Aircraft: Pre-Built, Kits & Plans - Popular Rotorcraft Association

June 2015 • Rotorcraft 1

2 Rotorcraft • June 2015

PRA PresidentDoug Barker

Rotorcraft EditorLisa Kluttz

Contributing Writers& Photographers

Tom PattersonDr. Bruce H. Charnov

Doug Barker

Technical EditorDoug Riley

Historical EditorDr. Bruce Charnov

Regulatory CommitteeChris Burgess, CFI

Gary Goldsberry, CFITim O’Connor, CFI

Paul Plack

Chapter CoordinatorChris Toevs

PAC Offi cersDean Dolph, Acting Chairman

PRA Offi ce ManagerJane Feldman

PRA HeadquartersPO Box 68

Mentone, IN 46535

Phone: (574) 353-7227Fax: (574) 353-7021

www.pra.orgE-Mail: praoffi [email protected]

In This Issue:

On The Cover:Flying Over Mentone.

Photo by Tim O’Connor.

Rotorcraft makes every attempt to provide accurate information. Views, opinions and statements expressed are not necessarily those of this publication. Rotorcraft reserves the right to edit material that is submitted and the right not to publish material that is deemed detrimental.

Rotorcraft welcomes your submissions pertaining to fl y-ins, builds, upcoming events, and any other items regarding the world of rotorcraft.

Deadline for submissions is the fi rst of the month. All articles, photographs and information should be emailed to [email protected].

Article Submissions

Advertising rates are available by emailing [email protected]. Deadline for submissions is the fi rst of the month.

Classifi ed ads are free to PRA members. You may submit your ad by sending it to praoffi [email protected].

Advertising

PRA members, our greatest asset, make up the most important community in the world of homebuilt rotorcraft! You may join PRA or renew your membership by visiting the PRA website at www.pra.org.

PRA Membership

3 New PRA Chapter 46 Open House5 PRA Pre-Registration

Form6 A History of the PRA -

1977-7913 A Note From The President: Magazine Option Now

Available for Members13 Board Member Nominations15 Classifi eds


Our hangar offers good

afternoon shade which

makes it very comfortable

[for] “hangar flying”

By Tom Patt erson

The very fi rst Minnesota Gyronauts, PRA Chapter 46, Meeting and Open House took place Saturday, May 2, 2015. Three members rent a hangar at the Mankato Regional Airport (KMKT). We recently moved into an “end” hangar which is larger because of the T hangar confi guration and how it works out on the end hangars. The hangar has a much bett er view of the runways and wind sock as well. We are very excited to get this hangar.

The day was perfect. The sun was shining brightly all day, but it never got too warm, and there was a slight breeze to keep everyone cool. Our hangar off ers good afternoon shade which makes it very comfortable to do some “hangar fl ying” and we did a lot (a whole lot) of hangar fl ying on Saturday. Jon Louis, one of the hangar mates, took his Air Command single seat for a demo fl ight, and we got some good video off of that. The condensed video of his fl ight is posted on the Minnesota Gyronauts Facebook page. If you’re not on Facebook yet, there’s a lot of good information and videos on our page.

We were prepared for about 40 people with brats, hot dogs, and hamburgers plus Jon brought two racks of smoked ribs and a whole smoked chicken as a bonus. We ended up using almost all of the brats and hot dogs. The hamburgers were gone early, and one large rack of ribs disappeared easily though I have to admit much of the rib slab disappearance was because of ME! Jon does an amazing job of smoking ribs with the combination of dry rub and sauce. Mmmm...

Our Chapter 46 has connected with the Minnesota Lite Fliers Ultralight Club and

formed an alliance, working together to share information regarding events, aircraft maintenance, and various other information. So far, this has been a very good affi liation, and several of their members att ended our Open House. There were also several others who just heard about it through word of mouth and came over to see what was going on. I think we may have “hooked” a couple of people. There may soon be a couple more gyro builders and fl iers.

It would have been more perfect if more of the Chapter 46 members could have made the long trip over to see us, but we did have people come a long way. Larry Miller, a Powered Parachute CFI, RAF owner and member of Chapter 46, came all the way from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Larry was a joy to talk to. What a nice guy. Others came from Wisconsin and Iowa and some from a long distance within Minnesota. We ended up, later in the day, sitt ing in a roundtable confi guration (in lawn chairs), discussing training, fl ying, building, design, and sometimes wives. The best wife comment was: “Two gentlemen were talking and one said to the other, ‘Why do you have two Gyroplanes?’ The other guy’s wife heard the question and piped up with, “BECAUSE HIS WIFE WON’T LET HIM HAVE THREE!”

New PRA Chapter 46 Open House


There are at least 10 flying gyroplanes within the club membership...

We also decided to invite North Star Aviation employees to our Open House. North Star Aviation runs the Mankato State College fl ight training. There are about 20 fl ight instructors who see us both in the air and on the runways. We wanted to talk to several of them and get their perspective of our operations. Several of the instructors came late in the day, and we were able to spend some time with them to see if there

was anything we could do diff erently in their mind. They were all prett y laid back and enjoyed watching us take off and fl y with our rotors fl ashing in the sun. They sometimes have several (up to fi ve) airplanes fl ying the patt ern doing touch and goes. For us who have to spin up a rotor and take off rather slow, we felt that we maybe were “in the way”. What we heard was “Pff f, students have to learn to go around because of traffi c anyway, don’t worry about it.” It was a great to have those guys to visit with us, They’re mostly all recent graduates of the college who are instructing to build hours for that big commercial job. Nice young men overall, and we had informative

discussions. It was a great public relations tool to get to know the people who share the airport.

We are also gett ing fantastic support from the airport management. The airport is a secured area with a gate to get back to the hangars. The airport manager allowed us, and showed us how to, leave the gate open during our Open House. We were allowed to park the cars on the grass, and he even brought us a city-owned hot dog roller/cooker in case we needed it. He also allowed us to have a grill outside the hangar door. It pays to make friends with everyone. Several other aircraft owners, CAP pilots and just airport enthusiasts stop in to see us at our hangar when the door is open. Now that the weather is warmer, there will be a lot of action at our hangar.

