Whole Lotta Orange Down There

[CT_Tree_Guy]

Thom, you're having ALL THE FUN, leave some for us!!! Man, what a sweet little machine. 31K? WAY less than I thought as I was checking out their website. I think there's one in my (distant?) future.

A few questions - could you please compare/contrast that machine to an autogyro and a helicopter? How much power, if any, goes to the top rotor vs. the pusher prop? Does the Subaru engine use timing belts, or chains? (A friend who was equally impressed by your machine just told me about a Porsche 911 engine that was modified for aero use, with chain drive being one of the mods). What's the cruising range, and what's your longest flight to date, and the longest flight that you might have planned? Lastly, what can I do about the jealous rage that has come over me?

On using Amsoil - don't you know that's just snake oil sold by conniving racketeers engaged in a modern-day Ponzi scheme? Have you thought about switching to Quaker State?

Thanks for sharing the pics Thom, great stuff.

Yours truly, John D/CT_Tree_Guy/"Amsoil Lover"*

* I guess I could have just as easily been branded a "RedLine Lover" or a "Royal Purple Lover", but my local NAPA didn't happen to carry them. LOL

 

[SkyPup]

LOL!!!

Only the main propeller is powered by the Suburu engine, the top rotor and rear rotor both operate from wind drag only. The prop is composite and driven by a polymeric aramid fiber belt, not sure about the engine timing belt, but will find out.

It holds 25 gallons of premium and uses about 5 gallons per hour for about a 4 hour run with reserve. Longest flight has been 3.5 hrs.

Sope out their FAQ for more detailed info:

http://www.rotaryairforce.com/raf2000/faq.html


They also sponsor a members forum, so look over some of the posts to gleam more insider info:

http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=41

 

[froggy]

Cool web site, thanks for posting it.

How is the fishing on your place?

 

[SkyPup]

The bass have been great all year long up to 10 pounds, but now the waterfowl are in and the rods & reels have been replaced with Browning Citori O/U 12 gauge 3 1/2" #3 tungsten steel shot..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[SkyPup]

Here's a good shot of the entire rig - we call it the Yellow Bee! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JimMorrissey]

Sky, Is that you at the helm? What are you totally NUTS! That things a death trap /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[CT_Tree_Guy]

Yeah Thom, for god's sake, be careful! You're the most reliable source of information that I've got! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[HGM]

Definitly cool... Gives you a different perspective of your land too, I bet /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif..Not a lot arround you, looks like it might take a little to get used to the sensation, but scouting capabilities would be incredible. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif How's the hog population? We used to hunt Avon park, Three Lakes and RiverRanch quite a bit... They were ate up with hogs. We got tired of hunting the Glades for years without seeing much game and traveled north, though it looks like your a bit further up.

I'm also pretty surprised about the cost. What are the lisence requirements?

 

[shero]

very nice skypup, i must say i'm just a little bit envious /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[SkyPup]

I know the Avon Park-River Ranch area quite well.

All four of the wild boar skulls hanging on my barn were shot within 100 yards of this photo, largest hog weighed 550 pounds, a real Mean Sow /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[FL4400]

Skypup I thought that dealership looked familiar, I am about an hour north of you in Glen St. Marys. I have a fly in community next door to me and a few people have similar gyros like yours. I get tired of hearing them sometimes when all the do is fly circles around the run way.

 

[SkyPup]

They are probably practicing touch n' goes. We were doing the same thing the weekend the President of the US flew into town on Air Force One, the Secret Service, needless to say, came over to interview us.

But your correct they are loud, communication is via headset only once underway. Great platform for aerial photography however.

 

[L3400HST]

Hey SkyPup, new to this forum, but have been lurking for a while. The pic you posted looked familar, basically because I live about 5 miles west of there just off 39th Ave. Thought I'd pipe in and say hi.

 

[HGM]

We had a lot of good times at Avon, that is one thing I can truly say I miss about Florida. The Glades, airboats and buggies are some others... We dont see many hogs where I'm at, but I plan to do a little hog hunting near Macon this year. Looking forward to trying my 454 on a pig /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif..

Sounds like you have a jam up place there, congratulations..

 

[SkyPup]

Best friend has an 18-foot airboat with a 454 Chevy big block and two Holley carbs, we use it for duck hunting and frog gigging on Orange Lake just south of here. It is one major powerful ride compared to the 4cylinder Lycomings.....but be sure to wear ear plugs!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[SkyPup]

LOL, it's such a small world.....in this case <font color="orange">an ORANGE world...... </font> /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[RedRocker]

Boy, CRS is a terrible thing, I couldn't remember where I posted the question about your Gyro, had to surf through all my posts to find it, LOL. That is really a cool machine, I flew a long time ago, small stuff like J3's and 150's. I'll check out the site, thanks for the info.

 

[HGM]

I had a smaller 12' grass boat with a 400ci Chevy on it. The boat ran pretty good considering /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I clocked it on my GPS at 60MPH, pretty darn fast on grass(6" of water), and I backed out before the boat was done pulling.

To be honest if I had to do it again, I would go with a Lycoming though. Much lighter and better power band. The automotive boats take alot more finess to drive, its easy to sink one just from the torque. Lots of fun... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[CT_Tree_Guy]

<font color="blue"> CRS is a terrible thing </font>

Sure is. I tried Gingko Biloba, but that didn't work out. I forgot where I put it, and then when I found it, I couldn't remember why I bought it. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Sincerely, .... Ummm ..... oh yeah ... John /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[DocHeb]

What type of certification/license do you need to fly that machine?