OK, I finally got the shrunk-down Otto the Gyro out today...pic below to refresh memories.
Official report: It flies! Makes you laugh out loud just to see it. Rotor just singing away, about as much a blur as the prop is. I don't know what rpm it must be turning, but it appears pretty much like a disc.
Urban Legends exploded (things I was cautioned about while building it):
"Launch man must give the rotor a spin before launching." No he doesn't. I used a stooge; prop blast had the rotor turning, only about 60-80 rpm but turning, and as soon as it released the rotor spun right up, within just a few feet.
"It'll taxi nearly a full lap before it gets off." No it doesn't. Takeoff run about the same length as winged airplanes.
"It won't glide at all; will need repair after each flight (flips and breaks rotor)." Uh-uh. Not much glide, granted, but enough to get it down in one piece. On its wheels. In the grass.
"You can nurse it through a loop." I don't think so! Not sure the rotor would take it; a gentle climb increases the rpm alarmingly. You can feel it thrummmming (is that a word?) in the lines.
"The rotor AoA is 'way too extreme--it needs maybe half what it has (7.5 d. rather than the 15 d. shown on the plans)." This one is right; in level flight the tail was noticeably high. I plan to reduce the rotor angle before I take it out again.
All in all, this thing's a blast. I count it a complete success!
Oh, the Norvel .049 is plenty of power; no need to go to the .061.
Topic: Flight report...Otto the Junior Gyro (Read 767 times)