|
the words every pilot should commit to memory
.
. . .Dare
to dream, hope, believe, seek, find, build and fly.
| |
| Multi-Function Display
Roberto Ferri is an Avionics Technician and has used his
talents to update his RAF 2000. For more information on this project
check this
out. He has installed or is installing many new electronics and
lighting features into and around his RAF 2000
|
|
Gyroplane Instructor Dofin Fritts is featured in an
article on pages 52 and 53 in the February, 2010 Popular Mechanics Magazine.
Dofin Friits was also
mentioned in the January, 2010 issue of
EAA Sport Aviation
Magazine "Blades of Glory - The Pitcairn Autogyro"
For more on
these stories
|
Anthony Goddard's
Beautiful RAF Dashboard
This winter's project is to convert the engine to fuel
injection - I'm hoping to reduce it's dipsomaniac thirst for petrol.
More pictures of this ship
on the Isle of Wight.
|
Picture your gyro
with wings and two rotors
Many gyro pilots
transitioned from airplane pilots. So picture your gyro with wings, two
counter-rotating rotors and infinitely more complex. Picture it so much more
complex that it takes three fly-by-wire computers to enable the pilot and
co-pilot to fly it. For more on the
gyro to V22 comparison , including
more video.
|
| What is this used for? Why would
you want one?
 |
| Bill Bertram Says Hello!
Hi Bill! Happy
Landings!
Did you go for a
ski?
More
information on snow skis for RAF 2000
|
Purple People Eater Wins Award
Mike Matthews named his ship Bugs (aka “the Purple People
Eater”). This Purple RAF 2000 , is based at Gansbaai in the Western Cape
Province of the Republic of South Africa. Mike's ship was voted the best
looking RAF in SA – 2008.
Congratulations Mike!
|
|
| Congratulations to Gavin
Mocke 
Gavin Mocke flew his first solo flight
April, 2009. This is great stuff..... Fun stuff. As everyone who has
soloed can recall. View
music video.
John Miller died Monday on June 23, 2008
John
Miller is shown in 1938 during the test flight period with Kellett KD-1 autogiro, the precursor to the helicopter.
Miller died Monday on June 23, 2008 at the age of 102 years.
(Photo courtesy of John Miller)
Robin Moore remembers the last
words his grandfather, John Miller, said to him Sunday night. "I guess my
flying days are over," recalled Moore.
If you are an RAF Pilot member
read more in and view videos in the
members area.
Miller's loss would be felt
throughout the aviation world.
|
| USA
FAA Proposes 22 Changes to Sport Pilot Rule
In the almost four
years since the sport pilot rule was implemented, the pilot community and
the FAA have gained a lot of practical experience. Now the FAA has used that
experience to develop 22 proposed changes to the rule that would affect
aircraft, pilots, and procedures.
Some of the proposed
changes, which were published April 15, 2008 already are drawing pilot
comment. Among them is the plan to alter altitude limitations—now set at a
maximum of 10,000 feet msl—to include an agl limitation. This would increase
the operating window for pilots who live in mountainous terrain. Another
change to the rule would allow the use of light sport aircraft (LSAs) in
Part 141 flight training programs.
Other changes would
replace proficiency checks currently done by flight instructors with checks
done by pilot examiners, retroactively require sport pilots to receive one
hour of flight training on the control and maneuvering of an airplane solely
by reference to instruments, and replace category and class logbook
endorsements with ratings on the pilot’s certificate, eliminating the need
for pilots to carry their logbooks when they fly.
The FAA is allowing
120 days to file comments, and AOPA is carefully reviewing the proposed
changes and their possible effects on members. You can review the full
notice of proposed rulemaking online.
|
| Ronnie Legge has a Project Report
The flight testing of the new tail went very well. The rain stopped every
time we wanted to fly.
