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Guimbal Cabri G2

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Guimbal Cabri G2

Old 6th Nov 2015, 13:45
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The G2 is now certified in Brazil !

Canada is scheduled for next year.

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Old 9th Nov 2015, 08:56
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"Infomercial" but nice pictures and some good info inside : Video - The Cabri G2 developed by Guimbal Helicopters - Aviation industry - Aeronewstv

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Old 9th Nov 2015, 11:15
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Finally managed to have an hour in a G2 at the weekend, thought I would share my opinion :-)

Having learnt to fly in a R22 and currently doing a R44 TR I was curious to see how I found the G2. Some initial thoughts:

The aircraft is well laid out, easy access for preflight inspections, I liked the clam shell cowling doors, when opened gives an excellent view of all the important components.

Getting into the G2 is a breeze, and once in the cabin feels very spacious. The center panel is really nice, extremely well thought out, I particularly liked the way the switches are positioned, so on start up your hand goes left to right as you go through the procedure list. Couple this with the modern glass cockpit and it the start up is very easy.

Once we had run all the checks, needle splits etc it was time to see how the G2 flies. As I applied power my FI gave me hint, start feeding in right peddle because you wont believe how much you will need - compared to the R44!!

As the G2 got light on the skids the skid tips lift first, what did surprise a little was just how sensitive it is, so the getting into the hover was a little quicker than I anticipated!!

Once in the hover I did find the G2 very sensitive, both through the pedals and collective, it is extremely easy to pull power past the red line. I was also aware of how much right pedal I had in, way more than the R44 and this would catch me out later in the flight.

On the first circuit my FI said my first approach would probably lead me to be left of where I thought I was going to be and facing 90 degrees to where I wanted to face!

Take off was pretty straight forward, G2 goes through TL nicely and at 95% power and 55 knots it climbs very well, turns are very easy and once we were downwind we trimmed the G2, you can get it to fly hands off if you want - apparently!!

So on my first approach I lined up nicely, noticed the G2 did want to take me left and I needed to feed in a little more right pedal than expected, as I got to around 15-20 feet and was pulling a little power it became apparent why I needed to start feeding in right pedal, I did end up slightly left of the centre line and about 20 degrees nose left of the centre line. Apparently that was pretty good for a first time!

We then spent some time do low level handling, the G2 is extremely responsive and manoeuvrable but I did start to find the cyclic loading quite hard but I put this down to being used to the hydraulic controls in the R44.

Finally we did a couple of autorotations, G2 is very nice in AR, although it does like to bleed airspeed but easily corrected, RRPM was very easy to manage, much better than the R22, probably due to the large engine and rotor RPM gauge on the glass cockpit! Flare and recovery to a hover was all smooth until the governor kicked in! It is way too aggressive, it snatches the rpm very quickly and you simply cannot stop the G2 yawing left at a fair rate, my FI did warn me of this trait so I was already feeding a lot of right pedal but it still yawed left.

So, would I do a type rating in a G2? No I wouldn't, it is a very nice helicopter to fly but having spent so much time in R22's and R44's I don't see what the benefit would be and too be honest I find the R44 a really nice heli to fly, admittedly the G2 is a lot more fun from a handling perspective but at £408 per hour (inc VAT) I would rather go for a turbine rating.
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Old 12th Nov 2015, 10:07
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Hi there Madmatt,

Am just wondering where you went for your Cabri trip.

I fancy having a go myself.

Regards,

PP
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Old 12th Nov 2015, 12:38
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Hey maddmatt
So, would I do a type rating in a G2? No I wouldn't, it is a very nice helicopter to fly but having spent so much time in R22's and R44's
bludi lukky to be alive flinging about in them thar Flimsicopters Mate, get in a REAL Helicopter that's build robust, rugged & safe... why chance Your Life on anything less

Peter Principle - just do it!!!

Long Live the G2
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Old 12th Nov 2015, 13:55
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PP - I had an hour with Jeff at EBG based at Redhill. He has a lot of hours on the G2 and got me handling it very nicely very quickly.

