My RAF 2000 kit was delivered December 10. This is perhaps the neatest Christmas present I've ever opened! The blue anodized parts are beautiful. RAF is now shipping a new rotor head that features many of the improvements that Jim Butler wrote about in November's Rotorcraft magazine. Jim's article is a must read. My kit came with the new rotor head as well as RAF's new crank driven ignition on the engine. I'm very pleased with the shipment and am looking forward to building this aircraft.
For documenting my project, I thought it would be neat to record it on videotape. Then I realized I could leave a camera in one position and program my computer to automatically take pictures of the construction as it progresses, but only when the image changes. The still pictures, played back quickly, could someday make a time-lapsed video of the entire project, showing a gyroplane being built from start to finish in a matter of minutes. Initial results are promising; it appears the idea will work! I am uploading some still and video examples to the internet at: http://www.quiknet.com/~twitham/gyro/cam/. I can talk more about this system at the next chapter meeting if anyone is interested.
There is no monthly chapter meeting in December due to the holidays. The November meeting was held at the Nut Tree Airport on the 22nd. Mark Bello was in attendance and started a lively discussion on safety. A few manufacturer's are investigating new ways to improve the safety of their ships.
One such example is in crash testing. Dropping a gyroplane from 30+ feet in the air is one way to identify problem areas and refine the design for better odds of survivability . Another idea that was recently discussed in the PRA forum on the internet is the possibility of using ballistic parachutes on gyroplanes. And of course getting plenty of training is still a very key element to safe flying, in any type of aircraft. All these things cost a lot of time and money but are very much worth it. Let's hope we continue to see more of these kinds of initiatives and focus on improving the safety of our aircraft and our sport.
The new Super Bandit gyroplanes and their pilots are all doing well. George has now been up a few times and even around the pattern in his new gyroplane. Troy meanwhile has done a lot of flying and is even getting some experience in winds! And Bob has the starter installed on the Bandit "Pro", so it is getting closer to those initial test flights.
Next June's Air Expo plans are still on and gathering momentum. Ken Brock will be there to perform his show. Joe talked to Scott Malone who will also come and Jim Vanek may as well. This is going to be one fun weekend for gyroplane fans in Northern California! The Air Expo will be June 26th in Marysville. Mark your calendars and get your gyroplanes ready to be there!
The next meeting of P.R.A. Chapter 5 will be January 24, 1999 at 1 pm, Yuba County Airport, Marysville. Happy New Year everyone!