The recommendations were that the VNE is
lifted to 80 mph, doors can be fitted and the crosswind limit is lifted to
15 mph. The MAUW is now 50 lbs higher to 1275 lbs. The government paper work
in the process. See details
on the project.
|
|
New Oregon, USA Ethanol Law to Take Effect on January 1,
2008
Experimental Aviation Association
members are responding to a newly passed
law in the State of Oregon, USA requiring ethanol additives in gasoline
distributed in that state. The new mandate is that all gasoline grades contain a
10 percent ethanol blend once state ethanol production reaches at least 40
million gallons. The law is scheduled to . EAA immediately alerted Oregon
chapter leaders, the Oregon Pilots Association, and the Oregon Department of
Aviation in a special Government e-Notice regarding the potential harmful flight
safety effects the new law would have on thousands aircraft owners and
operators.
Among those who could be adversely affected include pilots transitioning through
the state; those with an FAA-approved auto fuel supplemental type certificate (STC);
ultra light pilots; and experimental aircraft owners who require
ethanol free auto fuel.
|
Mariners
Complain of Engine Outs - Costly Repair Problems - Ethanol
Issue
Are Gyro Pilots In Same Boat?
 My RAF is placarded for 92 octane auto gas – no
ethanol. At a recent fly-in several folks noticed that placard and asked
me why the craft carried the no-ethanol note? I simply answered: “Although
my aircraft is experimental, I don’t find the need to experiment with too
many things at once. Fuel is something someone else can experiment with.”
Proponents of ethanol see it as a fuel additive that can reduce energy
woes in the USA and Brazil. Farmers in my part of the USA see it as another market to
sell corn to and in Brazil they use sugar cane to produce the stuff. Some boaters say they need it like a hole in the hull. A
Wall Street Journal article indicated that boat owners were
encountering expensive repairs as a result of ethanol in their gasoline.
The blended gasoline currently in wide use in many areas of the USA
typically contains up to10% ethanol. Such blends now account for about 40%
of all gasoline produced in the country, up from 33% in 2005, according to
the American Petroleum Institute. The spread of ethanol, often made from
corn, has been spurred by state and federal government moves to promote
alternative fuels. Only 10% or RAF owners surveyed in July, 2006 indicated
that they have burnt or will burn gasoline with ethanol.
More Information
|
| FAA Pilot Procedures
After a number of runway incursions at a variety of airports
around the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration has
recommended these procedures be followed while on the ground. Although
many of them don't apply to most of the airports our members fly in or out
of, the procedures carry some merit for any pilot.
(Click on the procedures below to download a
printable PDF file of them.) |
 |
Florida, USA - Some Fine Ship There Harry
April Solo - Congratulations!
Johan Venter went solo in his RAF
2000 with Eben Mocke Snr.
Congrats to Johan and may there be many hours of happy flying.
Just some interesting facts to add..... Johan was once so nervous of flying he
thought of every excuse not to fly every morning. And
look at him now!
 |
 |
When RAF
Closed
Its Doors
An Aviation icon, Rotary Air Force
Marketing, Inc. (RAF) withdrew form the sport gyroplane marketplace. Their
announcement came as a shock to many of us. The company had produced
over 700 kits during their 20 years and was viewed as a positive and driving
force in an industry where few survive and fewer still produce enclosed-cabin,
high-performance machines.
Over the years, they have strived to
encourage gyro pilots, a fringe group of aviation aficionados' to be sure, to
work towards safety and operate within the regulations of the aviation
community. They provided training and guidance to the aviation community
around the globe. They tested many engine types and finally settled on the
Subaru engines, with modifications and tweaks, as the power plant of choice.
That engine has become a choice for many homebuilt aircraft in the experimental
category. View the
closing announcement from RAF, Rotary Air Force Marketing, Inc.
Enter Upington Microlight & RAF
2000 Training Center As the New Factory for RAF 2000 ...miles above the
competition
Upington Microlight & RAF 2000
Training Center is located in Upington, South Africa. RAF has, from a
customer's viewpoint, only moved. For more information, see the article "RAF
2000 Has A New Logo!" on the
training page of this website.
RAF Pilots, not associated with the
RAF 2000 factory, will always be here as a support vehicle for all RAF pilots.
