tkanzler
Thank you. It is much clearer and I think that is exactly what is happening. For me, I noticed one of the pieces rotated and the way it felt there was a bearing in the center and I could see one in the outside end. Double bearing. I figured the one end wouldn't spin because it was tied to mast and other end loose. The way you wrote I envisioned it much better and that has to be it. Just surprised that the top halyard and bottom stretched is the leading edge. I figured there would be attatchment points along the whole length or it would be in a track to keep it flat. Thanks for explaining.
Here is the single place at the airport
Photos taken during a test flight. I made them into a poster
to keep me inspired through all of this. This is just a snapshot of my poster.
On the gyro, I don't really know how much all the parts cost total. I can tell you there is nothing typical about prices because there are only a few in the world flying today. You can't just go buy one and if someone has one they most likely had to build it themselves because I can't see how you could pay someone to fabricate a project such as this with any kind of accuracy the labor required. I have bought when I got good deals on parts, and very rare you might find a project you can buy to give yourself a head start. It has taken a long time but I have saved significantly. If someone gave me 18-20k (like for a used 152) I couldn't build it new without being in the hole mainly because of the time factor. I have been building this for several years and the time investment solving each problem, fabricating each part and making sure it all fits together is a major commitment. There are a lot of people who start them and then give up. This isn't really about parts cost, it is about fabrication and drive. The really big question is how much is one worth? The parts cost is there but how much would a person pay for a flying motorcycle? A design that holds 29 world records, one of such plains now on permenant display at oshkosh? Sadly I guess not much. I think it is a labor of love but who knows.....
On the Little Wing Website Ron has a basic airframe without rudder, gear, horiz stab etc. for 3500.00. That was the price put on there for several years. Problem is that although it is just a few hundred dollars worth of metal for the major piece - it seems he can't pay someone enough to make it worth the time.
On my single place I have a 2180cc vw engine. It has a special crank, special nose bearings to be able to swing a prop, duel ignition (2 plugs in each cylinder, one electronic and one fired by magneto). It has electric start and a special case that mounts to the back of the engine containing the starter, magneto mount, and flywheel mounted generator. The mount has tangs that allow rubber mounting to firewall mounted engine mount same as a/c engines for isolation/vibration. I think that engine is around 7-8k as it sits. With the redrive it brings it up to around 9700 I think. Then there is about maybe 500 worth of metal in frame and 1k in hydrolic brakes/wheels. Rotor head is around 1500 I think and rotor blades around 1700. I did this all in pieces so it wasn't one big wad being coughed up at once. Plus there is that thing about doing something different....
I could have gone and bought a plane, but then I wouldn't have learned all I have, wouldn't have as much to dream about and wouldn't have the unique experiences I have had so I think it is fine. Especially looking forward to completing the two place as sharing your dreams with others is part of the fun. It is not quite as much fun flying by myself.
I wanted to be a chopper pilot then, and Whirlybirds was my favorite show (Bell 47, wooden rotor blades, and piston engine - a thousand moving parts attempting to do you bodily harm). But I never went in that direction, and fixed wing (C150/152's, C172's, and some Pipers, plus a little time in a Robinson) was as far as I got. Sure would be fun to get into ultra-lights or autogyros, though a used 172 may be cheaper in the end.
