Microlighters

I flew to Wondai yesterday for the gyro clubs monthly get together.

Attached is a short video of a gyro glider I flew in.

This is the first glider I saw in real life and what an awesome experience to fly it.

Enjoy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GqHCIz ... ata_player

And the high resolution version
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=em-u ... load_owner

Look like a lot of fun

Hello t-bird. Looks like you guys are enjoying yourselves. Yes we also used a gyro glider on the pans in the 90's to train prospective pilots and it really was a lot of fun.
Regards
Eric

Hi Eric

Do you have any photos of the South African glider ?
There are only 2 gliders in Australia, the one in the video fly on a regular basis.

Regards

Callie

Hello Callie. I do have some somewhere, but will have to track them down. There are also photos of it "kiting" in the wind with one up and the instructor on the ground.
Regards
Eric

What is 'kiting' Eric? Getting airborne while anchored to the ground in strong wind?
Would it be safe to climb as high as possible while being towed and then cutting loose? Should be fine if you kept the airspeed up? Is it? What kind of distance would you get? Have you done it?

Please tell us more and show us what you can. I know nothing about it and am really interested.
The history is also of importance to the sport in SA. Lets not lose it.

Kiting is where the wind is strong enough to lift the whole gyro up while it is anchored to the ground. As far as actually flying the gyro untethered or as a glider it can be done provided that the C of G is correct. It will not have any distance as it will behave very much like a standard gyro under power with a power cut - similar to a block of flats. It is however damn nice to fly. I do have a full set of plans for this animal.