Put another hour on the Helicycle today. Did some 30' flying for part of the trip beginning at 13:00. Mounted the camera on the panel for a little better view.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/ozsDfusFpU8[/youtube]

Todd, thanks so much for posting your video, What A Kick! and really nice country! That piece of thread taped to your screen is also used on sailplanes to determine yaw/skidding, great cheap tool. Your heli seems very smooth and you seem very well relaxed and confident. I must admit, I would be concerned as heck flying in unknown territory looking for wires. IF you did succeed in having a bird strike, what is the chance of surviving?

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the comment. I have 10 hours on the machine now and am feeling pretty comfortable. I'm going to take some more training in the R22 to re-learn the commercial procedures and then practice them in the Helicycle so I can can earn my rating in a few months.

Depending on how big the bird and where it hit would tell the fate. If I hit anything up to a blackbird with the main rotor it would probably just be very scary initially and would most likely cause blade damage. A hawk to the main blade could be very ugly. A hawk to the swashplate control arms could also be deadly since it would most likely bend them and cause control failure. Anything bigger than a hummingbird hitting the tail rotor blades would cause tail rotor failure which will not cause a problem until you land. Basically, you would fly to your airport without tail control which means that when you want to land you have to autorotate since you will have no way to combat the main rotor torque. Properly executed you will skid on and be just fine. If you screw up you will most likely do a mild roll and be just fine, but your helicopter will most likely be totaled.

Helicopter flying is an absolute blast and the Helicycle has plently of extra turbine power on tap. It is the most fun I have had flying.

Looks like a whole lot of fun. Any wire strike protection options for the Helicycle?

Todd, great video!

I wanted one before this, now I really really want one!
What is the identifier of the airport you took off from?

Thanks for sharing!

Just your eyes

The machine only weighs 520 lbs. It would probably bounce off the wires instead of cutting them.

John,

This thing is a blast and it is cheap. The engine will run forever and is dirt simple. KGWB is the ident.

Have you done autos in the HC? Would you say the blades bleed energy faster than the 22?

Wow. Looks really cool.

Andy,

Have not done an auto yet as I am wanting to do a few more in the R22 first. From what I am told by HC owners that trained in a 22 - the HC has more stored rotor inertia than the 22 and autos very easy. Once I get another hour in the 22 I will be good to good in that respect. I am sure I could do them now, but don't want to risk it yet.

If you want to see an interesting Helicycle flameout and auto check out the following. This is my friend Stan demonstrating the max performance takeoff capability. He was at 100 ft and 40 MPH when the engine flamed out due to the low idle being set to low (he dumped the collective at 100 ft to push the nose over.) He hit the ground at 30-40 MPH and had no damage. Very interesting to say the least. Scroll to 5:30:

[youtube]http://youtu.be/9ltxduwRp_g[/youtube]

Todd,

Fill me in with the details....

Is this a "true" helicopter, the blades are powered and you can do vertical takeoffs and landings?

Did you build as a kit?

Can you put floats on them?

Is there a web site for yours?

Thx. (tempted)

Larry here's the website, it's a little annoying with all the flashing and such but here it is.

http://www.helicycle.com/

Hmmm....definitely have room in hangar for this....

Larry,

It's as real as it gets. 160HP Turbine pilot-derated to 95 HP lifting a 520lb machine. It will outperform any of the piston machines.

You can build it as a kit. I preferred to buy one already done saving me 600 hours of build time and $10k.

Floats are not approved and I do not recommend you fly any helicopter with floats. It is a whole different game with floats on.

Larry,

It's as real as it gets. 160HP Turbine pilot-derated to 95 HP lifting a 520lb machine. It will outperform any of the piston machines.

You can build it as a kit. I preferred to buy one already done saving me 600 hours of build time and $10k.

Floats are not approved and I do not recommend you fly any helicopter with floats. It is a whole different game with floats on.