There are at least 10 fl ying gyroplanes within the club membership and fi ve more gyros being built by the Minnesota Gyronauts membership right now, with more still in the decision stage. The build season is longer than the fl ying season here in Minnesota, but the fl ying season is here. Butt on up the fi nal “to do” list and let’s go fl ying.

So, our fi rst Meeting/Open House is history. I was exhausted after that day in kind of a wonderful way. Successful in every way, lots of people, good food, great conversation, and a good fl ying demonstration by Jon and his Air Command. Planning on mid-summer for the next one. I can’t wait.


Gyroplane CFIs

TRAVELLING INSTRUCTORSChris Lord (815) 402-3076

Dubuque, IA (KDBQ)[email protected]

www.pictaioaerospace.comwww.midwestgyroplane.com

Training at KDBQ, KENW & your location(Xenon and Autogyro Calidus)

CFI and Designated Pilot Examiner

Craig McPherson (817) 517-3283468 FM 3049 • Blum, TX 76627

[email protected] www.blueskiesppc.com

Will travel to train. (MTO Sport)

David M. Klein (973)-879-5740

Antioch, IL [email protected]

www.midwesternhelicopter.comTrains out of Kenosha, WI but will travel

(Calidus)

Dofi n Fritts (850) 587-2504Brewton Muncipal Airport AL 12J

Pensacola, FLgyrocfi @aol.com

We assist in transitioning into pilot’s own machines; In-house add-on to Rotorcraft Gyroplane Sport Pilot/Sport Pilot Instructor; Add-on to Rotorcraft Gyroplane Commercial/InstructorI will travel to almost any location to train as well.We can take people to all gyro levels and train at night in Class C, D and B airspace. We use a grass strip just 8 miles away for rough fi eld training.

(RAF 2000 or customer’s gyroplane)

ALABAMADofi n Fritts (850) 587-2504

Brewton Muncipal Airport AL 12JPensacola, FL

gyrocfi @aol.comWe assist in transitioning into pilot’s own machines; In-house add-on to Rotorcraft Gyroplane Sport Pilot/Sport Pilot Instructor; Add-on to Rotorcraft Gyroplane Commercial/InstructorI will travel to almost any location to train as well.We can take people to all gyro levels and train at night in Class C, D and B airspace. We use a grass strip just 8 miles away for rough fi eld training.


ARKANSASRon Menzie (501) 766-6456

2715 S. Main St. • Searcy, AR [email protected]

CFI and Designated Pilot Examiner(RAF w/Sparrowhawk mod,

Autogyro MTO Sport)

ARIZONATerry Brandt (602) 739-0554

11423 W Citrus GroveAvondale, AZ 85392

[email protected](Customer’s Aircraft)

Britta Penca (520) 840-0951

Blue Sky Gyros, LLCPO Box 222 • Oracle, AZ 85623

[email protected](Air Command)

CALIFORNIAGeorge M. Woods (530) 414-1679

Anchorage, AK 99515(Flies out of Woodland, CA)

[email protected](Magni M16)

FLORIDADofi n Fritts (850) 587-2504

Brewton Muncipal Airport AL 12JPensacola, FL

gyrocfi @aol.comWe assist in transitioning into pilot’s own machines; In-house add-on to Rotorcraft Gyroplane Sport Pilot/Sport Pilot Instructor; Add-on to Rotorcraft Gyroplane Commercial/InstructorI will travel to almost any location to train as well.We can take people to all gyro levels and train at night in Class C, D and B airspace. We use a grass strip just 8 miles away for rough fi eld training.


Roy T. Hanan (407) 754-4679188 Edgewater River Rd.

Edgewater, FL [email protected](Autogyro MTO Sport)

.Aston Kinsey (954) 456-70721850 South Ocean Dr #405

Hallandale, Fl [email protected]

(MTO Sport)SP initial, Biennial Review, Recurrent,

Gyro Add-on, Gyro SP CFI Add-on

GEORGIASteve McGowan (478) 461-1451

2725 Herbert Small Airport RdMacon, GA 31217

[email protected](SparrowHawk, Parsons)

IDAHOCammie Patch (208) 869 7450 3653 Rickenbacker St. #202

Boise, Idaho [email protected]

www.GlassCockpitAviation.comTraining in Calidus with turbo Rotax

CFI, CFII, MEI, ATP, A&P, Rotax Heavy Tech

ILLINOISDon Randle (217) 414-0108

513 S. 6th Street • Petersburg, IL [email protected]

Chris Lord (815) 402-3076Dubuque, IA (KDBQ)[email protected]




David M. Klein (973)-879-5740 Antioch, IL 60002

[email protected]

Train out of Kenosha, WI but will travel(Calidus)

INDIANA

Brent Drake (317) 364-02891231 Hickory Dr.

Shelbyville, IN [email protected]

(Twinstarr)

Gary Goldsberry (317) 996-24871181 W SR 42 • Mooresville, IN 46158

[email protected](Twinstarr)

Silas Smith (219) 374-4604

11709 W 117th St • Cedar Lake, IN [email protected]

(Marchetti)

IOWAChris Lord (815) 402-3076





MARYLANDChris Burgess (301) 639-9895 (Please leave a message, speaking slowly, give

your number twice)527 Sylvan Ct • Frederick, MD 21703-6112

gyrocfi [email protected] (Snobird)

Robert Snyder (410) 215-4223

114 Indian Trace • Stevensville, MD 21666cfi [email protected]

[email protected](MTO Sport, Calidus, Cavalon)

Commercial, CFI, DPE gyroplane

Frederick “Rick” Niles (240) 601-85149314 Hilltop Ct • Laurel, MD 20708-3218

[email protected] (RAF 2000)

MICHIGANDuane Hunn (219) 682-6228

8140 Laberdee Rd. • Britton, MI 48229 [email protected]

(Customer’s Aircraft)

