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Old 6th June 2010 | 08:37
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Genghis the Engineer
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Of course we're interested, and thanks!

Interesting that you found distinct advantages in the tractor configuration, given the modern prevelence of pusher gyroplanes. How did it affect the comfort in the cockpit - similar, or were the noise and wind effects substantially greater?

On your video, the take-off roll seemed rather long - presumably there's no pre-rotator? Any idea why not?, or is that a temporary issue.

Ballistic 'chutes do make sense, particularly given the (at-least here in the UK) shockingly poor safety record of gyroplanes - I'd have thought that the main concern is negative-g induced loss of rotor speed. But, even then you've got the non-trivial problem of dealing with the risk of the BRS loom snarling in the main rotor blades and hub. Do you think they've adequately dealt with that?

G

(Declaring my hand slightly, I've somehow manager never to have actually flown a gyroplane - but I'm an airworthiness engineer and had a few occasions over the years to work on gyroplane design, testing and approvals.)
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