UltraFlight Radio - Gyrocopters & Helicopters Archives

Gyrocopters and Helicopters

Gyrocopters and helicopters capture the imagination of many of us. Learn how to take safely to the sky in these great machines.

Ron Awad, PRA Chapter 13
The Rotors Over Carolina event is coming up soon. Ron Awad joins us to talk about the fun that the gyroplane community is looking forward to. Carolina Rotorcraft Club, Rotary Wing Forum (10/3/06)

Greg Gremminger, Popular Rotorcraft Association
Greg Gremminger joins us to talk about cross country flying in a gyroplane. He also talks about a great destination for a gyroplane cross country, the PRA convention in Mentone, Indianna. We talk about the agenda for event and why you want to be there. Popular Rotorcraft Association (7/11/06)

Greg Gremminger, Magni Gyro
Greg Gremminger talks about how to by a used gyroplane. Before you put out your hard earned money for a gyro, there are things you should take into consideration like the condition of the aircraft and whether you will be able to obtain nearby training for the machine you are thinking of getting. There is far more to buying a gyro than being the low bidder on ebay. Magni Gyro USA (6/6/06)

Greg Gremminger, Popular Rotorcraft Association
Greg Gremminger just got back from the Board of Directors meeting for the Popular Rotor craft Association. Lots of news came from that PRA meeting and Greg updates us on what is going on with the association. Popular Rotorcraft Association (4/4/06)

Richard Oxnam & Mike Radford, Sunstate Wing & Rotor Club
Bensen Days isn't just for rotorcraft anymore. This great event is welcoming light aircraft of all types this year. The Wauchula, Florida event is still the place to learn about sport rotorcraft in the spring of the year. Richard Oxnam and Mike Radford talk about all of the gyro (and other categories of) fun to be had there in a couple of weeks. You can contact Richard at rotornut007@yahoo.com (3/21/06)

Martin Weaver, Fun Air, LLC
This is our first chance to talk with Marty Weaver since he retired from the FAA as the Light Sport Aviation Branch Manager. We talk about how he is keeping busy, which has a lot to do with sport flying. He has been busy with gyroplane and helicopter instructing, preparing a local ultralight instructor for his powered parachute CFI practical test and getting ready to conduct the first Repairman Light Sport Aircraft Inspection Course for Gyroplanes. Fun air, LLC (2/21/06)

Greg Gremminger, Magni Gyro
Greg Gremminger explains the power curve while flying a gyroplane. Unlike fixed-wing aircraft, gyroplanes will not stall, and are therefore able to fly very slow, behind the power curve, even as slow as zero m.p.h. Operating behind the power curve in a gyroplane is one of the unique advantages of a gyroplane, we do that all the time for good reasons! But the limitations of flying behind the power curve must be understood and respected as well. If you fly too slow, way behind the power curve at low height above the ground, you can get yourself in trouble if you don't avoid the natural inclination to pull back on the stick to try to climb or stop a descent toward the ground. Magni Gyro USA (9/27/05)

Greg Gremminger, Magni Gyro
Greg Gremminger explains some important gyroplane concepts for us. He tells us about the power curve and how to stay ahead of it. Another curve is the Dead Man's Curve. Greg talks about how to stay above it, too. This is important safety stuff for those that fly gyros. Magni Gyro USA (9/13/05)

Greg Gremminger, Magni Gyro
We talk with Greg Gremminger about the newly accepted ASTM standards for gyroplanes. We talk with him about what this means for manufacturers and pilots. Magni Gyro USA (8/9/05)

Greg Gremminger, Magni Gyro
We talk with Greg Gremminger about the new ASTM standards for gyro planes. Stability has now been defined and Greg tells us how. He also talks about how you can test your gyro safely to see if it meets the standard. Magni Gyro USA (7/5/05)

Dr. Bruce Charnov, Hofstra Professor
While Bruce Charnov has put together the history of the Autogyro, he has come across some interesting items and documentation about the sport. This week he tells us about the documentary film he is making based on his Autogiro/Gyroplane history book. Autogiro Conference (5/31/05)

