chapter 12
The Aircraft Mechanic
12/17/2010
gyrocopter madness
link to Gyrocopter folder (45 pics)
Back in my airplane mechanic days, I worked ground crew once for the 1979 Fourth of July AirShow at the Cortland County Airport, Chase Field (above). I never like to brag, but I was actually responsible for assembling the pilot's propeller. Let's face it, they can't fly without it. I must admit, however, that in the excitement I might not have tightened down the lock nut all the way.
other fluff:
Dad built it from a set of Bensen Aircraft plans. [Don't forget, his Allied bomb runs on Villacoublay had destroyed the world's first gyroplane helicopter.] He obtained various sections of Aluminum including a lawn chair, boat seat cushion and put it together. Popular Science called it dangerous but do-able in 1970. I found an 1968 picture of our prototype and a 1970 fully assembled version. Dad pictured in 1971 with the tail section. He flew it a little without the motor but crashed and was gun-shy. With the top rotor revolving, it gave lift like a kite. Bill flew it with the McCulloch pusher engine installed. The FAA begrudgingly would allow anyone to fly freely if you stayed under 1000 feet, but Bill had a pilots license anyway. He had it up at Hancock Field in Syracuse and would fly it on short trips up to 20 miles. Flew it over Oneida Lake during winter, forced landed several times with mechanicals, and took it up several thousand feet (ceiling was around 10,000 ft). It was slow at maybe 60 mph max air speed. FAA did require a few instruments altimiter, air speed, oil-temp,and fuel. Bill sold it (around 1995).
Included more pics from Kathy and my ride from Albany to Syracuse in Bill's rental N5244F Cessna 172 . That US Air Force plane was in an accident 12 years later upon landing at Myrtle Beach AF base. Plane subsequently destroyed in '91 .