I can now consider myself an autogyro pilot since I have successfully flown and landed my gyro several times. I have to say that the learning curve is steep even though I am an experience fixed wing pilot. Alot of my questions were answered at www.autogyro.com, but it seems that the website is no longer working. No one in my club has any experience with this type of flying and I was left searching this and other sites to try to learn. So, I was wondering if there would be any interest in a beginner's thread. Maybe a sticky at the top of this forum that pilots new to autogyros could read before asking questions that have no doubt been asked many times. It could also have tips that new pilots wouldn't think of asking.



I'll start with some of the lessons I learned the hard way.

1) Gyrocopters are hard to see in the air. They don't have a large wing for reference and are easy to lose orientation with. Although it is against what I would do with a fixed wing aircraft, I would recommend keeping the first few flights relatively close and low.

2) Coordinated turns are almost a must. At least with my gyro, if I try to bank with aileron (rotor tilt) alone and pull back on the elevator, it results in a very steep and scary turn. Coordinated rudder makes the turns much flatter and more calm.

3) Hand launching may be the best option if you're having trouble taking off the ground. Although it's a little unnerving having a rotor spinning above you and a prop in front, mine at least is easy to hand launch. I just tilt the craft up at about a 45 degree angle into the wind and let the blades spin up. When they're up to speed, just open up the throttle level the gyro and give it a toss.




I encourage everyone to add what they've learned or maybe some general tips. Maybe we can all learn something.

I am still relatively new to r/c, I am on my 3rd fixed wing model (Great Planes Turmoil shock flyer) and on my 2nd heli. I have had an interest in autogyros for quite a few years though and am about foaming at the mouth to fly one- full-scale and model.

I think for my first autogyro, I will go with a kit from [link=http://www.autogyro-rc.com/]http://www.autogyro-rc.com/[/link].

What model do you fly and where did you get it from? I would like to know lots of details if you don't mind. If you think it's too much to mention here, I can give you my email address.

thanks

You can read about the whole saga starting here:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_2706975/tm.htm
and continuing here:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_2749606/tm.htm
You can order the kit here:
http://kombat40.com/gyro.html
I found mine at a swap meet. I would recommend this as a beginner's gyro since it is ridiculously tough. I think it would survive anything short of lawn darting from 150' up. Read the threads if you want to know how I know this.

I have flown several Autogyro's but still consider myself still learning. I agree to first post on most points. Read all you can and orientation..

If you need a wing to help with oreintion I like the Gyrace and with the Twin rotors. The PT 25 for me is the easyest to fly. Setup as shown on the manual will do what it is supposed to do. I do mix rudder with the ailron to make the turns better.

By the way we will be having an Autogyro meet this weekend here in Lakeland, FL.

DC gyro does not generally have any rudder control so coordinated turns don`t apply. I have not noticed any problems with turns using rotor tilt. On planes with both rudder and rotor tilt I find the rotor tilt more effective then rudder, but turns using rudder only are Ok too, just a bit slower.

Something else - nasty accident in Japan, a person flying a helicopter killed his granddaughter!
Maybe our autogyros are safer with their unpowered rotors and balsa blades. I did chop my transmitter antennna in half once by poking it into the spinning rotors, when preparing to handlaunch. But that is unimportant.
Colin Duthie

Don't worry about the antennae thing, I actually did that too. I had the rotor spun up and was holding the gyro above my head, but the engine wasn't running right. I went to hit the throttle cutoff on my radio to kill the engine and stuck the antennae right in the rotor - oops. [:@] I do have a question about your post. I know that a DC setup means that the rotor tilts side to side and front to back, but I don't know what DC stands for. Anyone have the answer?

DC = Direct Control. Control is by the tilting the rotor head, from side to side or forwards /backwards. Tail surfaces not used for control, no moving elevator/rudder. Soley there for stability. In my experience DC handles much the same as a plane with rotor side tilt, but no fore/aft tilt, but with elevators. However my experience limited to 4 aircraft only.
Colin Duthie

I am in favor of the DC control or direct pitch. My gyro I designed, the DAG-1 uses this. I am not so dependant on air speed so I can fly slower yet have total control. I have found that the gyro is much more agile with the direct pitch, roll and rudder.

I also agree with keeping a gyro close. One of my first ones was lost because I lost my orientation. I could not tell if it was comeing towards or away from me! That is a sickening feeling. Keep you gyro close so you can see it.

Throw ing the gyro vs. rolling off the ground. If you roll off the ground.......it has to be slow and deliberate, if you start off too fast, the blades may not be up to full speed. If the gyro lifts off before the blades are at full rotation and lift is premature, it results in the gyro violently flipping to one side or the other and smacking on the ground.

If you have a gyro that has a head that has direct pitch control, you can hold down elevator a little which brings the head to 6 to 8 degree pitch. Now the rotors can get up to speed with out the threat of premature lift. If your have a gyro with a high landing gear giving the gryo rotors a high angle of attack....I would never reccomend rolloff the ground UNLESS you have direct pitch control.

Still....throwing the gyro is the best way as far as I am concerned. I have had a lot of flights. Most have been throwing. My worst accidents resulting in the most damage were from rolling off the ground. Just my input...hope it helps.

Dave

CLICK HERE [link=http://home.att.net/~imsofaman/dag1page.htm]DAG-1 Autogyro[/link] CLICK HERE







CLICK HERE [link=http://home.att.net/~rc_aviator2/dag1testflight.wmv]Short DAG-1 MOVIE[/link] CLICK HERE

Nice looking gyro! I checked out the video too. When mine gets too beat up, I might try that one. Here's one more beginner type question that I was wondering about. I've noticed that alot of gyros have a considerable amount of downthrust on the engine. My Kombat Kopter has no downthrust and has the tendency to pitch up with added throttle. Would the addition of downthrust help this problem? Also, I remeber seeing a picture that shows a guidline for gyrocopter dimesions. It had all the angles for the mast and the downthrust. It also had the dimensions of the rotor compared to the size of the gyro. Does anyone have this?

Hello G.I.N.M.F. !!! I believe downthrust would aggravate the pitching-up problem. You might try giving up elevator just before adding throttle. Also, add throttle smoothly (not abruptly). I have the diagram you are looking for. Let me see if I can find it. Charlie Anderson

Yep...I agree. Sometimes guys chase their tails with pitch /downthrust problem. You need to remember when adding throttle...it should climb, not instantly point straight up like you are flying 3D!!! [sm=surprised.gif] !!!!!! It should climb decently. If you want to go faster....you will need to apply down elevator as you increase throttle. If you have a computer radio...you can program elevator and throttle together to increase the down elevator and throttle is apllied. *It is up to you and what you have gotten used to.*

My PROTYPE DAG-1 gyro originally had 5 degrees down thrust which was WAY too much. When I applied throttle...it wanted to dive....it was crazy going thru the R&D process. But once I set down thrust at 2 degrees...that was it! She flew perfect!!!

Also remember that my DAG-1 gyro has DC pitch along with roll and rudder. I have better control that a fixed pitch gyro head with only roll. When I say fixed pitch...I mean the angle of attack of the rotors vs. the centerline of the fuselage. DC pitch moves the head on a pivot forward for going down and backward to clib or slow down.


Dave