Nice to be back David. I enjoy all forms of aviation. Looking at a backpack powered paraglider right now. They are closing the golf course in my back yard next year. I now have a runway for my Helicopter and all kinds of flying toys.

Todd is right, the Robinson Helicopter company often puts out VERY expensive AD's and they have to be completely rebuilt every 12 years. This raises the cost considerably for private use.

As I like to take passengers (especially Young Eagles) the single seat ultra-light experimentals wouldn't work for me.

I was EXTREMELY close to buying an Enstrom and think they are great choice for private owners. Lots of rotor inertia ---> safer for low time/casual pilots. The only calendar limit parts are the Lamiflex bearings (~$5,000 every 5 years). 3 Blades can make storage an issue.

However, my Bell-47 is a classic and if you are going to get a toy, it may as well be cool!

Glenn

Right on Glenn. I love the old 47s. Classic and solid birds. Dirt simple as well. I do like x-country, though and the 47s are just a bit too slow for me. I cruise 100 MPH in the Helicycle and it feels like I am just walking at that speed. I don't know what I would do at 70 MPH I really need a 500C, but I just checked my wallet and I am a few hundred thousand short

My Bell-47 is a G4 with a VO-540 and heavy metal blades.
http://www.beechtalk.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=80250
Cost more to run but again IMHO, more rotor inertia is better for low time/casual pilots. It will cruise at 80mph. I did not get it to go fast.

My Aerostar rotates at 90 knots, at 80mph I haven't even started to think about flying.

Glenn

Yep, I saw yours - very nice machine. While I like the high potential stored inertia, it is not too much of an issue for me. I had a Brantly for 2 years that I put about 80 hours on. It had inertia similar to a 269. I am very comfortable in the lower inertia systems. The 47 is just a great machine all around, but I want something a little more modern. That is what I like about the Helicycle. I flip a switch to start it, engage the rotors, and then twist the throttle to 100%. After that I simply fly. No mags, carb heat, mixture, throttle, etc. Just go fly for an hour or so, land, and pull the fuel off. Dirt simple. Now I would like more seats and now that I am spoiled by the Turbine I am struggling to go back to a piston.

Todd, where are you located? Wouldn't happen to be in an air park near Hutto, TX would you? Only reason I ask, I flew with a guy in the Army that lived in an air park there and his neighbor had a Brantley then Helicycle.

Reading above about the golf course closing giving you a runway probably eliminates the air park location.

Auburn, Indiana. My Friend Jason lived around that area. Was it him?

Auburn, Indiana. My Friend Jason lived around that area. Was it him?

Neat Jerry. My friend's son is a Blackhawk instructor. He is the best I have seen. About 1200 hours of combat time (mostly at night) and another 1300 hours of instructing. The military gives great training and companies love to hire them. He was just offered a job in Dubai for $200k/yr. Instead he is sticking it out in the military, He already has 14 years in, so another 6 and he gets pension and can go about anywhere.

Us civilians have to fly helicopters powered by engines that ran generators

Well, just about there with the Helicycle. We were able to get the Horizontal balance down to .09 IPS, but the vertical balance just is unacceptable. I had excessive stick shake (had none prior to the rework) both in hover and forward flight. It was a long 10 hour day of balancing and fixing overlooked items. We will work on the tracking to fix the vertical balance Wednesday. Here are some short videos of me flying during the tests:

[youtube]http://youtu.be/gs2JmDCobaE[/youtube]

[youtube]http://youtu.be/oo9sXK60WDE[/youtube]

[quote="Todd SandersonI think the B17s are "Experimental for Exibition" and have waivers for carrying of passengers. I think the FAA works with them since it is such a small group and makes exceptions that are well defined.[/quote]


Yes, some of the warbirds are "limited" and some are "experimental exhibition". The CAF has a waiver (6802) that allows the sale of rides, with multiple pages of conditions....I'm sure the other organizations either operate under the same waiver, or a similar one.


stan

Any talk about more fuel or load capacity for the Helicycle?

Andy,

You can safely put in 235 lbs and fuel enough for 1:30 plus reserves. It is an amazing machine for the investment. I'm thinking about installing a totally different fuel system that will yield about 30 gallons useful which is over 2:00 and reserve.

I need one. . if for nothing more than to commute to work.

Will the acrylic cabin weigh less than the stock one?