Tim Witham's First Solo Gyroplane Flight

My First Gyroplane Solo

By Tim Witham

I've always had a dream to build and fly my own gyroplane. Two years ago I began the process by getting fixed-wing training. I wanted to be sure I could fly first, before investing my time and money into my own aircraft. I received my Private Pilot airplane ticket in 1998 and then bought my RAF kit. I spent most of 1999 building the gyroplane in my garage on the evenings and on Saturdays. Finally, as it was nearing completion, I began dual gyro instruction with CFI Gary Brewer.

On my last dual lesson, Gary had me do 3 unassisted take offs and landings, followed by an engine out simulation from downwind, all the way to a power off landing on the runway. After passing that flight test, and then a pre-solo written test, I received my log book endorsement for solo flights in my RAF 2000 gyroplane. I had been looking forward to this moment for years!

After a briefing about how solo would be different than dual, I went out to redo the flights I had just done, this time solo! Still, the first takeoff surprised me a little. I began rolling and added a little power. The nose lifted early with just me aboard. I correctly recognized that the rotor speed was net yet fast enough for flight. So I held the throttle steady and let the rotor catch up. Then I carefully added more power and was up and flying already! The machine lifted me right up to pattern altitude by crosswind!

What a blast! This solo seemed even more fun than my first fixed-wing solo over 2 years ago in the Cessna 150. Finally being up in the air, alone in the machine I had spent the last year of my life building was such an incredible feeling that words just can't describe. This day made all the time and hard work worth it all. Turning base, I had to quit smiling so much and concentrate on making a good first landing. It wasn't perfect, but wasn't bad either.

The second takeoff went smoother as I knew more about what to expect. I took off and was again amazed by the climb performance. I went around the pattern, noticing the slightly different handling solo vs. dual. Then I landed again, this time keeping the stick all the way back longer than needed and letting that powerful rotor pull me backwards on the runway. Cool, I never backed up after landing the Cessna I thought. Oops, better quit showing off. Time to push the stick forward a bit and go around again.

The machine flys well and I am very happy with it. I'm really looking forward to flying it as much as time and weather will allow. But for today, for my third and last landing I cut power on downwind to land power off, just as before. Even with power pulled, the landing went smoothly, thanks to the great dual training and repeated practice. Wow, what a wonderful day. Now I can finally go flying with you guys!

Tim Witham's First Gyroplane Solo in N199TW
Take Off!	First Landing!