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Hello.I know very little about rotorcraft. Can anyone on this forum please tell me what licence I would need in Australia to fly the Air Scooter. This is the website for it.http://www.airscooter.com/pages/airs..._main.htmThank youRob.
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A "certified" license.Rob,I believe the Air Scooter does not autorotate with an engine out and therefore can not be flown at altitude with any degree of safety. This thing is designed for flying close to the ground at all times. It was featured recently on 60 Minutes. Has een around for a lot of years and is in my opinion a death trap.Cheers,Mitch.www.thebutterflyllc.com
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"The thing is designed for flying close to the ground at all times." Would suit someone I know.....
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To GregThanks for your reply, Mate. I am very, very new to gyrocopters. It seems that you have been amongst them for a very long time. You mentioned this craft would not 'autorotate in an engine out'. I understand 'engine out'. Can you please put the rest in laymans terms to someone who has had nothing to do with gyros before. Thanks Greg.Rob.
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Rob,I've been in gyros just a 'smidge' longer an you then Mate. I'm a Newbie just like you. Gyros fly on blades that autorotate plus or minus 10% depending on G-Loads. In an engine out we simply land the gyro, the blades will autorotate all the way to the ground. It's all fun stuff, get the timimg and the flare right and it's "Oh what a Feeling!" You are taught this and after soloing one should practice this simulated engine out on a regular basis. Altitude is good.Altitude in the airscooter well....how much video footage is there of the scooter at altitude? Or is there any?Ask the manufacturers what happens to you if your engine fails and you are at 100ft agl.I dont know Rob, not something I want to find out about first hand. I bet this craft will be sold as an 'in ground effect' hover craft type useage.Getting the student pilot to successfully, steady and hover the craft whilst tethered is one thing. Cutting them loose, where height and velocity now become part of the equation is another matter. Look at the early history of gyros and the 'teach yourself to fly' statistics and you might begin to see what could become, the airscooters fate.Rob, the stuff below is copied from the web sites FAQ's.Question: Does the AirScooter auto-rotate?Answer: The AirScooter is designed for the recreational sport flyer and as such does not auto-rotate. The AirScooter is designed for recreational flying at low altitude where even traditional helicopters have little benefit from auto-rotation. Design efforts have been done on a ballistic emergency chute for the AirScooter.Question: Where can the AirScooter fly?Answer: The AirScooter II falls under the classification of an Ultralight. For detailed flight restrictions visit: www.ultralighthomepage.com/FAR.part103.htmlI think choppers need to get their rotors into the right 'place' within 1 - 1 1/2 seconds for autorotative rotor rpms to be maintained after an engine out. Think I'd rather be in a chopper at 200 ft any day. If you check out the USA's regs for ultralights you'll find the altitudes they can fly to. A fully test, proven ballistic shute fitted would be a must.These are just my opinions Rob.Welcome to the forum Mate. We like to know who we are talking with on the forum and ask that you fill in more detail in your personal profile. If we can pique your interest in gyros by answering any questions you have by all means join our group and ask away. Hope you get to fly soon.Cheers,Mitch.www.thebutterflyllc.com
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