Why Do We Allow Gyrocopters to Keep Flying?
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"Isn't it fact that the instructor was with his first student after starting an instructing business having manufactured gyros for some time prior?"
VH - XXX, why don't you get your facts straight before going on the defensive.
He has been instructing for 20 odd years. Find attached the newspaper article about this "very safe pilot".
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/d...rtopay2006.gif
I hope it was nothing more than a tragic training accident and not Paul showing off.
MM
VH - XXX, why don't you get your facts straight before going on the defensive.
He has been instructing for 20 odd years. Find attached the newspaper article about this "very safe pilot".
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/d...rtopay2006.gif
I hope it was nothing more than a tragic training accident and not Paul showing off.
MM
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Mere Mortal (and others!) - how about you ease up on the speculation.
From reports from those present it does not sound like any showing off was involved - just a high rate of descent with no flare.
You might be right, but you might be wrong. Consider how hurtful your comments may be - ESPECIALLY if you are wrong!
Sometimes knowing when to hold your tongue is just as important as knowing when to speak up........
From reports from those present it does not sound like any showing off was involved - just a high rate of descent with no flare.
You might be right, but you might be wrong. Consider how hurtful your comments may be - ESPECIALLY if you are wrong!
Sometimes knowing when to hold your tongue is just as important as knowing when to speak up........
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
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Wizard of Auz you wouldn't have a clue
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I have always been a little curious about Gyros.
Recently, one of my clients (a 1950's 22 Sqn pilot) scared himself in his Gyro. He sold it to one of my (more adventurous) ultralight students, who proceeded to get lessons in it.
I dunno what happened but but $17,000 and 3 months in hospital down the track, the "new" owner of the now decidedly "used" gyro is walking again... but will never fly again due to the damage to his spine.
Decide for yourself but MY curiosity has evaporated.
Recently, one of my clients (a 1950's 22 Sqn pilot) scared himself in his Gyro. He sold it to one of my (more adventurous) ultralight students, who proceeded to get lessons in it.
I dunno what happened but but $17,000 and 3 months in hospital down the track, the "new" owner of the now decidedly "used" gyro is walking again... but will never fly again due to the damage to his spine.
Decide for yourself but MY curiosity has evaporated.
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Interesting MM, but totally unrelated. Flying low over an air rally when solo and forgetting to renew your rego once off hardly puts students lives at risk and demonstrates his years of rule breaches!
The local paper article and locals said he WASN'T an instructor until recently and that this was one of his first if not the first student after his newly started business was up and running. Who's got it right?
The local paper article and locals said he WASN'T an instructor until recently and that this was one of his first if not the first student after his newly started business was up and running. Who's got it right?
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Hi all, first post for me, i'll keep it uncontentious I promise....
"The local paper article and locals said he WASN'T an instructor until recently and that this was one of his first if not the first student after his newly started business was up and running. Who's got it right?"
I don't know anything about the accident, but I do know that Paul Bruty came instructing here in WA years ago and was highly regarded, so I somehow doubt the 'locals' have the right end of the stick. I had a brief flirtation with the idea of a Gyro back in the mid 90's, and Paul was very helpful and informative. I didn't go that route in the end, but he came across as a man who knew more than a little about his subject.
EDIT - fixed spelling mistake
"The local paper article and locals said he WASN'T an instructor until recently and that this was one of his first if not the first student after his newly started business was up and running. Who's got it right?"
I don't know anything about the accident, but I do know that Paul Bruty came instructing here in WA years ago and was highly regarded, so I somehow doubt the 'locals' have the right end of the stick. I had a brief flirtation with the idea of a Gyro back in the mid 90's, and Paul was very helpful and informative. I didn't go that route in the end, but he came across as a man who knew more than a little about his subject.
EDIT - fixed spelling mistake
Last edited by TCFOR; 20th Nov 2007 at 06:11.
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Update on Paul Bruty's condition;
To whom it may concern;
Latest news on Paul's recovery.
Paul is improving steadily and they are now starting to talk about taking him out of intensive care and transferring him to the burns ward. That’s a positive step. He has been conscious for quite some time but sleeps a lot due to the pain killers needed when dressings are being done – and there are some dressings every day. He can hear us and respond with a nod or shake of the head but hasn’t been able to speak because of the “trachie” which has been in place since the accident. The type he has now was put in place some weeks ago but we’re hoping that it won’t be long before he’ll be able to do without that.
This report is from Paul's wife Eril, and is lifted from the Rotary Forum.
Latest news on Paul's recovery.
Paul is improving steadily and they are now starting to talk about taking him out of intensive care and transferring him to the burns ward. That’s a positive step. He has been conscious for quite some time but sleeps a lot due to the pain killers needed when dressings are being done – and there are some dressings every day. He can hear us and respond with a nod or shake of the head but hasn’t been able to speak because of the “trachie” which has been in place since the accident. The type he has now was put in place some weeks ago but we’re hoping that it won’t be long before he’ll be able to do without that.
