Why Do We Allow Gyrocopters to Keep Flying?
 

Another person dead after an accident in Echuca and another person with severe burns.

It's known that these aircraft can get into unrecoverable trouble if their rotor unloads, why do we permit them to keep flying?

Same reason we continue to let Airbus aircraft fly I guess. :}


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I haven't flown one myself (not bloody likely to either :} ) but I understand they are effectively, in autorotation the whole time?

Hmmmmm.

I've flown em. safer than your average GA aircraft. you really have to try to hurt yourself in one............. although, as long as people are in the air, some will manage to fall from it, regardless of the safety measures put in place.
I might add that the majority of the people that fly this type of aircraft are from the recreational type of flying background and have minimal flying time and a completely different training environment than that of the GA industry. could be a pilot thing and not an aircraft thing. I managed to fly several of these machines before I truly understood aerodynamics or even what the term AoA was............ glad I learned about it in real aeroplane school before I got kilt.

Why Do We Allow Gyrocopters to Keep Flying?

For the same reason we allow you to keep on posting on PPrune! Its a free country.
The Comet.

Lots of people get themselves killed in fixed wing (of all types) and other rotorcraft.

Aviation of any type is very unforgiving of mistakes, oversights, errors and failures. Any of these will get you killed. Make sure you avoid these things, and aviation is quite safe. My brother in law killed himself in a gyro by flying into a powerline, as has many other rotor and fixed wing pilots. He made a mistake and it killed him. There are blokes out this way that operate gyrocopters that have in excess of 20,000 hours with only minor incidents.
If you are going to ban gyrocopters to stop people being killed, you have to keep going and ban all aircraft. All forms of transport are inherently unsafe.

PF
'Same reason we continue to let Airbus aircraft fly I guess'..............................
or Boeing aircraft I suppose

Can we also ban motor bikes, rugby, beer and sex?

Oops - too late. The Missus beat you to it. :\

Hahahahaha!! Coffee all over my monitor... :\

Around my part of the world there are quite a lot of Gyro's flown by QF drivers for fun........so not all are RAA types. Maybe those who get into trouble are the less educated/experienced.

Think you might find that some things like the Carter Copter are of a similar design. See how that goes in the future!

J

Educated???
 

Yes. You peasants should all get a degree in gyrocopting from one of those jolly good uni places.
Then you too could have simultaneous leaks developing from both fuel tanks. A bit like those "simultaneous double engine failures."

Hey bushy......

Not sure about the cheap shot about What are you suggesting? It did not happen that way?

As for educated/experienced and jolly good uni places, who mentioned anything about universities? I was refferring to educated and experienced in the flight handling of Gyro's. I dare say some are considerably more than others. I am not one bit, but I see some around here that are and seem to do quite ok with them.

Maybe I just did not get the humour ......:uhoh:

J:ok:

Gyro's are great machines and if you had been in one or associated with them you'd realise the fun that can be experienced in them, but not necessarily dangerous fun in the right hands. Limitations in my mind are slow speed, training and fuel burn. They are a little thirsty.

Coincidentally I took these about an hour ago...

Compare the Gyro quality and design to the famous Deathranger... Admittedly the air filter is probably due for replacement.


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Instructor has a checked history
 

My condolences go to the family of the deceased and to the Instructor’s family who are now faced with what will be a very long and painful battle of healing and then re-living it during the Coroner’s inquest.

I have to agree with a couple of the previous posts about how safe they are. Used to think they were dangerous until I went for a ride in one, it was OK but not for me. It does come back to the cowboy attitude of some these pilots.

Now a little birdie tells me that the Australian Sports Rotorcraft Association (the governing body) were considering reviewing and changing the way they conduct training due to the 5 fatalities(and now 6) gyros have had in the previous 12months. That’s a lot for such a small group of enthusiasts!

As for the Instructor in question, it was a matter of time. Loved to show off for his Aeroclub old boy mates. Lost his licence for putting on an impromptu airshow at an air rally which he took off pointing straight at the crowd a few years back. After losing his licence continued to fly and train people before CASA hit him again. The list goes on and on!

And its not hearsay, I was a witness. Before someone ask why I didn’t speak up, I did have my say and I am still be harassed for it! This is just like the Nick Coustin/Bathurst strikemaster crash all over again.

MM

Wizard of Auz you wouldn't have a clue:

No doubt they are generally gay, black and female as well.

Why don't you wait for the investigation?

MJH

That is a nice looking machine triple X, my only concern is (what looks like from the pic) a jerry can strapped onto the side, is that the fuel tank?:eek:
What type is it X? I can't seem to find any on Google...

I myself would love to fly one of these machines, especially an RAF 2000! :ok:

As far as safety goes, I suspect it is all about attitude! There are ways to minimse the safety risk at all levels of aviation, but it takes a lot of discipline, even more so when parts of the sport are largely self regulated.

Not sure what it is exactly Howard, but if you gave the guys at Phillip Island Helicopters a call they could tell you. Note: It's not theirs, it's just in a hangar there. The owner has 4 x Gyro's onsite in the hangar there.

The instructor Paul Bruty is one of the worlds best Gyro pilots. Has been flying them since a very young age and pilots come from all around the world for his knowledge. He is in a bad way at the Alfred Hospital as we speek. Lets hope he pulls thru. He is one of the good guys.

Yes, we all hope Paul recovers okay.
I never flew with him - just one look at the condition of his RAF2000 a few years back was enuff for me to say "ahh... no thanks...." I'm not sure what frightened me the most - the assorted hardware in assorted places holding assorted junk on all over the ship, or the starter battery held in by just an old ocky strap - just in front of the propeller......:eek:

I find that last post a little tasteless considering it's your first post. Seems that if you want to slag someone off here you just create a new username and post away with no credibility.

MR. Mere Mortal - you wrote:

"After losing his licence continued to fly and train people before CASA hit him again."

Isn't it fact that the instructor was with his first student after starting an instructing business having manufactured gyros for some time prior?