Welcome to the world of flying cubs... you have to learn to fly the tail... you cannot take off from a 3-point stance. The tail has to come up... rotation speed achieved and then lift off. It took me forever to learn it, but it is a lesson you don't forget. I love flying cubs.
Guys have good luck with gyros and you don't need to turn them off in the air.... just fly the rudder like it was meant to be. They did not put it back there for an ornament.