Stu Fields
As simple, inexpensive, reliable and valuable as governors are, I can't
believe the are not included on every rotorcraft. It's just makes too much
sense.
I'll exercise the Baby Bell for you while you are making up your mind.
I's nice to seesome ligitimate traffic here. But Belfort noticed it too, and is
back :(.
-ash
Cthulhu in 2008!
Vote the greater evil.
Now that is too crude for a magazine editor to use. I have to practice
using more words in case we get a shortage of articles and an abundance of
space.
One bad thing about governors, as witnessed in the turbine pilots trying to
fly a non governed ship, is if the governor fails, hey sometimes electronics
do fail, you have a real problem if you haven't practiced flying without it
and how many practice lazy pilots are out there?
All that said, I would like to have a governor when the workload gets high
like formation flying for photos, chasing coyotes at low altitude etc.
I didn't try flying the R-22 sans governor. I was having all the fun that I
wanted trying to adapt to the cyclic. The instructor, trying to be a nice
guy, told some stories about ex military pilots checking out in an R-22 and
using up quite a few hours. It did make me feel a little better.
Stu
I wouldn't want an electronic governor, mechanical is too easy, and too
reliable. When you think of it, we have all owned dozens of them. I've never
had one fail.
Cheers,
Ed Newbold
Columbus, OH
Ed: I have looked into the rotaryforum every now and then and it is 98%
gyrocopters. While we have some anti-social behavior from the "Stuck Wing"
crowd, I've also seen some similar behavior from the gyro pilots toward the
helicopters. To wit Bensen Days this year negative comments were heard from
the gyro people and again at Sun'n Fun. While the new PRA pres wants to get
the helos back in the group at Mentone and other events, a number of the
gyro folks seem to wish the helos would go away. That said, it seems like,
as in the traffic pattern, the helicopters need to do "Right Hand" in the
"Left Hand" pattern of the "Stuck Wing" and Gyros. Inspite of helos and
gyros both being rotary wing, there is a lot more in common between the
"Stuck Wings" and the gyros than between gyros and helos. Traffic patterns
and runway needs are the main operational difference. Sun'n Fun operations
illuminated a need to separate the gyro operations from the helicopters.
Their needs are just different. While the Event operators want everyone to
come, there needs to be a little thought about the peaceful co-existence of
the different A/C types. This may also be true in forums and NGs. It would
make sense to provide some separation for the different types of A/C
discussions. I know I'm not too interested in propeller discussions or
pre-rotators, brakes and centerline thrust.
There are an increasing number of helicopter fly-ins where the helicopters
are made to feel welcome. Vertical Challenge, Central Sierra, Utah
Helicopter Meet, Homer's, Spurlings, St. Denis in Florida, and a Mosquito
based show also in Florida, and Rotorfest in PA as well as some others that
I can't remember right now.
I've been hoping to find a news group or forum that focused on experimental
helicopters. This RAR has in the past been loaded more with the commercial
helo operators. I've tried to get some stuff going but I haven't hit the
right note yet.
Stu