Our newsletters as well as the members only website monthly issues are still
part of the aviation experience. It you own an RAF and are not a member,
you should join now!
US Pilots - There are Regulation
Changes On Your Horizon
They are now in the notice of
proposed rule making stage.
Gyroplane Specific Rule Changes
from NPRM Document Number FAA-2006-26661
Proposal No. CFR designation
Summary of the proposed changes
5 .........§ 61.19(b)
.............Extend the duration period for student pilot certificates for
persons under the age of 40 years.
7 .........§ 61.19(d) .............Establish flight instructor certificates
without expiration dates.
26 .......§ 61.51(e)(1)(iv) …Permit a pilot who is performing the duties of PIC
while under the supervision of a qualified PIC to log PIC time.
54 .......§ 61.109(d)(5)(ii) ...Change the distance on the solo cross-country
flight for private pilot certification—gyroplane rating to conform to ICAO
requirements. Change the distance on a cross-country flight for private pilot
certification—gyroplane rating from ‘‘at least 25 nautical miles’’ to read
‘‘more than 25 nautical miles.’’
55 .......§ 61.127(b)(4)(vi) ...Add ‘‘ground reference maneuvers’’ as an area of
operation for commercial pilot certification—gyroplane rating.
60 .......§ 61.129(d)(3)(i) .....Reduce the instrument training for commercial
pilot certification—gyroplane rating to 2.5 hours on the control and maneuvering
of a gyroplane solely by reference to instrument and permit it to be conducted
in an aircraft, flight simulator, or flight training device. Clarify the control
and maneuvering of a gyroplane solely by reference to instrument required for
commercial pilot certification gyroplane rating must include training using a
view-limiting device.
62 .......§ 61.129(d)(3)(ii) ....Allow the day cross-country flight for
commercial pilot certification gyroplane rating to be performed under VFR or IFR.
63 .......§ 61.129(d)(3)(iii) ...Delete the requirement for a cross-country
flight at night time for commercial pilot certification—gyroplane rating and
establish it as ‘‘At least two hours of flight training during night-time
conditions in a gyroplane at an airport, that includes 10 takeoffs and 10
landings to a full stop
(with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern).’’
64 .......§ 61.129(d)(4) ........Permit training for commercial pilot
certification—gyroplane rating to be performed solo or with an instructor
onboard.
| 
|
Mid-February Solo
Event - Congratulations to Johan Pienaar
Johan Pienaar conducted his first solo flight in his
RAF-2000 in mid-February, 2007 in Upington, South Africa with Eben Mocke Sr
as his flight instructor.
Congrats from the entire gyro community on a fine job done
goes out to Johan and to Eben as always.
(by the way, if you get a chance, check out the
Kalahari
Bundu Bash Fly-in.) |
 |
These
guys are out having some flight fun in South Africa.
Pictured from the front to the back: Eben Mocke Senior
John van der Merwe
Eben Mocke Junior
This photo was taken just before they flew from
Upington to the Augrabies Waterfalls and back. The round trip was about
100miles.
(The Orange River drops 191 meters at the Augrabies
Falls.)
More on the trip. |
|
|
Manchester England
Home of An Absolute Beauty!
This RAF belongs to Ronnie Legge
and the workmanship is beyond superb. He runs a carbureted EJ-22 with
a four blade propeller.
He has also designed an enclosed
trailer that allows him to transport his machine with the rotors on.
See what else Ronnie is up to.
See more. |
RAF Pilots In New Electronic Home
The RAF Pilots site was moved at 8:00
PM US CST on 11/24/06. By midnight, the thousands of files were loaded. And by
7:30 AM on 11/25/06 We were able to access those files across the Internet. Both
Gyro Nation and RAF Pilots have now been moved and were running with them
accessible within a few hours, rather than the potential days that were
predicted.
We had the opportunity to run many of
the videos on the websites and have to say wow! They never get old.
First LSA Repairman Inspection
Gyroplane Course Completed!
