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Thinking About It!!

Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 6:33 pm
by skidmark
I have being toying with this fantasy about learning to fly Gyro. Can I pay for lessons ....maybe..can I afford to buy a Gyro....NO. I currently fly a Challenger 2 long wing 503 Rotax. Give me some input here ..maybe I shot a clot !!! vhpy :shock: :lol: Which one to fly is the question :?: :?: :!: :!:

Re: Thinking About It!!

Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 7:13 pm
by Stephan van Tonder
OK so you spend a small fortune to get a rating. Basically nobody hire & fly those planes so you will get very little flying time in one if you can't buy one. What is the use of having the rating? How much fuel could you have put in your trike for the value of the rating?.

Re: Thinking About It!!

Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 8:26 pm
by grostek
Hi Skidmark,

You can always build your own Gyro, plans and kits are available from the USA

Even building a Gyro from scratch, something like a Bensen or Bensen Clone wont take more than 300 hours.

Just a thought

Kind regards,

Gunter Rostek

Re: Thinking About It!!

Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:03 pm
by Gyronaut
Skid my friend
I have promised you a demo flight in the past yet we haven't got around to it.
I am hopping across to FAFK tomorrow sometime to fetch an important document (my instructor licence) and you are more than welcome to come along for your first 'unofficial' free lesson.
I think you will sell the pets and the kids if the bug bites. (I traded in the ex hehe)
Give me a call on oh eight two 450 6072 if you can make it. Any time is good for me.
Rgds
Len

Re: Thinking About It!!

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:43 am
by Dish
Just Fly the challenger Skid me ole mate !!!!! juuust fly the challenger !!

Re: Thinking About It!!

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:03 am
by skidmark
Like I said thinking about. Lets see how the year pans out. Yes Len got your number only saw it now you probably there and back already. Will call soon. Thanks.

Re: Thinking About It!!

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:11 am
by Gyronaut
No Mike, sea mist is clampers here so waiting for it to lift...

Re: Thinking About It!!

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:01 am
by Tailspin
Dish wrote:Just Fly the challenger Skid me ole mate !!!!! juuust fly the challenger !!
Dish

How is it going with your flying ??

Re: Thinking About It!!

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:16 am
by Dish
Flyings going brilliantly - cross countries and exam to go and the DONE - set back again as udher is in germany until the 18th but we should finish mid Feb if weather and time plays along.... cant wait - been solo in GF, loved that, finished circuits etc, loved that, just loving my bantam and flying in general !!! not long now Gav.... vhpy vhpy vhpy

Re: Thinking About It!!

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 11:21 am
by Low Level
skidmark wrote:maybe..can I afford to buy a Gyro....NO
My 2c.

If it wasn't for the Sycamore I wouldn't have been flying gyro - in fact I wouldn't have been flying at all, cause I was introduced to flying by a friend flying Sycamore. Yes, it has its problems from the factory's side, and the gyro fraternity likes to badmouth the product, because of it's overweight problem, and yes it is slower than a Magni, Ela or MT. It's like guys driving Germans' best, and badmouthing the Japs' efforts. I most propably will also fly an import, if I can afford it.

Fact is, I have done over 100 hrs on the highveld,including the Decembers and Januaries - read hot, high, humid :shock: - I weigh 100kg, and have taken pax of similar weight without problems, and cruise easily 75 to 85 mph, with similar fuel consumption as the imports.

It handles the same as the other gyros and I have exactly the same fun as the other gyro owners for a third of the price. Sycamores are standing around for very good prices. A month ago Jacester had to sold his, because of personal reasons, for R 170 000, with 200 hrs on the hobbs. :| Now tell me you can't afford a gyro.

Go fly with Len and decide - promise you won't regret it. :wink:

Personally I believe Sycamore still has a future. Currently there is guys in Pietersburg doing good things with their Sycamores. Soon I will give more details.

Re: Thinking About It!!

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 11:31 am
by Dish
Ldel - no ones knocking the sycamore mate... its a great Gyro.... vhpy vhpy - and Gyros are really great - the discussion is related to whethere Skid should Get off his @ss and actually fly his challenger or go through the whole excercise of re qualifying and purchasing a new toy?? . Skid, how much flying did you do last year... why is a gyro becoming more attractive and i mean from a perspective that being in the cape you can fly in higher winds??? what else makes you think about this stoorie (afrik) ??? - My 2c

Ldel - best you come visit us at aeroden again sometime soon....

cheers

Re: Thinking About It!!

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:19 pm
by Low Level
Dish wrote:Ldel - no ones knocking the sycamore mate... its a great Gyro....
Sorry if it is misunderstood, :oops: not bashing anyone, but you can ask all Sycamore owners, when it is mentioned that one is looking at buying a Sycamore, others eyes usually widens and comments like "That thing can't fly - too heavy " is uttered. It is such stories going around hangars and airfields by the uninformed that put guys off buying a capable gyro at give away prices. :?
Dish wrote:Ldel - best you come visit us at aeroden again sometime soon....
Went past your pozzie -AP - yesterday for a great brekkie at Kokoriba. Was actually thinking of you, and wondering hows the flying going. When we landed, MaK commented about how great it is crossing to the west. Speak to Basie, if he is not reading this - Aeroden's brekkie is well overdue, vhpy or are we waiting for mid Feb to celebrate something. :wink:

Re: Thinking About It!!

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:44 pm
by Dish
Yeah - i hear you, Sycamore's have taken a bit of stick around some fields BUT i stand by the fact i think its one of the nicer Gyro's flying. We might just have to wait for mid feb as instructors away, unless i can coax dave from rhino to do my flight test this weekend?? ha ha - vhpy vhpy

let me know when your going to come through anyway, im out there a lot, kuiering with Basie, Linda and Jack.. - probably go through this weekend just to run the motor, clean the plane and make sure alles is in order... drop me a line if you feel like coming over. Me thinks its time i started arranging a breakie at Aeroden in the next few weeks....

Re: Thinking About It!!

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 2:27 pm
by Tracer
Dish wrote: Me thinks its time i started arranging a breakie at Aeroden in the next few weeks....
(^^) (^^) (^^) (^^)

Re: Thinking About It!!

Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:49 pm
by skidmark
Dish ..my pal, I did a fair few hours this past year...I must say less then 07. 2008 was an "VERY" testing year all round . I had many issues business and health wise. Health is sorted ...business is another issue. I must admit I am "Skid" at the moment, but I do still still fly even though it may be cabbage patching...what goes up must still come down weather you fly far or near. Long distance gives us big "GOONS" Nothing like circuits and landings at Morninstar. Every circuit here is a new is a complete new adventure. My deal here here is to see how the Gyro deals with all the kak. Secondly... I love my Challie...Thirdly somebody spiked my dop! (^^) (^^) (^^)