Galen Geigley (574) 286-967026290 M-86

Sturgis, MI 49091 [email protected]: KIRS and 9D9

(Calidus)

Bob Keller (616) 291-0993Caledonia, MI 49316

[email protected](Calidus)

NEW YORKJim Logan (516) 746-3427

163 Primrose Rd.Williston Park, NY 11596

[email protected](RAF)

OHIO

Ed Newbold (614) 207-39095657 Balkin Pl

Columbus, OH [email protected]

(Modifi ed RAF)

Tim O’Connor (513) 477-44884230 Barton Drive • Batavia, OH 45103

[email protected]

OKLAHOMAPaul Patterson (405) 826-8443

1405 Cedar Ridge Rd • Edmond, OK [email protected]

(RAF)

OREGONJim Vanek (503) 543-7000

34012 Skyway Dr. • Scappoose, [email protected]

www.sportcopter.com(Sportcopter)

Pat Warren (503) 543-7000 34012 Skyway Dr. • Scappoose, OR

[email protected](Sportcopter)

Designated Pilot Examiner

PENNSYLVANIAJames Nadig (724) 458-4665

PO Box 724 • Grove City, PA [email protected]

(RAF)

SOUTH CAROLINAGary Neal (864) 583-4319

320 Bryant Rd • Spartanburg, SC [email protected]

(RAF)

TENNESSEELarry Banks (931) 260-3032

Crossville, [email protected]

(Sparrowhawk and modifi ed RAF)

TEXASHenry Foster (214) 692-0727

7777 Royal LaneDallas, TX 75230-3711

[email protected] in Olney, TX

(Golden Butterfl y with Metro Launch, modifi ed RAF2000, and Sparrowhawk)

Craig McPherson (817) 517-3283

468 FM 3049Blum, TX 76627

[email protected] www.blueskiesppc.com

Will travel to train. (MTO Sport)

John Webb (903) 815-6474

Gainesville, [email protected]

(MTO Sport, Calidus, M-19, M-36, RAF, Dominator)

UTAHMichael Burton Gyro CFI

(801)794-3434 (801) 769-6404 2050 N 300 W • Spanish Fork, UT 84062

[email protected]

2050 N 300 W Spanish Fork, UTAH 84062

(GBA SparrowHawk, Auto-Gyro Calidus)

WISCONSINChris Lord (815) 402-3076





David M. Klein (973)-879-5740Antioch, IL 60002

[email protected]

Trains out of Kenosha, WI but will travel(Calidus)

OUTSIDE THE USA Guido Scheidt

UL TI 063 and UL TI 058Costa Rica Tel. +506 88278858

US Tel. +1-347-394-6490My interest is to teach US citizens during vacations in Costa Rica but I am willing as well to teach everywhere in the US.

[email protected]

www.autogyrousa.com(AutoGyro MTO Sport)

The following instructors are PRA members. This list is provided as a convenience for readers, and does not constitute an endorsement of any instructor, aircraft, syllabus or training enterprise by PRA. (Aircraft listed in parentheses are available for instruction.)


The following is excepted from the History of the PRA Chronology, compiled by Dr. Bruce H. Charnov. Dr. Charnov presented the complete PRA History to the PRA at the 50th Annual International Popular Rotorcraft Association Convention in 2013.

By Dr. Bruce H. Charnov

1977The year began with a woman pilot,

Donna Allan, admonishing the membership in a familiar manner: “I would like to stress the following: read and understand your Bensen Manual – it’s your Bible. . .” And the ‘gist’ of Chuck Beaty’s editorial contribution (he would author 68 articles over 37 years, 1971 – 2008), namely that the members are still complaining that the PRA is a ‘Bensen’ organization, had also become a leitmotif:

“One of the gripes I heard at Rockford last summer was that the PRA is controlled by Bensen dealers. While it is true that board members Ken Brock, Ron Menzie, Russ Jansen, Ed Trent and George Charlet are affi liated with Bensen Aircraft, the other six of us that I can think of are not. . . . The biggest single problem that PRA has at the present is that it’s controlled by no one and is drifting under a caretaker arrangement.

The most important function of the PRA is spreading the WORD through its offi cial organ, Popular Rotorcraft Flying. We need articles from the members about rotorcraft, not about what fl avor cookies were served at the last club meeting. I think it’s a terrible waste to have to print the PRA By-Laws in full sized type simply because there’s nothing else to fi ll up 32 pages.”

He ended his appeal for articles with: “Let’s all get our act together, submit articles and keep the dumb By-Laws out of the magazine.”

Perhaps even at the time, but certainly in retrospect, Beaty’s comments seem naïve – the By-Laws had changed, and informing

the membership was a necessary action to instill confi dence in those who were then changing the By-Laws and running the PRA. Helen Darvassy would ask the Life Members in October to make a greater contribution to the PRA. It was obvious that the By-Laws had been changed in response to organizational needs and member wants, and the action was timely, given that membership had fallen to 1,300.

Long-time member Jim Eich highlighted his JE-2 2-seat tractor gyro-plane in the April 1977 issue, while Igor Bensen’s ‘jump takeoff Gyrocopter’ appeared at Bensen Days in Florida, where Eich wrote:

“Dr. Bensen brought his jump takeoff gyrocopter to demonstrate, but after the fi rst series of takeoff s, a clutch failed, so many people didn’t get to see it in action” ...“Shirley Meyers came in from Missouri and showed the guys how the ladies fl y.”And, in August, it was a ‘blast from the

past’ as Ernest Snavely described meeting Arliss Riggs at the 1968 Hemet, CA PRA International Fly-In, and in the process, sketched an indelible portrait of a ‘PRA character’, which may have motivated Jim Eich articles on Riggs in the December 1977 and April 1978 issues.