Greg Gremminger, Magni Gyro
Greg Gremminger talks with us about what gyroplane pilots have to be concerned with in transitioning to Sport Pilot. Gyro pilots fly using several different rules. Greg talks about transition issues for many situations. Magni Gyro USA (4/12/05)

Ron Awad, PRA Chapter 13
Ron Awad joins us with a preview of this year's Bensen Days in Wauchula, Florida. This annual event has tons of gyros, vendors, and fun for everyone. More Info On Bensen Days Rotary Wing Forum (3/29/05)

Dr. Bruce Charnov, Hofstra Professor
Bruce Charnov has created one of the largest collections of gyroplane documentation ever seen. He joins us to talk about how someone can go about putting a collection together. He talks about the benefits of collecting, collecting with a purpose, and what to ultimately do with a collection. He gives specific examples based on what he has in the world of autogyros. Autogiro Conference (12/14/04)

Greg Gremminger, Magni Gyro
Greg Gremminger explains a situation that is going to effect a lot of gyro pilots. Currently, a lot of gyro pilots fly their machines with a regular private pilot ticket. Under the old experimental rules, that was OK. But one of the things that happened with the Sport Pilot initiative is that will no longer be allowed. So, gyro pilots will need to get a rotor rating in order to fly as private pilots. Greg explains the way that transition is shaping up. Magni Gyro USA (12/7/04)

Kathryn Fields, Experimental Helicopter Magazine
Kathryn Fields and her husband, Stuart Fields, are starting a new magazine called Experimental Helicopter Magazine. Kathryn tells us about that magazine and about the 2004 Ken Brock Freedom Fly-In at the El Mirage Dry Lake in California. vkss.com/EH_Index.htm (9/28/04)

Ron Awad, PRA Chapter 13
Ron Awad tells us about the upcoming "Rotors Over Carolina" Fly-In sponsored by PRA Chapter 13 in Aiken, South Carolina. Another great opportunity to learn about the sport of gyro-planes. pra13.com/ (9/21/04)

Arlene Thomas, Fostaire Helicopters
On August 11, two NBC reporters posing as foreign businessmen attempted to charter a helicopter at Fostaire Helicopters. Of course most foreign businessmen don't travel with backpacks concealing box cutters and knives. The folks at Fostaire did the right thing by contacting the FBI and the local police, but what was NBC thinking? www.fostaire.com/ (8/17/04)

Rick Marshall, PRA Convention Chairman
The 42nd Annual PRA International Convention is right around the corner. This is one of the World's largest gatherings of Rotorcraft. Rick Marshall tells us all about it. www.pra.org rickmarshall@netnitco.net (7/13/04)

Andy Keech, World Gyro Record Setter
Andy Keech has been busy setting new world records flying his Little Wing Autogyro. New records include "Time to Climb" and Altitude records. This he adds to the previous records including Transcontinental Speed and Long Distance Not Refueled for a gyro. www.littlewingautogyro.com/altitude.html (6/29/04)

Dr. Bruce Charnov, Hofstra Professor and Conference Director
Bruce Charnov gives us an update on things that have happened in the last year as a result of the Hofstra University Conference on the Gyroplane. www.hofstra.edu/CampusL/Culture/Autogiro/index_Autogiro.cfm (6/1/04)

Greg Gremminger, Magni USA
Greg joins us to talk about how to get training to fly a gyro. Your approach will be different if you are wanting to fly an ultralight gyro vs. a larger machine as well as single seat vs. two seat. Learn how to get into the sky safely in a gyroplane. Magni USA (Part 1) (4/20/04)

Richard Oxnam, Sunstate Wing & Rotor Club
Bensen Days is held every year in Wauchula, Florida and is coming up quick! Richard Oxnam is an organizer of the event and he visits with us to talk about all the fun gyro fun to be had in a couple of weeks! www.pra.org/events.php (3/23/04)

Bill Patch, Gyro Pilot and Powered Parachute Pioneer
83 year old Bill Patch was flying powered parachutes well before anyone knew what they were. Like the very first powered parachute, Bill's machine was a gyro airframe converted to powered parachute use. Listen to stories from the very early days of the sport. (2/10/04)

