CAA Certification on the UFO Gyro

[Jabbanaught]

Hope to see the UFO at the next gathering !

[THI]

Well done Pierre en Johan!!

This is a great achievement!

I agree with Jabbanaught, hope to see you and the UFO at the next gathering!!

Enjoy!

[MPL Pilot]

We had a busy week at Wagtail. After more test flights, Johan was satisfied with UFO's performance, exhaust etc. With daily temperature
rising so did the water temp. Replaced a water radiator with a larger one, now the water temp is 88 deg at full power.
EGT in cruise 940°C. Oil temp stay around 80°C.

It is really an experience flying in the UFO, after two years of dreaming and hoping this day
would be a reality. Now it is time for celebration

I have done a couple of circuits with Johan in the co-pilots seat, then Jan Ludolf took the co-pilots seat which would help
me when we start the conversion.

When it comes to fuel consumption, it has been difficult getting exact readings, because of the
diverse tests, static runs, rate of climb, etc. Initially I calculated 35l/h, but during the test flights
with Johan fuel consumption dropped to ±22l/h
I am still confused with the results, but time will tell.

Performance, that is a discussion on its own... The horses delivered by the Subaru 2l turbo
is an experience. During climb at full power the under carriage moves to the right, it is hard to describe the
feeling and it is not possible to correct during full power. Once at 75% power, behavior in normal.

Soon the UFO will be at flyins, proving hours need to be completed and then the conversion.

[Engelsman]

WELL DONE OU PIERRIE......FLY SAFE AND TRUST YOUR INSTINKS.......GROETE GARETH

[MPL Pilot]

WELL DONE OU PIERRIE......

Hey ou soutie, my naam is Pierre en jy kan dit uitspreek soos in "appel"
Pierrie laat my dink aan peri peri, en dis warm
It is good to have you back, and looking forward to see you in a gyro again

UFO is building hours, and if all go well we will have the ATF soon
The work Johan and his team did is bearing fruit, everything is going very well.

With the UFO almost done, I am looking forward to get into the next project. But that will happen
when I am not in the air with the UFO. "Shallow pig" has so many fly aways planned, another project
seems far away.....

[Gyronaut]

Hey ou Pierrie

Ek dink jy moet joe UFO herdoop na 'n UFO-MORE.
Die stertvere waarmee daar gepronk word is mos van 'n Sycamore!

Geniet elke oomblik en ek hoop jy vlieg LEKKERRRR. Ek sien baie uit daarna om die masjien by die volgende geleentheid te sien. Jy kan trots wees op wat jy vermag het.

[MPL Pilot]

Ek dink jy moet joe UFO herdoop na 'n UFO-MORE.

Ja, die herdoop storie het al snaakse goed opgelewer.
Die laaste was SYCA-FO

Proving Hours is just about completed, We want to make n small mod to the front
wheel before the paperwork gets done.

Small things that changed lately.

We moved the trim button close to the throttle, it used to be overhead.
Omni fuel was installed, calibration in the final stages.

I would like to thank everybody for the support and valueable insights we have recieved
since we started with this project, has been tough at times and thought it was all in vain
at other times, but we had break thru moments as well, which kept us motivated.

It was worth the wait for this result.

Fly safe

Pierre

[MPL Pilot]

Hi all

We checked the boost on the turbo yesterday, since the UFO didn't have a rate of climb as it should. For some
obscure reason the boost dropped to 1.1 under full throttle

Back on the test bench, Johan turned the boost up to be 1.4 at full power. To see the result I joined as co-pilot
As we gained speed on the runway, checking the airspeed and boost as Johan was opening the throttle slowly, all of a sudden
at 60 mph with just the right engine rpm, the boost went up to 1.65 the engine revs up to who knows what

It was the first time I felt how a almost 700kg gyro get airborne like a trike with a 582 Rotax
All the time the gyro was stable, nothing funny except the rate of climb.

The end result was, 4700rpm with 1.2 boost during the static run translates to 5500rpm and 1.4 boost
at full power.

Then we changed the three blade prop to a two blade (also IVO), same power setting as above. With that configuration the UFO would make a
very nice hovercraft. Just does not want to gain height.

Changed everything back to the first configuration again, went for the test flight.

The next stage is the Wagtail rotor head and pre-rotator system to be fitted, should be done before
the end of November.


Fly safe

[MPL Pilot]

The UFO recieved ATF today, thanks to Johan von Ludwigh and Braam Hechter

There is a lot to be said, but I am very grateful.

Next would be conversion, and then to fly the UFO home

Lekker vlieg manne

[Gyronaut]

WOOHOOO CONGRATULATIONS!!

Your perseverance is commendable. I hope you have many many happy flying hours in her to reward you for your persitance!

Well done Pierre and the team.

Look forward to seeing the UFO at the next North Meets South Fly-in!

[gyrofan]

Wow, congrats to you and the Wagtail team. I have been following this project from the days Garry first brought it into the country. Must say, I think we have a special type of skilled and dedicated Engineer and Aviator in Johan, I mean, he had to re-do just about everything apart from the wind screen on that machine. Pierre, there was many a day that I thought " I am glad I am not in your shoes....." how long did it take, two years??? Again, well done man.
Must say, I think I we will see soem really interesting gyro's at the next big get-together
UFO with Subaru
Groot Kriek with Subaru
Sycamore with Subaru
Klein Kriek with ROTAX
Vlooi with Subaru

and if we ask Jan he will probably twist Johan's arm to bring the CESSNA with Subaru in as well.

[MPL Pilot]

Groot Kriek with SubaruSycamore with SubaruKlein Kriek with ROTAXVlooi with Subaruand if we ask Jan he will probably twist Johan's arm to bring the CESSNA with Subaru in as well.

The Wagtail team will have to train some pilots to fly all the insects

[gyrofan]

Ja, it is now time they allow those insects to breed like insects as well....

Just keep the Bug spray out of the Free State,

Sprinkaan,
Kriek
Vlooi

i wonder what the next one will be called.....Ladybird.... then it will at least be pretty...

[Wagtail]

Manne, AT LAST
Pierre did his first solo in the UFO this afternoon, beautifull !!!

Congrats man, you really hanged in there for a few years now.

[FLYNOTE]

Lekker Modling!! Ill fly over tomorrow to have a look see . Well done guys !!