Snavely wrote:“During the morning, this elderly

couple pulled in with a tractor-type gyro, obviously homemade, as each part incorporated some distinctive features of its builder, and it made sense to me. I just couldn’t believe this old man was the one to fl y it. Naturally, this national meet required that everyone fl ying had to have his papers in order, which Mr. Riggs didn’t. So he stayed on the ground and watched the rest fl y. A day or so later, someone arrived who could sign him off for fl ying. How many hours of unauthorized fl ight he had made will never be known, but he was an experienced pilot and, wire and all, was there to fl y again. The ceremony of starting the craft was not

The History of the PRA - 1977-1979

“I would like to stress the following: read and understand your Bensen Manual -- it’s your Bible...”


exactly a classroom walk-around. As I recall, he placed his wife aside the cockpit to reduce the thrott le if necessary. There was a constant conversation during the propping, none of which contained the words ‘contact’ or ‘switch off .’ All of a sudden the engine was running in a whirl of blue smoke, and none too slowly, either. After arresting the forward motion of the craft, the conversation continued in a much livelier manner about which way the thrott le should be moved to slow the engine down. Some minutes later he decided to climb in and consumed additional time revving up the engine and deciding if the long tow to the fi eld had undone anything. I believe he had made his own blades.

Finally, he taxied out and made several full-length runs of the runway. The Continental [engine] was running well, the spin-up mechanism checked out, and he never made more than a shallow bank and tooled along straight and level. After disappearing for more than a half-hour, he landed unnoticed and taxied back to the tie-down.”

And towards the end of the year, PRA Treasurer Bob Lindsay asked the members to try and reduce fl y-in expenses, pointing out that the 1977 International event had cost $10,245.48. The year had also seen a real international fl avor with articles on gyros in Austria, Africa and Germany.

1978The year began with an article by

Ken Brock describing enthusiastic PRA members touring Japan the previous October, during which much was made of Jiro Shimizu’s aircraft, an account tempered by the announcement, “We have been notifi ed of Mr. Shimizu’s fatal accident on Jan. 3, 1978 while test fl ying a friend’s machine.”

In April, the outspoken Helen Darvassy took head-on member discontent in her own, inimitable style:

“I certainly do not condemn disenchanted members because, if they have a real gripe and tell it to the right people, this is the

way an organization grows for the benefi t of the members. However, I certainly do sign over the segment that creates turmoil while never revealing why they are dissatisfi ed... I presume one gripe is holding the annual fl y-in in the same place every year.

Then we have the group that brushes the whole question aside, but avers their reason for not att ending the Rockford Fly-in is that it is a Bensen-run outfi t anyhow, and they don’t have anything to say about it. May as well forget about it and start our own club.

That type of thinking is the worst we have to deal with. Dr. Bensen is a Life Member, President Emeritus, and serves on the PRA Board in an advisory capacity. He makes his appearance at our fl y-ins and is welcomed and honored; he gets his two cents worth in at Board meetings for guidance reasons. The Board members chew at his suggestions (he is not a voting member) and then go the way they think best. The Board has six Bensen dealers on it and fi ve non-Bensen people. Being critical of this situation myself, I watch, listen and vote carefully -- as we want PRA to be the members’ organization and not any one dealer’s. I have to say that it seems the Bensen dealers are more willing to put their shoulders to the wheel than the rest of you. Any other dealer has the same prerogative.”

Darvassy, a long-serving PRA appointed Editor-East and PRA participant (and, with her husband, a Bensen dealer), defended Bensen on every occasion that presented itself. She had writt en earlier that year:

“Now don’t get huff y about his [Bensen’s] insistence on adhering strictly to the Bensen design etc. –– this is his machine and his business and he has a right to state the matt er as he sees it... just as the rest of you dealers do. But I’ll bet my PRA hat that no one comes forth with any do’s and don’ts of their own! No wonder this seems to be a Bensen-run outfi t –– no one else ever gives him a run for his money.”

And former PRA Treasurer Steve Phaneuf submitt ed a ‘poem’ ascribed to Martin

Dr. Bensen is a Life Member,

President Emeritus, and serves on the

PRA Board in an advisory

capacity.


Hollman modeled on the aviation classic “High Flight” by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. but diff erent:

“Low Flight”

Oh, I have slipped the gagging bonds of Earth and thrashed the skies on grease-spattered blades;

Sunward I’ve climbed and tumbled in the mirth of stormy fog banks – and done a hundred things you would not believe.

Whopped and whrumpled and autorotated low into the dingy overcast.

Flying there, I’ve been passed by Sparrows and fl ung my shuddering craft through endless balls of hail.

Up, up the long hysterical climb to 500 feet, I’ve topped the towering wheat fi elds with pounding heart where never grasshopper or even junebug fl ew.

And while with cold shifty eyes, I’ve tried the unsurpassed sanctity of special VFR, put out my hand and touched a tree.

BolekPRA, died and was memorialized in the June PRF – he had been a good friend to Igor Bensen and enthusiastically endorsed the new organization, a sentiment not always shared by his fellow government aviation regulators. He would be missed.

Bruno Bolek, P.E., wrote an innovative proposal in the June issue – to place two Bensen Gyrocopters together to make a 2-place training machine.

It bore a superfi cial resemblance to the 1964 British Thruxton ES -101 ‘Gadfl y’ and its success was not at all assured, as the eventual confi guration of the Gadfl y demonstrated. While the stunning ‘bubble’ look of the Perspex cabin of the British creation att racted much interest and admiration, the eventual construction more closely resembled a fl ying ‘tin can’ with its awkward angles and forced metal skin. There would be a two-place Bensen. It would not be a side-by-side model but a tandem confi guration designed and built by Bill Parsons, but that was still seven years in the future.

And Marion Springer wrote in the chapter notes for Chapter 5:

“Most people will not take gyroglider training before trying to fl y the powered version because it is not mandatory. Maybe it’s time the FAA designated the gyroglider as an aircraft rather than “kite” and required dual instruction prior to powered gyrocoper fl ight.

Bett er still, would be for Bensen Aircraft to come out with a two-placed powered Bensen gyrocopter which could be used for training. Personally, much of the gyro’s appeal for me is that it is single place, but I can see the very real need for a two-place trainer.”