VF - Yeah I hear you but old habits are hard to break, I have a lot of time on R22's and now R44's and I have got used to the hydraulics on the R44. I hear there might be a 4 seater variant of the G2, hope so as that would make for a great machine, esp if they put hydraulics in
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Old 13th Nov 2015, 08:06
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Talking

Hey maddmatt - Brother exactly;...........those Crapinson habits may well break even You climb into anything but one of those Flimsicopters & enjoy a loooong Life
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Old 13th Nov 2015, 10:51
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Originally Posted by Vertical Freedom
Hey maddmatt - Brother exactly;...........those Crapinson habits may well break even You climb into anything but one of those Flimsicopters & enjoy a loooong Life
VF, I think it is enough now. You are ruining your hard earned on-line reputation.
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Old 14th Nov 2015, 10:22
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Cool

Hot&Hi this is a rumour network where (fortunately) Pilot's can express their opinions freely???
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Old 16th Nov 2015, 08:22
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Precision Aviation (Oregon/US) have received their third and fourth G2 last month.

The four G2 flying over Newberg (wine country) :



Photo from Precision Aviation
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Old 16th Nov 2015, 17:42
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Just spent an hour in the G2 with Jeff at EBG. I have about 150 hours in the R44 (and 1600 fixed-wing), this was my first non-R44 heli flight.

I thoroughly enjoyed the flight. Overall it was easy to fly, no big problems. My right leg ached by the end of the flight, it really does take lots of right pedal. The one thing I really didn't like is the sprung-to-idle collective - if you don't hold it ALL the time, and pay attention, you suddenly realise you're hanging in there on 40% power. It happened to me several times and even when you've got the hang of it, it takes constant attention. Can't imagine why they did it this way vs the stays-put collective of the R44.

The engine display is really nice, much clearer than the steam-gauge instruments on the R44.
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Old 16th Nov 2015, 19:40
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The one thing I really didn't like is the sprung-to-idle collective - if you don't hold it ALL the time, and pay attention, you suddenly realise you're hanging in there on 40% power.
Shouldn't it have a governor?
Maybe you didn't switch it on?

AFM, Normal Procedures:
Engine governor failure practice
To simulate an engine governor failure in flight, proceed as follows :
1. Switch-off governor,
2. Adjust twist grip in order to maintain engine/rotor speed in the
middle of green arc,
3. Carry out a standard landing.
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Old 16th Nov 2015, 19:49
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I suspect n5296s means the collective lowering when you let go of it, which results in the correlator/governor reducing the throttle to 40% power. I have to say I didn't notice that when I had a go, but then I rarely let go of the lever for any appreciable period of time.
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Old 16th Nov 2015, 20:01
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Collective creep

This is a rigging problem.

The compensator spring needs to be adjusted during maintenance.

My Cabri also had the same problem as did more than one of my Robinsons.

It's easily sorted.
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Old 16th Nov 2015, 21:53
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I indeed mean a quite strong spring pulling the collective down - and hence also reducing power. Obviously reducing power without dropping the collective would result pretty rapidly in some attention-grabbing things happening. I didn't take my hand off the collective (I didn't dare!) but I'm used to not needing to apply positive pressure all the time, so if my attention was elsewhere then the collective/power would droop. By the end of the flight I was keeping an eagle eye on the indicated power so this wasn't happening (much). But I'd rather not NEED to keep an eagle eye on the power.

If this is just a matter of adjustment then that's pretty reassuring.
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Old 16th Nov 2015, 23:24
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Hmmm, wouldn't expect to start slowing or dropping from the sky just because I had to change frequency?
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Old 16th Nov 2015, 23:29
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The Cabri that I flew in recently had exactly the same problem, a heavy collective (I kept checking that the frictions were off!) and was prone to going down slowly all by itself unless you applied constant upward pressure. But the company I flew with hadn't had it long so I guessed that they hadn't quite got to grips with it yet!
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Old 17th Nov 2015, 07:30
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Now you mention it I remember mentioning the exact same thing to Jeff, pulled the collective to the power I wanted and kept thinking why is not where I want it! Put it down to me but I am glad there is something else I can blame
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Old 19th Nov 2015, 19:05
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Originally Posted by HeliHenri
For those who like rugby and helicopters

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw (1m88 and 105 Kgs)

He has around 100 hours on the G2 and will become CPL and FI after the World Cup when he will retire
He has announced his retirement and will take up a position flying with Christchurch Helicopters shortly.
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Old 30th Nov 2015, 08:26
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Following the recent certification in Brazil, EFAI (Escola de Aviação Civil) will receive their thirst G2 (PR-EFC) at the end of next month and their second one next year, they currently use 1 R22 and 4 H300.


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Last edited by HeliHenri; 3rd Dec 2015 at 07:29.
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