Another Gyro nut is converted.

Pictures an short report too follow.

Big thanks Too Otto for helping with the hindge problem

Well Guys she flies !
This is my 1st venture into gyro's and i must say im well pleased. I started to form an interest about 3 months ago. I found most of the data from info posted on the Net. Big thank you to folks Like Jim Baxter for posting details an data regarding the subject it helped tremendously.

Model Details :- Pitch control on elevator Lateral control on rotor tilts Yaw on the rudder
Rotor Dia 47''
Weight 4lbs
Power axi 2820-10
8 cell pack 3700 Nimh
Delta 3 hinge 15%
Prop 12x6
Rotor bearing is a small speed 400 gearbox Made by M F A (Mini Olympus) £8.50 or about 4$
Blades home made clark Y

1st flight in a 15mph wind she took off in 20ft an just hung there at about 50ft height, putting a few clicks of down trim in, Soon had things under control. Got too about 100 ft up wind too do my 1st turn WOW ! After much Juggling i managed too get back into wind and do a landing of sorts.

At home over a cup of tea an a chat with my extatic son i decided i needed more down thrust so i increased it from 5 deg to 7 an added a bit of nose weight to bring the CG forward. Since then ive had another 5 flights in slighty less wind 5-10mph.

All i can say to people wanting too have a challenge GO FOR IT !
I plan on increasing the power too an AXI 2826 10 on 11.1 v lypos and a 14x7 prop as i think it needs a little bit more power an will allow for a longer flights too keep my pulse racing alittle more.

Regards Len
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Hi Len !!! Congrats on the maiden flights. Glad I could be of help. Your gyro looks good. It will take a little while to get her trimmed out. Hope you have lots of fun with your whirling wings. Charlie Anderson [email protected]

Hey Len, Congratulations on a successful maiden! I was bitten by the gyro bug a few months back and am already working on a larger one now. This is really exciting stuff, huh? What plans did you build from? It doesn't look like anything I've seen before. Now get us some video! Thanks for posting the pics. Regards, Ben

Its my own design an when ive ironed out all the wrinkles i may possibly release some drawings.
As for video footage im working on that one trouble is finding a reliable cameraman an decent flying conditions weathers been rough latley[:@]

I notice that your rotor bades are secured with two bolts each - in the event of a tip-over on landing and a `bladestrike` will not this cause damage to blades or hub? Or is the second bolt some sort of shear system?
Colin

Great news Lenwing. Its a wonderful feeling of success when they finally return to earth intact. I would try the 2820/10 on 3s lipos and an APCE prop before investing in another motor. 8 cells is really about 9v under load and 3s lipo nearer 11 volts so that should ,assuming about 25 - 28 amps at full power , give you another another 50 watts + and the prop itself adds a bit more + the model weighs less due to the lighter battery pack. I live not too far away from you so may get an opportunity to come and see it fly when and if these winds die down. Excellent, keep up the good work. Bill
PS how did you find the orientation of the gyro?
Colin. The design is similar to the "autogyro company of arizona" model setups.

Temporay arrangment because i wanted to secure the blades so i could get it flying. The bolts are 6ba mild steel so if and has happened afew times it just bends the bolt. I relise if it really thumps in its new blades but im a retired propellor maker (Self employed) an these by comparision are childs play to make.

For Gyronuts Hello Bill it seems along time since i flew the gull 3 at York meeting 03. Now you can put a face to the name im getting really into this lark i've all sorts of things i want to build i intend to build one slightly bigger an put an OS 46 2stroke (gasp shock horror not an IC motor) Problem with Electric if you do have a prang youget damaged speed controllers ect> IM flying this thing very carfully at the moment because i dont fancy breaking it. I saw your two modelin Chris Golds column. Orientation isnt going too bad but the flights are short for now maybe two circuits so im not giving myself chance to get into trouble.

Cheers Len

Yes, digging out an IC motor is normally less expensive than replacing a squashed lipo. Looks grand your model. My electric ones are going fine but I eventually let them go too far away and get disorientate and crash. The two circuits method is probably a good one till you are relaxed flying the model. In my early days of IC gyros I used to be amazed as it spiralled into the ground at full power , I always remembered to close the throttle after impact and inspected the wreckage to find minimal damage. On the lightweight electric ones the only damage tends to be to the cocktail sticks I use on the blade holder . Bill