Brock’s El Mirage Dry Lake Bed continued to be a site of gyro records, and none more amazing that the nonstop distance and time record of 16 hours/ 1010 miles fl own by Leroy Shumway while refueling from a pick-up truck. And Marion Springer,

Brock’s El Mirage Dry Lake Bed continued to be a site of gyro records ...

Proposed Bolek 2-place side-by-side Bensen Thruxton ES-101 ‘Gadfl y’


ARIZONA#15 Arizona Rotorcraft ClubCarl Matter, 520-795-1333Email: [email protected]

ARKANSAS#6 Mid-South Rotorcraft Club

Thom Francis(870) 403-2888

Email: [email protected]

CALIFORNIA #1 Ken Brock Rotorcraft Assoc.

Terry Smith, PresidentEmail: [email protected]

www.pra-1.org

#31 San Diego Rotorcraft ClubJohn Rountree, (619) 743-6712


Dave BaconEmail: [email protected]

www.pra31.org

COLORADO PRA Chapter 38

Mark Shook, President(719) 683-3062


FLORIDA #26 Sunstate Wing & Rotor ClubGabor Kovacs, (386) 795-7816Email: [email protected]

www.sunstatewingandrotorclub.com

GEORGIA#56 Peach State Rotor Club

Jon Carleton, President(770) 292-0165


ILLINOIS

#18 Greater Midwest Rotorcraft Club

Tom Milton, (708) 895-0398Email: [email protected]

www.gyroclub.com

#25 North IL-South WI RotorcraftMike McKiernan, (847) 638-4840


#35 Saint Louis Rotorcraft ClubJohn Wohaska, (636) 296-4123(h)

(314) 368-1742(c) Email: [email protected]

www.stlrotorcraft.com

#47 Fox River Valley Rotorcraft ClubDavid Haas, (847) 508-8640

Email: [email protected] at Wauconda Il. library 4th

Thursday at 7pm

PRA Chapters

who had been called ‘Queen of the Gyro’ received a new award from Bensen Day in Florida – she was dubbed the “Swingin Grandma” Award!

Female gyro pilot Shirley Meyer wrote about Amelia Earhart in the December 1978 issue in an article entitled “Amelia Earhart, Autogiro Pilot”. Her article was taken largely from the 1939 book by Earhart’s husband, George Palmer Putnam, and repeats some of the errors that were included in the earlier work, but brought to the fore a part of gyro history that few remembered.

1979The 1979 PRA International Fly-In was

announced in the February issue of PRF and that “The one and only famous lady pilot, Marion Springer of California, has notifi ed us that she will do a gyro workshop this year.” The fi nancial report on the previous year’s fl y-in showed total income - $16,095.37 – total expenses $13,819.98 = net profi t $2,275.89. The 19 Life Members att ending (with 16 members represented by proxy) the LM Meeting learned that the current treasury balance was $4,696.08 – they subsequently voted to submit a recommendation to the Board of Directors that annual dues be increased to $15/yr. And while England’s John Kitchen described “Rotorcraft Activity in England” and made the now-almost-routine announcement of new Ken Wallis world records, the readers were probably more intrigued by the derring-do of President Ken Brock who told of fl ying a

itself in a more or less status quo. Has the membership become dry? Three thousand miles away, many of the articles sound like bulletin releases from a private club which, I am sure, are relished by participating members, but of limited interested to outsiders. Without being naïve, I liked the missionary fl avour the fi rst hours of the magazine were imprinted with. And I still feel that its fi nest hours are yet to come. Am I being unfair?”

Helen Darvassy answered:“No, Mr. Brunet, you are not being

unfair, just honest and probably absolutely correct. I don’t know if you are a builder and fl yer of gyros, or just an interested party. If the latt er, then you must be distressed at some of our off erings. If the former, then why don’t you give us something of interest to publish?”

The year was also a deadly one as several prominent and well-known PRAers suff ered fatal gyro accidents.

“On April 14, 1979, Truman Conkle, while fl ying his Barnett J4, collided with a 2500–foot cable that was being used to tow a sailplane off the dry lake. He died in the ensuing crash... This enthusiast and friend will be mourned by us all.”

Chuck Beaty of Sunstate Rotor Club reported the death of Smokey Caster who “was killed instantly when his gyro struck the ground at high speed ... Sunstate Rotor Club has lost its most colorful character...”

dual-seat Gyroglider being towed by an airplane at El Mirage! And it was the infrequency of such bravado, fl y-by-the-seat-of-your-pants that moved reader Raymond Brunet of Quebec to lament:

“Dear Friends: This is not criticism by any means, but it seems to me that the magazine has been gradually losing its pioneering spirit over the years and has now entrenched

Thruxton ES-101 ‘Gadfl y’ as constructed – now in the Helicopter Museum, Weston-super-Mare


But there were also stories of new pilots. In August, Ron Menzie wrote of cutt ing son Steven’s shirtt ail after a Gyroglider solo, a unique gyro-moment of parental pride (it was not surprising that Sandy Menzie would title her article about the occasion “Pride”).

The June issue saw a special publication, the fi rst of two articles by Carl Gunther, Pitcairn Aircraft Company archivist and historian, who would labor to the present day to preserve the memory of the American Autogiro pioneer Harold F. Pitcairn. Those articles, “Autogiro” Parts I and II, are still one of the fi nest introductions to early American Autogiro history by one who spent a lifetime associating with the Pitcairn family and companies. It was spectacularly coincident to John M. “Johnny” Miller (and his wife Edith) being the guests-of-honor at the 1979 PRA International Fly-In where Frank Marchett i would win the “Man & Machine” Award.

