That's the nicest example I have seen yet....simply well done Russ!

I gota admit Russ, sum people have put sum serious work into that thing.

lOOKS good.

Very nice looking machine. What engine?

It looks just as nice in the flesh too wolvie..... only the interior could do with a clean now.... y'know.... to get rid of all the dog hair, ticks and Murrays toe nail clippings

Scott, It is a 2.5 sooby with all the bells and whistles

Fantastic machine..... I think he has it for sale still.... the exchange rate is good for you guys.... when Chris brings over the Titaniums, maybe there would be room for this beauty?

I like that little wing with a radial...

Is that an RAF or a SparrowHawk?

Engine looks like a single overhead cam Subbie 2.5L...
There was a DOHC 2.5 on RWF a while back, fully rebuilt with the EFI already converted... for, I think, around $2K... passed it up.
Would rather build my own.

Yeah, the little wing is the other Murray's.... has a Rotec radial

It is a Raftor and yes single cam each side

THX Muz...

My first trip to BD's... was starting to learn gyro's...

Sat in an RAF, and a SH...
My (about) 1.85M by 100Kilo frame... does not fit in an RAF very well.

Besides, I like the 'open' flying idea more.

Gonna spend the holiday weekend working on the machine shop. After the mill arrived... got busy with heating calls... (not complaining, the extra income during off season is appreciated). Need to get a stand for the mill made, get it in place, and get it set up and usable. Lots to do.

I must admit GG, open frame and semi pod open frame is where my heart lays..... not so much into cabin jobs myself.... I appreciate nice ones tho.... both of these are great machines

G'day there guys........the unthinkable has happened, I've tipped her over, no injuries, pride took a hit tho.
Had been out flying, fair bit of yank and bank, came into land, she shot off into a drain.....rest is history.
Fault.........the nylon steering shaft bushing had jammed nose wheel way right, unbeknown to me at that minute. So we shot near on 90* right the moment the nose wheel touched down.....bloody near shot us out the pax door it was that extreme.
It now has come to light, that many nylon materials " grow " as they absorb moisture, hygroscopic is the term. The bush seized the rotating steering shaft.
If..........I touched down zero roll, things would have been Ok......I stuffed up, period.
Looking over the machine, the damages are surprisingly minor, actually shocked me. So......rebuild is about to commence, stay tuned.....as they say.

Russ

OMG!!! Russ glad you are all right!

Can you even see the bushing during pre-flight so those with the same ride can check it to avoid this happen to them?

Ouch. Very sorry to hear about the mishap. I am glad you are alright though.
At the end of the day a gyro is no more than just a bunch of metal and fiberglass.....and money!
On the other hand you are made of 100% guy!
Rebuilding give you an opportunity to fix things you didn't like on it anyways.
Don't ask how I know......
When you start on it please let us know how things are going.
Glad you have made it out OK!

Pic of the machine.......I really did miss a bullit, very fixable

You are right Russ it doesn't look that bad at all.

I am certainly glad you changed your mind about selling it (more like giving it away) at that silly price you had mentioned earlier

What alloy is the frame? Is it our 2 x 2.5 internal radius like a stick machine? Or is it something different? I have some pieces of new stick machine frame alloy if you need any?

What is the 'plan of Attack' Russ? Of the mast, frame, controls, pod and attachment.... are they ok and serviceable? Any damage? Obviously the rotors tail and prop need replacing, what about the engine/radiator installation? Are they ok? was the prop running hard when she went over, or was the engine idling or off by then? (in other words, will the engine need to be internally inspected?) I am happy to see it still looks so good... it could have been a hell of a lot worse..... hopefully it wont take too much time and $ to get back to her former glory

Maybe you could do a 'rebuild thread' on here.... we would all like to see that I know I would for sure We can all be of some 'immoral support'

Hope you have a great Christmas mate.... all the best for the new year

Thanks for the support guys..........appreciated.

Sourcing the " necessaries" ..........all under control. I'm still amazed how well she came through this.
Big ticket items ( tail, prop, blades......already ordered )
She'll be my 2015 Xmas present. Might book in for some pilot training as well... (-:

Anyway Xmas cheers to you all...........Russ

Did the frame and pod mountings survive ok? No fiberglass work or broken Perspex? It looks so much straighter than I had imagined when I first heard

I have been looking at radiators on ebay lately, lots on there and pretty good prices too.

When someone flies 2 types of aircraft, it is very easy to react with the wrong set of reactions when a situation arises you weren't the first and I bet you aren't the last When she is all back together, just go for a few blasts with Bruce L. or waddles and get your eye in..... then take Waddles or someone in yours, he doesn't weigh much, just as backup so to speak.... once you get your eye in, it will be a piece of cake, you will be right in no time.... Sounds to me like your little FW moment was just a one in a million hiccup.... thanks Mr Murphy Murphy is always hanging around ready to cause some shit

I love the attitude Russ!
Get her back together and fly the crap out of it.
Shit happens, and as long as you get to walk away and do it again it's all good.
During my time as a helicopter instructor just when I thought I was the man life has taught me that I was not even close to be "being the man"!!!!
I was flying with my daughter and I hit a microburts.
Not fun. You lose 200 feet in an instant.
Seconds later the tower called me that they have detected a microburst on the radar.
I am glad I was at 800 at the time.
Just before turning final for runway 26 over the Halifax river I always kept my altitude so I could reach the shores if the engine crapped out on me.
I hate to swim in clothes if I don't have to.