I have been trying to fly Autogyro’s for last three months with very little success.

I built my first autogyro like the DC. I had very little success. From everything that I have read so far, I am supposed to hand launch the model. I have had nothing but crashes! I think I replaced about 12 servo gear sets. I have not been able to find the right angle to hand launch. The model would either go straight up and perform a loop or just go straight into the ground. I am not very good with tail dragger type airplanes so I had a friend take it up one time. It flew!!! He got the model high enough and attempted to make a left turn. The gyro would not recover and it nose dived in! End of first model.

I built a second model which was a .15 size but without pitch control. I got tired of replacing the stripped pitch servo gears. I had little more success with this one. The model flew a little with the first hand launch. With a first attempt, the model would not overcome the breeze and made a emergency landing. I crashed it with a second attempt! I had too much lateral control so I ended up rocking the model left to right then into the ground!

I am going to build a DC gyro one more time. If this does not work, I give up!

It seems that every Autogyro expert dot not recommend tricycle gear model. Why?

What am I doing wrong?

Hello Wahid

There are so many stupid little reasons why a gyro will fly or not that its hard to know where to start.

I will give you some basic setup angles that tend to be similar on most of my DC control gyros.

Hang angle ( this is the amount the model hangs nose low when held by the mast) should be around 8 degrees as a good starting point.

Down thrust of the engine on that image you posted should be around 6 degrees . Gyros need a lot more down thrust than fixed wing due to the higher centre of gravity and the drag of the rotors.

Neutral aft tilt should also be around 8 degrees with the tranny stick centred. Lateral movement should be something like 7 or 8 degrees each way. If aft rake is fixed then I tend to use 8 degrees as the angle.

Are you rotors definitely reaching full autorotation before launch ? You should notice a rapid acceleration in to autorotation with a noticeable 'thrumming sound' and the model should certainly go light in your hands before launch. This sound is more noticeable on the smaller models like the .15 sized model.

Finally, your rotor mast should be mounted aft of the for&aft pivot point. This is to balance out lift and drag so as not to overstress your servos. This might explain why you are stripping a few or even losing control due to too much force preventing the servo from operating correctly.

Even though gyros are fun to fly really slowly, I recomend flying reasonably quickly with gentle turns at first, airspeed will allow your tail surfaces to give you this extra stability.

I hope this helps

Sean

P.S Stay with the hand launching, with smaller models its definitely easier until you gain confidence.

Wahid

While viewing the pic of your model it appeared as to not have any down thrust as I could see.

How much does it have...???

Rick

Sean, I spoke with Rick Anderson. I think I found my problem. I have been hand launching the model with full trottle. He said that this might explain why the model wants to climb straight up when launched. He lives within one hour from me.

Both of my Autogyros are are beyond repair. I have started a new .15 size DC. Once I finish it, I plan to take it to Rick's house and let him take it up.

Sean, can you email me some good close up pictures of your "Whirling Dervish" and Kellerva Gyro? Thanks

Wahid

Wahid

If you looked at autogyro.com and gyronuts.com then those sights pretty much have the best images of my Whirling Dervish and Kellerva models. If you are after any specific info on them then just ask away and I will help where I can. If you have Rick's assistance then your troubles are over.........he could make a bathtub fly if you gave it a rotor and an engine. Shame I live so far away that i can't visit his Skunkworks.

Best of Luck

Sean

Sean

Gee Wiz, thanx for the praise.

I have had some success flying these things but I dont know that I deserve quite this level of stardom.

If your ever in Ind, look me up and I'll give you the grand tour.

Rick

Hi Wahid,
The problems are sad, so little is generally known about Gyros
that if a "loner" has success it is a small miracle.
You are lucky to be close to Rick, he has the experience to guide
you correctly.
What is really needed is a pure anyone can do Gyro trainer. I have yet to see one. I just completed development of such a beast, "Giro Plane". Soon as I can get the paper work done I expect M.A.N. to publish it.
But that is down the road a ways.
There is a solution to your servo problem.
Know that the forces the rotor sees can be of an almost unbleieveable magnitude, can overcome common servos, strip
their gears, on and on.
The solution is a at least 120 in.oz. metal geared servo.
Happily FMA Direct has a jewel of this nature and not costly.
FMA Direct model No. PS905MBB
Good luck!

Hal [email protected]