The Board of Directors accepted the

off er of Mike Hynes, owner of the Brantley Helicopter Company to have the 1980 International Fly-In in Frederick, OK where, for the fi rst time, the new By-Law procedure of providing for PRA Chapter proxy votes would go into eff ect. It was a small step in broadening the governance of the PRA and would not be the last taken in response to member sentiment. And the year ended with yet again another ‘to the point, in your face’ communication from Helen Darvassy, and pulled no punches in speaking of the practice of some manufacturers ‘bad mouthing’ competitors:

“I am taking the liberty of speaking freely on this subject because I have nothing to sell except equality and harmony among all members of the rotorcraft family.

The best case I can think of for cooperation in the rotorcraft business world is an example I know of where two suppliers of the same product existed harmoniously in stores side by side for the benefi t of both.

These two purveyors of the same type of goods were both astute businessmen who recognized the value of having their merchandise near each other because they thereby att racted all the trade for that product. Having cornered the market, the competitive spirit took over. When there was trouble of a mutual interest to both, they sat down over a cup of brew and planned their strategy, then moved in a united front – and they prospered, and still do to this day.”

And while clearly a reference to the Bensen and Brock companies, the idea of sitt ing down to plan a common business strategy would be hard to defend against anti-monopoly laws. Yet there was a deep respect and genuine aff ection between these two giants of the PRA (Brock would try to help Bensen in the latt er part of his life and in declining health whenever possible). They were gentlemen, a quality that was evidently lacking in some of the newer gyro merchants.

Gyros also got a lot of publicity and public att ention in a variety of publications during the year, far beyond the PRA audience. The ‘Glanville Sky-master’ was featured in the October Sport Aviation and Homebuilt Aviation, while Peter Abbott III proclaimed “Bensen Gyrocopters: World’s Most Popular Rotorcraft” in the October Homebuilt Rotorcraft even as Don Dwiggins wrote on the Hollmann HA-2M Sportster in the same issue where Walter Shelbourne informed the interested and the converted of the wonders of the Jukka Tervamäki JT-5 and the Barnett J-4B Gyroplane. That October, Homebuilt Rotorcraft was a spectacular issue for PRA readers and those aspiring to ascend under ‘whirling blades’. And the cover, found on rare newsstands, immediately drew att ention of tyro and expert alike – even as the new decade would see an on-going debate about gyro fl ight training that would eventually lead to the development of a powered 2-place trainer.

PRA ChaptersINDIANA

#34 Indiana Rotorcraft AssociationKevin O’Kane, (636) 296-7188

(317) 695-4781Email: [email protected]

www.pra41134.com

#70 Maumee Valley RotorcraftMichael L. Marckel, (260) 665-8238


KANSAS#75 Wichita Wing and Rotor Club

Jim & Chris Toevs, (316) 435-2290Email: [email protected]

LOUISIANA#20 Pelican State Rotorcraft

President: Rudy Graffeo(225) 715-2918


Bill Weiger:Secretary/Treasurer(318) 640-5656


MICHIGAN

#32 Bay Area Rotorcraft & Ultralight Club

Jim Oftrander, (989) 484-8860Email: [email protected]

www.bayrotorcraft.org

MINNESOTA #17 Minnesota Rotorcraft ClubChuck Freese, (651) 491-4245


#46 Minnesota GyronautsDenis Schoemaker, (507) 420-7998

Facebook: Minnesota GyronautsEmail: [email protected]

www.mngyro.com

MISSOURI#35 Saint Louis Rotorcraft ClubJohn Wohaska, (636) 296-7188

Email: [email protected]/

OHIO

#19 Buckeye RotorheadsBrad Dutton, (330) 767-1019


OREGON #73 Great NW Sport Rotorcraft

Jon Dailey (503) 543-7000 (8am-4:30pm PST)

[email protected]/

PENNSYLVANIA

#4 West Penn Rotorcraft ClubJames Nadig, (724) 967-2745Email: [email protected]


Upcoming EventsPRA International Convention

July 28-August 1, 2015Mentone, IN

Chapter 62’sAnahuac Fly-In

October 15-17, 2015Anahuac, TX

MOVING?Please remember to notify

the PRA headquarters of your address change.

This will ensure that you continue to receive important

mailouts from the PRA.

Ken Brock Freedom Fly-In

September 25-27, 2015El Mirage, CA

Personal Rotorcraft Fly-In:Gyroplanes, Helicopters, Powered Parachutes -

All Aircraft WelcomeVisitors will see daily fl ight demonstrations

and open fl ying continuing throughout each day. Certifi ed fl ight instructors will also off er demonstration rides for those who wish to experience the thrill of fl ight in a gyroplane. A variety of vendors will be present with everything from t-shirts and wind socks to rotorblades and engines.

Forums and workshops will be presented daily, discussing many aspects of building and fl ying gyroplanes, helicopters and light sport aircraft. Cross-country events will be conducted after each daily pilot briefi ng. Convention visitors may visit the on-fi eld Archimedes/LeRoy Hardee Museum of Homebuilt Rotorcraft, and take a tour of the Bell Helicopter Museum nearby.

Register online athtt p://www.pra.org/conventionreg.aspx

or by mailing in the pre-registration form on the next page.

The Popular Rotorcraft Association (PRA), is a worldwide organization of personal rotorcraft enthusiasts. In addition to hosting this annual convention, PRA also sponsors local and regional events and promotes fl ying safety and information exchange. More information about PRA and its activities is available online at www.pra.org or call (574) 353-7227.

It has been called “The world’s greatest rotorcraft event.” Gyroplanes (gyrocopters), helicopters and autogyros, including other sport and GA aircraft, will gather at the Mentone Airport (C-92), Mentone, Indiana, 12296-W and 600-S, July 28th through August 1st for the 53rd Annual Convention of the Popular Rotorcraft Association. This is a rare opportunity to see these unique fl ying machines, talk to the pilots, builders, kit manufacturers, and see them fl y.

The rotorcraft will range from simple, open-frame ultralight gyroplanes and helicopters to multi-seat enclosed cross-country rotorcraft.

This unique event has been presented every year for over fi ve decades. In recent years, it has been held at the Mentone, Indiana airport, owned by the Popular Rotorcraft Association. All aircraft types are welcome to fl y in, and a support crew will work to blend fi xed-wing and rotary-wing traffi c parking.