This report is from Paul's wife Eril, and is lifted from the Rotary Forum.
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risk
.............many years ago (others may remember) I saw a gyro copter crash at Penfield (sunbury, vic) after what I believe was part of the wooden prop going thru the rotor disc, bad luck to some degree for sure & maybe some maintenance issues as well but the point here is that if you fly anything at all then you take a risk, some risks are higher than others (Gyro's would have to be a high risk machine) & it's all about 'acceptable risk' I believe.
Paul's unfortunate accident has at least brought to the attention of these high risk machines. I hope we see that as a possitive so we can all learn & make an informed decision to fly or not to fly something that looks like Noah made it before the ARK !
.
Recover quickly Paul.
CW
Paul's unfortunate accident has at least brought to the attention of these high risk machines. I hope we see that as a possitive so we can all learn & make an informed decision to fly or not to fly something that looks like Noah made it before the ARK !
.
Recover quickly Paul.
CW
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Capt Wally, I saw the same accident at Penfield you speak of. The pilot of the gyro had repaired !! the (second hand) prop by re attaching the last 4-6 inches of one blade with ARALDITE. I kid you not. Along with a colleague I 'counselled' the operator/driver (definately not a pilot of worth) regarding the wisdom and dangers of the repair. We were assured that it was for taxi practice and short low hops down the runway. We even told him that was stupid and dangerous and not to attempt any sort of flight.
He ignored our warnings and went flying. His so encouraging 'mates' hid behind the hangar and threw up leaving myself and a couple of others to go and confirm the obvious result of tumbling in from about 600 feet.
The Araldite repair had failed and flung the tip through the rotor blade attach point shearing it off. Gravity did the rest.
Parts of the Coronial were almost as farcical as well.
tipsy.
He ignored our warnings and went flying. His so encouraging 'mates' hid behind the hangar and threw up leaving myself and a couple of others to go and confirm the obvious result of tumbling in from about 600 feet.
The Araldite repair had failed and flung the tip through the rotor blade attach point shearing it off. Gravity did the rest.
Parts of the Coronial were almost as farcical as well.
tipsy.
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....okay 'tipsy2' tnxs for the update. I can't remember the exact facts but what I said was along those lines. I didn't attend the crash scene you obviously had a lot more input to the events of the day than myself.
You probably also remember the home design plane that crashed in the paddock opposite Penfield. The pilots name escapes me but was it 'megeti' or something like that?, foreign guy. It was his own design I think, he to came to an abrupt end sadly. I believe he was testing the crafts stalling abilities(or lack thereof) & hit a rocky outcrop without the use of any protective head gear. (memory fading now, mine that is !)Anyway sounds like you tried to make him see good sense & that's about all you could do, at the end of the day it's the pilots (if he could be called that) decision to go against all common sense.
CW
You probably also remember the home design plane that crashed in the paddock opposite Penfield. The pilots name escapes me but was it 'megeti' or something like that?, foreign guy. It was his own design I think, he to came to an abrupt end sadly. I believe he was testing the crafts stalling abilities(or lack thereof) & hit a rocky outcrop without the use of any protective head gear. (memory fading now, mine that is !)Anyway sounds like you tried to make him see good sense & that's about all you could do, at the end of the day it's the pilots (if he could be called that) decision to go against all common sense.
CW
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Capt Wally, now you are referring to Charles Ligetti and his "Stratos". What a pitch unstable beast that was, scared the hell out of the Test Pilot (known as 045) trying to sort it out.
Some time after Charles' accident (1987) in aircraft No2, the then BASI did some investigative test flying of the No1 aircraft at Mangalore. That ended very untidily and nearly killed a respected ex RAAF Test Pilot who was with BASI at the time.
According to Google, Charles' son Ron is/was trying to get the Stratos up and running again. I genuinely wish him luck.
tipsy
Some time after Charles' accident (1987) in aircraft No2, the then BASI did some investigative test flying of the No1 aircraft at Mangalore. That ended very untidily and nearly killed a respected ex RAAF Test Pilot who was with BASI at the time.
According to Google, Charles' son Ron is/was trying to get the Stratos up and running again. I genuinely wish him luck.
tipsy
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Any flying machine in the wrong hands, and sometimes right hands can end badly.
Unloading the rotor system in one of these has the same effect as doing the same in a R22/R44/ Jetbox. Negative G is something to be avoided for most chopper pilots.
Unloading the rotor system in one of these has the same effect as doing the same in a R22/R44/ Jetbox. Negative G is something to be avoided for most chopper pilots.