Quote:
Originally Posted by BobnBev
Doesn't look very safe, to me. Do you wear a parachute? What kind of engine? 2-way radio equipped?
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Different manufacturers use different engines. One example is the Rotax 914 (see link for specifications.) It is probably very reliable. My early experience in helicopters (Army H-13 Sioux, Hiller Raven, and Hughes Osage) was in reciprocating engine helicopters. After years in turbine engine helicopters, I would probably be a bit uncomfortable in recip engine helicopters, which is strange because I am not uncomfortable in fixed wing aircraft with recip engines. Go figure.
You do not wear parachutes. If something goes wrong the odds of getting out of a gyroplane before a crash would be very small. Also, a lot of the fun of a gyroplane is flying low over the landscape, making parachutes ineffective.
Two way radios can be added to almost any aircraft, but are not required by the FAA except in some areas of "controlled airspace."
A question that should be asked is about the cost. I'm guessing $50,000 or more. The cost to each member of the club would depend upon the number of members. More members equal less cost. But, more members means less availability of the aircraft, especially in Florida's rainy season. Remember that the engine requires a costly overhaul after a certain number of hours of use.
Where would the aircraft be housed? What security would be provided? From what field would you fly? What would insurance cost with multiple pilots of varying degrees of piloting skill and experience?
Even with all these issues, it looks like flying one of these things would be a lot of fun.
Rotax 914 UL/F - Rotax Aircaft Engines