A gyroplane and a motorcycle!

[Joe T.]

it wasn't me in the video but I have owned and have flown several gyros over the years. I still believe they are the best kept secret in aviation! What fun to own and fly.

Humm, what are your thoughts on 'Bunting Over?' Unrecoverable, as I understand it.

I first saw a Gyrocopter when I was about 14-15 (mid-1960s). It was an ad in Popular Science for a Benson Gyrocopter. Man, I wanted one of those!! But, being a poor kid, I couldn't afford anything like that. A very used motorcycle was my limit. But, that didn't stop me from dreaming.

I was at a friend's house some time later. His parents were there and we were all sitting at the breakfast bar talking. His father was a B-17 pilot in WWII and was shot down over Italy. He still was heavily associated with aviation.

His parents were very fun people - always happy and nothing could cause them to get too serious. After all, they both survived the Great Depression and WWII. By the 1960s, life was a peach.

I mentioned to Mr. Bodycomb that I wanted a Benson Gyrocopter so bad I couldn't stand it. For the first time I knew of, Mr. Bodycomb got real serious and looked me straight in the eye:

"Joe, you don't want a Gyrocopter. They have a very limited flight envelope. If you manage to get out of the flight envelope, the Gyrocopter will fall out of the sky and you will die. When this happens, it is unrecoverable."

This was nearly 50 years ago. I remember Mr. Bodycomb saying that as if it was yesterday. He got my attention.

Having said the above, I really would like a GYROPLANE!!!

Stupid is as stupid does, I guess - - - -

Joe T.

 

[Rando]

Humm, what are your thoughts on 'Bunting Over?' Unrecoverable, as I understand it.

I first saw a Gyrocopter when I was about 14-15 (mid-1960s). It was an ad in Popular Science for a Benson Gyrocopter. Man, I wanted one of those!! But, being a poor kid, I couldn't afford anything like that. A very used motorcycle was my limit. But, that didn't stop me from dreaming.

I was at a friend's house some time later. His parents were there and we were all sitting at the breakfast bar talking. His father was a B-17 pilot in WWII and was shot down over Italy. He still was heavily associated with aviation.

His parents were very fun people - always happy and nothing could cause them to get too serious. After all, they both survived the Great Depression and WWII. By the 1960s, life was a peach.

I mentioned to Mr. Bodycomb that I wanted a Benson Gyrocopter so bad I couldn't stand it. For the first time I knew of, Mr. Bodycomb got real serious and looked me straight in the eye:

"Joe, you don't want a Gyrocopter. They have a very limited flight envelope. If you manage to get out of the flight envelope, the Gyrocopter will fall out of the sky and you will die. When this happens, it is unrecoverable."

This was nearly 50 years ago. I remember Mr. Bodycomb saying that as if it was yesterday. He got my attention.

Having said the above, I really would like a GYROPLANE!!!

Stupid is as stupid does, I guess - - - -

Joe T.

A bunt over or power push over is fatal. That's where proper training comes into play. A good, modern gyro, when flown properly, will not bunt!

I recommend you join the forum and read about it. www.rotaryforum.com

Do a search for power pushover, bunt, CLT, HTL, etc...