The airport has on-site space for tent camping, showers, and also hookups for water and electricity for RVs. WIFI internet access is available near the PRA offi ce. A concession stand provides food and beverage service. Local motels are available. Premium auto gas will be available for purchase on-site and 100LL is available seven miles away.

This unique event has been presented every year for over five decades.


REGISTRATION FORM PRA INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

July 28- August 1, 2015You must be a PRA member to fly at this convention, be eligible for awards, or attend the banquet

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________PLEASE PRINT

Name ___________________________________________________________ PRA Number __________________

Name(s) of additional adults ____________________________________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________________ PRA Chapter __________________

City _________________________________________ State ___________ Zip ____________ Number in Party _________

Country ____________________________________________________ Phone Number ______________________

Email address ________________________________________________________________________________________ Days planning on attending Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday SaturdayWhere are you staying? Hotel/Motel Bed/Breakfast PRA camping: Tent Motor-home Camper Length of motor-home, bus or camper __________________ Will you need your aircraft trailer at your campsite? Yes No Does anyone in your party need special consideration? Yes No Specify:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

FEES

Registration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 17.50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . = $ _________Non Members . . . $55.00 includes 5 day non-voting membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . = $ _________ Additional adult(s), ages 12 & up @ $20.00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .x _____ = $ _________

Camping Basic (no electric) @ $18.00/day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x ______ days = $ _________ Full (electric & water) @ $35.00/day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x ______ days = $ _________

Banquet Adult @ $22.00 each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .x ______ num = $ _________ Children, ages 3-10 @ 12.00 each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .x ______ num = $ _________

Vendor Site _______ @ $50.00 (no electricity) . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ _________ Site _______ @ $75.00 (electricity) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ _________

TOTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ _________

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

What aircraft will you bring? __________________________________________________________ Do you plan to fly your aircraft? Yes/No Do you hold a current PRA “PASS” card? Yes/No Will you need a 90 day sign off? Yes/No Will you need a biennial review? Yes/No

Make check or money order, in US funds, payable to: PRA Or MasterCard/Visa # ___________________________________________________ Expiration date _________

Signature ___________________________________________________________________________________ Official Office Use Only Send to:Site # ______________________ PRA Date Received _____________ PO Box 68 Amount Paid _______________ Mentone, IN 46539 Cash Check Credit Card *Must be received by 7-24-15


PRA ChaptersA NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Magazine Option Now Available for Members

Doug BarkerPRA President

The one thing that you can always count on is: There will always be change. And many changes are happening at the PRA right now. The biggest and most exciting change is that we have been able to reach an agreement with “Powered Sport Flying”

fl ying world, and hopefully help us fi nd new people who develop an interest in Rotorcraft from the information in “PSF”. We will also have advertising space in each edition that we can use to promote our airport or any other PRA business that would be appropriate to be disseminated through a public magazine. While the printed magazine is completely optional, and no one needs to feel obligated to choose to participate in the program, we hope that most of our members will decide to participate and enroll. If we do not have signifi cant numbers of members choosing to enroll, we may not be able to continue the program long term. So if you are excited to have a chance to have a printed magazine again, please do not only enroll in the printed magazine option, but tell others about it and help us sign up new members and grow our organization. If we can see a growth in numbers when we bring a printed magazine back it will make it easier for us to keep this option available. So it is up to you (our members) to show us how important this is to you.

Some additional exciting news is that two new gyro models have made their debut

that will make having a printed magazine available to our members. It will be off ered as a premium upgrade service that will require an additional $12 fee when you renew your PRA membership. For those that choose not to upgrade to this premium service, you can continue to receive an electronic version, that will be made up of the information in the Rotorcraft section of “PSF”, and some additional information created by the PRA. This new electronic document will be replacing the E-Zine that we have been using for the last few years.

This change will provide our organization with much wider exposure to the rest of the

SOUTH CAROLINA#13 SC / GA Rotorcraft Club

John C. Magnan, (706) 547-3607Email: [email protected]

www.pra13.org

TENNESSEE#16 Volunteer State Rotorheads

David McCutchen, (615) 390-2228Email: [email protected]

TEXAS#65 Central Texas Rotorcraft Club

Paul Erb, (512) 680-1835 Email: [email protected]

www.centexpra.org

#62 Lone Star Rotorcraft ClubMark Spies, (713) 469-2462


#78 Texas Rotorcraft Assoc.Bob Stark, (940) 564-2938

Email: [email protected]/

UTAH #2 Bonneville GyroFlyers

Doug Barker, (801) 628-7598Email: [email protected]

www.utahrotorcraft.org/

PUERTO RICO#60 Puerto Rico Rotor Club

Charles D. Peterson, (787) 460-6820Email: [email protected]

BOLIVIA

#23 Aeroclub OrientalChristopher Sellars

Casilla #3058(591) 334-0939

FRANCE

#28 Autogyre St. Ciers CharenteEric Changeur

Moulin du Chatelard, PuyreauxCharente France F-16230

GERMANY

#3 German Rotorcraft ClubEwe Hagger

St. Ulrich Strasse 14D-86922 Eresing, Germany

JAPAN

#79Akira Ishikawa

2-1-11 Tsujido-TaheidaiFujisawa 251, Japan

Email: gyroakira@j-comhome,ne,jp.

PRA Membership Has Its Advantages• access to the only on-line sport

pilot gyroplane ground school that provides 24 hours of live professional training to PRA members for a mere $150.

• members-only discounts on insurance and other products

• members-only content on the PRA website

• voting privileges in elections• expanded magazine content (future

issues)

Join today at www.pra.org


onto the American market at Rotors Over the Rockies this year. The Titanium Auto Gyro (TAG) made its fi rst public appearance. If the reaction people had here is any indicator, this is going to be a very well received gyro that you will be hearing much more about as time goes on. The titanium airframe and carbon fi ber rotors not only bring state of the art materials to the gyro world, but shave off a substantial amount of weight. This directly translates into increased payload for the machine, which opens up the world of gyro fl ight to people who previously weren’t able to fl y gyros, or get training, due to their higher than average weight.

