Earth calling Erik..... Earth calling Erik..... where are you mate?

Hi Murray.

Oh, I'm here alright. Right now I want to attend two aero events this week-end. I haven't even flown yet!

A grill afternoon at our chairman's own flying field on saturday and a fly-in in Sweden, quite close to me.
To do that I must have my motorbike ready - it's been put away and left on it's own for three years.

Back when i bought it a woman driver crossed a very small roundabout fast just in front of me - and stopped.
I had to eat dirt (asphalt) and the bike's 200 kg landed on my left leg. While I was on the ground, she just drove on.
Had to go to the hospital next day, as my leg hurt. My bike got damaged and I lost the interest in driving it.

So now I'm washing 3 years dirt and cobwebs off it - some rust on steel parts, but corrosion not as bad as I thought.
A new battery is on its way as is an oil filter. But I'm hard pressed for time. I must clean the carbs and change fluids.

So I hope I can attend those two events and get my first flights. I've met some very nice Swedish guys on the net
and I would like to meet them.

I was just out trying to get at the carbs. Okay, I'll take out the air box to get some room - it can't! I have to disassemble
the entire bike to get at the carbs - what crap is this??

Cheers for now,
Erik

You better stick to gyros mate....

Motorbikes are dangerous

What sort of bike is it?

It's an Aprilia Pegaso 650 cc from 1997. One cylinder, 50 HP. Unfortunately twin carbs and twin exhausts - stupid.

I had to take off the old, rusty exhausts and the aft frame to gain access. But I'm afraid this project'll take more time than I have.

Unfortunately I have to waste time going to work.... And the wife also wants a few things done.

Well, I'll see, if I can get those carbs cleaned tomorrow. If I can do that, there might still be hope....

After all, I'll use my motorbike to go fly, right? That makes it legit in this context.

Later on, when it's too cold to fly, I'll take the motorbike apart completely, get new parts and repaint it.

(and now I'm still waiting on those oil seals for my lathe - it holds up everything)

Cheers
Erik

KuuuuL.... well I am off to the range to take the G___lock for a walk

Well, the motorbike didn't quite make it :(

But I'll go anyway. I'll just borrow a car off my old mum, when I get there.

Saturday noon grill at the chairman's own airfield.

Sunday an open house arrangement at an airfield near Trelleborg, Sweden.

I ought to be able get a ride - at least once.

I'm nearly stoked (I'd been if I'd been on the motorbike).

Cheers
Erik

Hi Murray.

Today (sunday the 24th of May) I got my first flight in a gyro.

It was the Calidus owned by our chairman (he has part ownership with someone, who is rarely there).

There is not much space inside - at least for the passenger.

We flew from Måløv (west of Copenhagen) to a small airfield near Trelleborg in Sweden.

It was just as I had imagined it would be. But no fun turns or climbs - just from A to B and back.

But I did get some photos of my mum's house - nice.

So nothing changed - I still want my own cheapish gyro.

Although I must admit a small, ultralight fixed wing with a 100 HP engine looks okay, too.

Cheers
Erik

PS: Pictures to come tomorrow.

I hate it when people fly gyros like airplanes! Just point A to B, at least at Bensen Days Greg Spicola was wringing out the Apollo chasing us through the cow pastures.

That's awesome Erik

Yeah, I agree with Scott.... A to B sux.....it is much more fun dive bombing your mates at the home strip and generally fooling about (sensibly, of course ) for you on your island, your basic machine will be a proper blast.... all you need

Your chairman sounds like a bit of a 'stick in the mud'? (party pooper) I guess if one is flying a 90,000 euro titanic class gyro, especially one that either cant be insured, or costs an arm and a leg to insure (expensive) one would tend to not chuck it about too much?

I reckon, the amount of 'fun' you had in the sardine tin gyro..... multiply that by your phone number.... that will be about how much fun you will have in your lighter, open machine

At least you finally got to fly in a gyro of sorts

Guys,

about fun maneuvers - I felt it wasn't fitten' to ask for someone to do it - and he didn't think of it.

At least I had my first and second flights since one flight in a small Piper at age 12. Now I'm sure I'll
like it a lot. It'll be worth the effort, which will be considerable. With my low income, large distance
to flight instruction and certification etc...

But life would be boring without challenges. And I have been aiming for this for years. That's ultimately
why I built my small home shop and bought a tool mill.

At Måløv airfield UL planes and R/C planes co-exist in a very friendly, halfway uncoordinated way.
I had not thought that possible. I visited the R/C guys after my pilot went home to attend family matters.
(after all, I am chairman of our own, small R/C club)

We'll just have to do the same here, hehe.

Cheers
Erik

Here is the pic right way up Erik. Yeah, he was either not trying to scare you.... or he is just a tentative pilot? Sort of like the old guys who buy an SUV (4 wheel drive) like a Landcruiser, they get the one with the V8 motor, raised suspension and chunky tires (could enter it in Baja) then.... when they come to a puddle after rain, or (heaven forbid) a speed bump.... they stop, then go over it one wheel at a time.... and look relieved when they actually make it without damage like, it will break any second

Edit: 44 knots on approach at 200' that far out from the strip wow, not how I land.... if the engine stopped suddenly, it prolly wouldn't make the strip? Those titanic class machines must fly even more differently to stick machines than I thought? I would either be at that speed/alt over the fence, then drop in steep, or at a bit higher speed.... and that is in a single place machine In a heavy 2 place, I would have thought more speed was necessary?

Mornin' Murray.

Thanks for turning the picture - I wonder, how I can avoid that in the future?

As for the approach, the eurotubs are after all blessed with 912ULS engines (sometimes even 914).

So they fly them halfway like fixed wings. More speed? Hmm, they do have a larger rotor (8½ m) than a single place machine, don't they?

A guy (CFI) with an ELA claims to fly single at 110 RRPMs.

Cheers
Erik

Actually the speed and altitude is correct for the Calidus.
For some reason the IAS on the Caliduses almost 10 KTS off.
So he is really chugging 55.
Weird when you look at your IAS and it shows 30 KTS on landing and you are still floating.
At the same ground speed the MTO will show 10 more knots.

I only look at one instrument apart from the engine temp and tacho anyway.....

And that's a bit of wool