Greg Gremminger, Magni Gyro
Greg Gremminger talks more about power push overs, bunt overs, and misconceptions about how they happen. Discussed is more of the physics of why bad things can happen in gyros and more importantly, how to avoid those things. magnigyro.com/USA/usa.htm (2/3/04)

Greg Gremminger, Magni Gyro
Greg Gremminger continues his series on misconceptions about gyroplane design. Specifically in this segment he will talk about the misconceptions that "Air on top of the rotor makes the rotor slow down" and "Pilots can PIO if they chop power and reduce speed." magnigyro.com/USA/usa.htm (1/20/04)

Greg Gremminger, Magni Gyro
Greg Gremminger continues his talk about some of the misconceptions about gyroplane design. Specifically in this segment he will talk about the commonly held beliefs about centerline thrust and the requirements for a horizontal stabilizer. magnigyro.com/USA/usa.htm (12/23/03)

Lowell Farrand, First Soft Wing Test Pilot
Lowell Farrand did something years ago that introduced the world to a whole different type of powered flight. He is the first man to ever fly a powered parachute. The first powered parachute was on a gyro airframe. Listen to the adventures of a modern day aviation pioneer. Lowell Farrand (Part 1) (12/16/03)

Greg Gremminger, Magni Gyro
Greg Gremminger explains some of the misconceptions about gyroplane design. Specifically in this segment he will talk about the commonly held beliefs about the placement of thrustlines. magnigyro.com/USA/usa.htm (12/9/03)

Greg Gremminger, Magni Gyro
Greg Gremminger joins us to talk about training issues that instructors and students should be aware of. While the examples will be those from the gyro world, the principles apply to all types of aircraft. magnigyro.com/USA/usa.htm (9/30/03)

Ralph McClurg, Sport Flight, Inc.
Ralph McClurg is not just another ultralight instructor. He is also an Army helicopter pilot. Today Ralph joins us to talk about a powered parachute fly-in going on this weekend in Carthage, MO. (7/29/03)

Greg Gremminger, Popular Rotorcraft Association
Greg Gremminger is heading up to the 41st Annual International Convention of the Popular Rotorcraft Association in Mentone, Indiana. Greg stops over on his way up to the event to tell us about it. www.pra.org/convent.html (7/22/03)

Greg Gremminger, Magni USA
Summer is here and you haven't yet looked in to learning to fly? Greg Gremminger joins us to give you some pointers in how to get started with gyros. Learn about resources for instructors and about the big PRA convention. www.magnigyro.com/USA/usa.htm (7/1/03)

Jim Mayfield, American Autogyro, Inc.
Pitch stability is a big issue in the gyroplane world, but it was not always that way. Learn the history of how pitch stability became a problem and the current technology to solve the problem. www.americanautogyro.com (5/27/03)

Greg Gremminger, Magni USA
Greg is chairman of the ASTM Subcommittee for Rotor Wing Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). His committee is responsible for writing the consensus standards for gyros to be built under the anticipated LSA rules. Greg will tell us about his progress at the meetings held in Kansas City last week. www.magnigyro.com/USA/usa.htm (5/13/03)

Dr. Bruce Charnov, Hofstra Professor and Conference Director
Bruce gives us a report on the Hofstra University Conference on the Gyroplane. This conference was historic and energized the gyro world. www.hofstra.edu/CampusL/Culture/Autogiro/index_Autogiro.cfm (5/6/03)

Richard Oxnam, Sunstate Wing & Rotor Club
Another great event in Florida this month was the Bensen Days Event. Learn about the fun the gyro crowd had in the Alligator State. chapters.rotorcraft.com/26/sunstate/ (4/15/03)

Bruce Charnov, From Autogiro to Gyroplane, Gyro Historical Conference
Dr. Charnov joins us to tell us about a world-level conference he has organized for the gyroplane at Hofstra University in Long Island, NY. www.hofstra.edu (4/8/03)

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