Also the fi rst new, enclosed, single place, Aviomania Gyroplane showed up and dazzled us all with its feature-rich glass cockpit and beautiful full canopy. For those that want to fl y a single place but live in a climate that would restrict fl ying during the colder months (for all but the hardiest of pilots) this machine comes with both a summer canopy that allows open air fl ight, as well as a fully enclosed canopy that makes winter fl ying more practical. With the beautiful custom paint job and the nice fi t and fi nish, this is an incredible machine that I believe lots more people are going to start buying. Watch for future articles on both of these machines.

If you get a chance to come to Mentone this year, don’t miss out on your chance to

come see all the new and exciting things that are happening. I know I say it all the time, but it is a very exciting time to be involved in the gyro world. Come and join us, and see the changes and improvements that are happening all around us. 2015 is going to be a banner year for the gyro community.

Officers & Directors

Doug Barker, President738 East 425 SouthLayton, UT 84041(801) 444-3736

[email protected]

Brent Drake, Vice Pres.1231 Hickory Lane

Shelbyville, IN 46176317-392-2364

[email protected]

Robert Rymer, Treasurer3583 Leadmine Valley Rd SW

Cleveland, TN 37311(423) 479-8460

[email protected]

John Rountree, Secretary4791 73rd Street

LeMesa, CA 91941(619) 743-6712

[email protected]

Greg Mills5003 Monticello RoadVilla Rica, GA 30180

(770) [email protected]

Tom Milton3441 WashingtonLansing, IL 60438

[email protected]

We are looking for nominations for people to run for a position on the PRA Board of Directors. This is a three-year term, and we have one position that will become open for election this year. So if you would like to have more say in how our organization is run, and if you are willing to give of your time and talents to help improve the PRA, then please submit your name to the PRA offi ce.

A nomination will require that you have been a PRA member for the last two consecutive years and you will need to have the endorsement of at least two other current PRA members. That’s a prett y easy requirement to meet, so if you would like to be more involved and have some time you are willing to use towards bett ering our organization, please send the PRA offi ce a lett er or e-mail announcing your willingness to run for offi ce this year.

Board MemberNominations


C L A S S I F I E D SClassifi ed advertisements

in Rotorcraft are a free service to PRA Members. Submissions

should be emailed to: praoffi [email protected]

FOR SALE Air Command 2-Place

Side by Side Restoration Project

RAF2000 GTXSE FI 2.5

Uncompleted kit MUST SELL!Custom dash,

complete or use as parts for your craft

Located Toledo, Ohio.Contact Ray

[email protected].

1965 Air and Space 18-ASerial #41

2-Place gyroplane was rolled over in 2005, I have intended on restoring the aircraft but have not had time. Nearly all parts needed for the restore are included except prop blades and rotorblades. Complete photo and text inventory available upon request. No trades, no parting out. Located in Batavia Ohio. Includes 2 EJ-22 engines, one is fully aircraft use converted EFI with 40 hours in a SparrowHawk, Newly rebuilt New Horizons Planetary Redrive, second engine has 50 hours since new in crate, new 2-bearing Air Command rotorhead, new pod and many extras and upgrades (see inventory). Detailed photos of the aircraft assembled in running condition are included.

$5000 Firm - Serious inquiries only please [email protected]

1993 RAF 2000 EJ22

3 yrs TLC while wife was ill, and now grounded at 93

Almost ready to fl y with 130 hp Subaru engine, 4

bladed prop, and many others

Custom made trailer & dolly$28,500

858-338-2082Kenny Kerns

90 hours60 hrs since I.R.A.N engine

and airframe restored to new condition

Lifetime supply of spare parts plus second airframe & rotorblades

Boxes of company history, manuals, etc.

$135,000takes everything, including trailer

For more details, Al Ball 805-525-9464

Air Command CLT Gyro Rotax 532 A Box 2.58Both new with 8 hrs TT. 68” Warp Drive 2 blade prop. pre-mix, ASI, ALT, rotor tach, eng tach, dual EGT. Landing light. New 49cc gas prerotator. 25 foot Skywheels. Hydraulic heel brakes. Registered, Current Airworthy Cert and N# stays with aircraft. The following are new: mast, control rods and rod ends. 7.6 gal Seat tank and cover. Rudder, cyclic control block and chromoly joystick, grip and wired for push to talk. Baxter throttle, engine dual throttle cables, side exhaust

mounts, Bendix assembly. Located in N. Utah.

Reduced to $12,000 Trailer not for sale. Mark Archibald (madwinger on the Rotary

Forum) 801-514-6928, 801-298-3669, [email protected]

RFD DOMINATOR-PERFORMANCE MODEL**2012 ROTR GRAND CHAMPION ROTORCRAFT**

See it fl y @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSXv7F_nj6s or fl y with me @ You Tube channel “huntjunky1”

CLT Dominator designed for higher elev. fl ying: Rotax 582 w/ C box, 68” carbon fi ber Sport Prop (335 lbs thrust @ 318# empty weight-620# gross), 25’ Dragon Wings, EIS eng. monitoring, ASI, rotor tach, altimeter, hydraulic prerotator, 12 gal seat tank, polished air frame, 43 hrs. TT, completed air worthiness, current annual & registration, build and current maintenance logs, misc. build and maintenance components

PRICED RIGHT @ $18,900 FOR A SINGLE SEAT, LIGHT WEIGHT, HIGH PERFORMANCE, IMPECCABLY BUILT/MAINTAINED DOMINATOR.

*Serious inquiries, for this very clean & ready to fl y gyro, call Steve @ (801)910-6117 or email [email protected] (Utah)

Aircraft: Pre-Built, Kits & Plans - Popular Rotorcraft Association

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Transcript of Aircraft: Pre-Built, Kits & Plans - Popular Rotorcraft Association