All,
Just started my lessons (thanks Allan!) and looking at what Gyro to purchase, will be one of the newer factory gyros, tandem with option for enclosed cockpit and open windscreen which leaves only 3 contenders, the DLA J-Ro, ELA Eclipse and ArrowCopter, and I'm trying to sort through the pros/cons of each of these machines to make a decision.
One thing that intrigues me about the Gyro community compared to GA is that people don't seem to consider either sharing a machine or having machines for rent. The typical gyro spends a lot of time on a trailer or in the hanger and it seems to me there would be an opportunity to do partial ownership, which is common in fixed wing and boating world. Especially as the newer factory machines cost north of $100K for the 2 seaters.
Similarly having an option to rent a gyro could also be a cost effective alternative if the arrangements were setup correctly. Insurance costs as well as familiarity with flying a particular gyro
Maybe related is an observation as new person to the sport that there are relatively few pilots based in Sydney and Melbourne for their population size and its the country guys who are most active and also make up the majority of the instructors. I assume because its harder to get to an uncontrolled aerodrome. So I assume there isn't a critical mass of pilots in Sydney and Melbourne to make sharing / renting viable, although Brisbane seems to be an exception as there is an active SEQ club and the hanger at Caboolture full.
Just started my lessons (thanks Allan!) and looking at what Gyro to purchase, will be one of the newer factory gyros, tandem with option for enclosed cockpit and open windscreen which leaves only 3 contenders, the DLA J-Ro, ELA Eclipse and ArrowCopter, and I'm trying to sort through the pros/cons of each of these machines to make a decision.
One thing that intrigues me about the Gyro community compared to GA is that people don't seem to consider either sharing a machine or having machines for rent. The typical gyro spends a lot of time on a trailer or in the hanger and it seems to me there would be an opportunity to do partial ownership, which is common in fixed wing and boating world. Especially as the newer factory machines cost north of $100K for the 2 seaters.
Similarly having an option to rent a gyro could also be a cost effective alternative if the arrangements were setup correctly. Insurance costs as well as familiarity with flying a particular gyro
Maybe related is an observation as new person to the sport that there are relatively few pilots based in Sydney and Melbourne for their population size and its the country guys who are most active and also make up the majority of the instructors. I assume because its harder to get to an uncontrolled aerodrome. So I assume there isn't a critical mass of pilots in Sydney and Melbourne to make sharing / renting viable, although Brisbane seems to be an exception as there is an active SEQ club and the hanger at Caboolture full.
Are there other factors that I don't see that makes partial ownership or renting of gyros unworkable?
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