my first attendance as im only one year in to the flying of trikes.

[saraf]

Hi Willie

I am still waiting for our report on the accident!!

Will you be able to send it to me?

Eben@rafgyro.co.za

Thanks

Eben jnr.

[saraf]

I found ou the weekend that the RAF does have a YAW problem.

Everytime I take a client or friend for a flip they say the following YAAAAW!!!!!!!!!!

If they get out the reaction is YAAAAAW!!!!!!!, when people see the gyro they go YAAAAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!



So yes the RAF has a YAW problem.......... :D

How was all of you guy's weekend????

Regards

Eben JNR

[BIG-G]

Having been up in a number of gyro's. I really have to say this.

I really love the RAF. I can understand why people coming to a RAF think its unsafe. Its so fantastically agile. In the hands of a competant pilot this has got to be the most fun gyro to fly.

I would certainly be the owner of one if they were not so noisy.

Truly a great safe, fun and affordable aircraft

[Biggles]

Been following this threat with keen interest having been for a demo flight on the RAF with Eben jr. The whole rivalry is putting me off gyros as a whole. And I am sure potential customers have been put of gyros completely, not just one make. All the arguement serves is to highlight that accidents do happen and that no design is perfect.

And with all these debates the problem boils down to too much emotional involvment. And too little informed opinion, how many people are rated on every Gyro on the market and can offer impartial opinion?

my 2c worth.

[FAWGie]

Interesting comments made about the RAF Gyro....
Although I'm not in the market for a gyro and have little inclination to own one (any one), it has been of intrigue that several pilots have told me stories about the RAF gyro...which I've found hard to believe...when I was last at Oshkosh, the RAF gyro was by far the most sold and supported product, so I've never really understood why the SA pilots have had so much negative sentiment towards it....

Before I bought a Jabiru J400, I was told dreadful stories about the engine, performance, etc...etc....so I went to the factory, spoke to the owner who put my mind at ease...then I bought one, had wonderful service from it - which proved the point that the stories were totally unfounded and sparked by jealousy in the fraternity....

My guess is the same has happened to the RAF gyro...It's probably an excellent product and well supported around the world, but there are locals who have unsubstantiated reason to knock it.....

[The Agent]

It's about time I hijack this thread.
This was seen being assembled at Rhino Park by the owner to do some testing.
It has a manual prerotator up to 60 RPM.
Then if you tilt the main rotor back the nominal wind takes the rotation up to 90 RPM.
It is fitted with a 503 Rotax and no It will not fly today.