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Every once in a while I read a post made by someone who understands flight instruction and would like to point out one instructor that in my opinion has a firm grip on the subject.This from the American forum is well worth reading and taking into account because Jim Mayfield has explained how pilots react when cross training from one kind of flying machine to another before the control inputs become burned into your mind for the new machine you are learning to fly.It does not matter how much time the gentleman had in fixed wing aircraft or helicopters. His first solo flight in a gyroplane was not the right time to practice power off landings. In my opinion, humans react to sensory input based on instinct or reflex. Reflexs are trained responses. This gentleman has 2000 hours in helicopters.I suspect, that he set up a very nice, stable power off approach. Everything looked good. Then I suspect he started a nice gentle "full down" autorotative flare at about 40 feet. The aircraft began to settle at a high closure rate. I suspect that he did not recognize the high closure rate until he was within 15 feet of the ground, sinking at about 500 feet a minute. He then probably went to full power. By then he was so far behind the power curve that almost infinite power could not fully arrest the descent.I suspect that as this situation developed and became a helicopter "full down" in his mind, that he was desperately trying to corollate what was happening to him with 2000 hours of experience in another aircraft type.I was not there. I am being a Monday morning quarterback. But for you folks getting ready for your first solo: take it easy!This is exactly how the mind reacts sometimes with all pilots during the critical stage of learning how to fly a new type of machine. Also it can very often be the cause of accidents with high time helicopter and fixed wing pilots when learning to fly gyroplanes.Like Jim I also am not saying that this was the reason for that accident, however it is very probable that it contributed to it.Chuck E.
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I agree,The reason my first solo only lasted bout 8 seconds was coz I previously flew a trike,for 360 odd hours.My mind,little there is of it,wasn't compleatly changed over to the gyro setup.And as far as I know,the trike is the only commercialy avalable craft with 'gocart' ground steering.When I first broke ground,with a slight cross wind,my hand was flying the gyro,but my feet were still flying the f&^#%^ trike.I knew that I was push'n the wrong peddel but I couldn't get my lousy mind to get my ignorant feet to swap peddals.Use your imagination to figure wot happened next.If I had a gun I woulda shot me right foot.Ignorance is bliss............but only till you realise you were.Ingratitude stinks.......be generous carefully.
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Birdy, sounds like you should have crossed your legs. 8 seconds would have to be called a "rodeo flight". In your case, assumingh $3000 for blades, then your first flight worked out to $1,350,000.00 per hr.Those trikes are surely a different kettle of fish. Not only reverse main controls but also reversed foot controls. I don't know who the bloke in the aviation authority who allowed that one to sneak through but I would sure like to have a public debate with him. If they got that one passed, we should be able to get anything through.Tim McClure
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Well, great to see that post of Jim Mayfields, mayby there is life happening after all !! Very well put.I would liked to have been there watching your first solo Birdy !!! I had a similiar problem when learning to fly FW with the throttle, our tractor, which I was doing a lot of work in had the throttle opposite the Piper so as soon as the pressure increased, I reverted back to flying the tractor
which was always handy when the instructor got just the opposite throttle response from me that he was expecting You never know how far you can go, till you get there !
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TRy this one. I broke my right wrist so swapped the bike throttle to the left side so I could still yard cattle. Sounds easy until you realise the throttle twists the opposite way. Forward to go faster. I got that use to it that I had trouble converting when the wrist got better. The funny thing was that I helped out australia post at the same time and did the conversion on the postie bike. Would never explain that one to a copper.Have also raced bikes with reverse gear change patterns ( most GP bikes have one up and 4 or 5 down ) and ones with gear change on the other side of the bike. Ignorance is dangerous . Ken
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Just like riding the Norton.Alls well until you need the brakes in a hurry and your mind is in neutral!
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Or the "Bultaco" range of dirt bikes. Gears on the opposite side to the jap machines.
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Tyr start'n a KTM,with your right leg.Ignorance is bliss............but only till you realise you were.Ingratitude stinks.......be generous carefully.
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If my memory serves me correctly something like 60% of aviation accidents and incidents are attributed to Human Factors. Obviously some of the design features mentioned above put more stress on the human part of the system. I was intrigued to learn quite a few years ago from a helicopter pilot working in Indonesia that they would not allow pilots to hold both fixed wing and helicopter qualifications at the same time. Isn't it strange how much importance we tend to place on the machine's integrity, but don't seem to think preflighting the pilot is important![:0]John EvansThink logically and do things well, think laterally and do things better.
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