- Gyrocopters
- I think Gyros are one one of the greatest low speed hot
rod yankem-bankem little aircraft there is. If anyone has
ever even just sat in the seat of a Gyrocopter, that
would be enough to make them desire one of their own. An
expression I've read or heard somewhere, I think it was
from a Bensen promotional video, "Its like riding a
motorcycle, without the bumps."
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- Helicopters
- I love helicopters too. I've spend 20 years in the Army
as Cobra Gunship mechanic / crewchief / instructor. I've
also worked with the Army's OH58 Jet Ranger, UH1H Bell
Heuhey and the Boeing CH47 Chinook.
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- Ultralight Aircraft (fixed wing)
- I have not owned one yet, but I will in the near future.
They are real neat too, like the Gyrocopters. The Gyro's
are just a bit easier to transport and store in the
garage. I have several sets of plans for ULs and even
have my
own design drawn up on CAD that utilises square tube
aluminum like my Gyro. Except for the wing of course. The
design is convertible for tail dragger or trike gear and
is a pusher prop and shoulder/high wing configuration..
- Radio Control Helicopters
- Well, it just follows, I love rotorcraft. Ever since the
first Radio Control helicopter kit was available in 1972,
I have been an avid RC helicopter flier. I started out
with a Schlueter-Hegi Cobra and learned to hover with
that model. I sold it soon after I built and flew it, for
a price I couldn't refuse. Then flew Schleuter Heliboys/Helistars/Superiors,
Graupner 212's, Hiem 222s and Hiem Jet Rangers. Shucks
just too many to list. The latest that I fly is the Xcell
60 Custom. I've had it for about 10 years and rebuilt and
upgraded it many times. In my opinion, it is still the
standard against which others are judged.
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- Radio Control Planes
- Planes are fun too. But not as much as the helicopters. I
fly them mostly so that I can fit in with crowd at the RC
flying field. For some unknown reason, RC planes and
helicopters just don't seem to mix well out at the field.
It's not an isolated problem either, ask any heli flyer.
(no I'm not whining). Later, when I get back into planes,
I want to master the 3D hoverbatics. Like hovering the
plane on the prop as easily as I hover my heli.
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- Aerial Video/Photography
- Mounting a small video cam and transmitter on an RC
aircraft so as to be able to downlink real time video
images. I have done this on both RC heli's and planes.
Its a real kick to record the images and play them back
later on for friends and family.