By
Martin Weaver
Paul Patterson, center in picture,
has had a great October. Paul successfully added sport pilot gyroplane
privileges to his private pilot certificate on October 7th in his RAF-2000 by
completing a proficiency check. On October 22nd, Paul received the first
Repairman (LSA) Inspection certificate issued by the FAA from Inspector Edsel
Ford, on right, from the Light Sport Aviation Branch. Paul completed
FUN AIR, LLC’s repairman inspection course for gyroplanes after 16 hours of academic
training and practical exercises. Upon receiving his repairman certificate Paul
will now be able to conduct annual condition inspections on his ELSA RAF-2000.
Martin Weaver, left and Kelly Teague, not pictured, are the instructors for the
FAA accepted repairman course. This is the first course conducted since the
advent of the national LSA program.
| Fly the El Mirage
Dry Lake! THE KEN BROCK ROTORCRAFT
ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (PRA - CHAPTER ONE) sponsors a
fantastic annual event that every gyro enthusiast should plan to attend.
It is appropriately called the Ken Brock Freedom Fly-In This year it is on
Sept. 28-30, 2007. See our
events page.
 |
Several years back, there was a free
video reproduced and distributed to encourage people to have fun with
their gyros. We were all asked to spread it around. The video had a
simple title: It was simply 5 EZ Steps to Fly a Gyro.
In the interest
of the gyro sport, this video streaming is provided by the RAF Pilots
Association along with Gyro Nation.
|
Step 1, Go to a Fly-In
There couldn’t be a better fly-in to get introduced to gyros than the one at
El Mirage on the actual dry lake bed.
Video size options:
Step 2, Get quality Instruction
There are a number of fun-filled scenes of flight lessons nicely edited
Video size options:
 |
640X480 16.6 MB
Play |
|
320X240 4.6 MB
Play |
Step 3, Build a gyro
Humorous scenes depicting the steps in building a Ken Brock gyro
Video size options:
|
640X480 47.1 MB
Play |
|
320X240 13.8 MB
Play |
Step 4, If you want to fly like Ken Brock, You've Got To Look like Ken Brock
There are a number of the great Ken Brock's legend flight maneuvers
Video size options:
|
640X480 34.2 MB
Play |
|
320X240 9.5 MB
Play |
Step 5, Go have fun
Loads of fun on a Ken Brock gyro plane
Video size options:
|
640X480 34.2 MB
Play |
|
320X240 37.5 MB
Play |
Let us know your thoughts on the video
or the fly-in. Email the
webmaster or use the
comments page.
|
|
Gyro Enthusiast International Get Together Be sure to attend the
free Gyro Enthusiast International Get Together at Fond du Lac, the day
after the EAA Airventure. This event is a must for anyone interested
in gyroplanes. For more on the event go to
Get Together '06.
|
The July, 2006
Survey Results are in
To everyone that took the time to fill in the digital
survey, Thank You.
The results, pictured on the right, are the breakdown
from the question, "How many flight hours are on your gyro?"
View the entire
survey results on the
survey page |
Solo Event -
Congratulations Paul Patterson
At 7:50 a.m. on July 17th, Paul Patterson of Guthrie, OK
conducted his first solo flight in his RAF-2000, N227E. Paul built his
gyroplane and certificated it as an Experimental Light Sport Aircraft
(ELSA) on March 1st this year. Paul is a Vietnam era helicopter pilot and
bought his gyroplane kit about two years ago. He put off building his
gyroplane kit until after be rebuilt a Taylorcraft and obtained his
Private Pilot airplane certificate. Since November of last year Paul has
worked at completing his RAF-2000 and learning how to fly gyroplanes. Paul
has persevered and succeeded in accomplishing his goal of soloing his
gyroplane. Now he is working towards completing the Sport Pilot
proficiency check sometime in August. Congratulations Paul!! |
| Solo Event -
Congratulations Dan Dase
On June 23rd, Dan Dase of Fort Worth, TX (pictured
below) soloed for the first time in his RAF-2000 at Clearance E. Page
Airport (F29) in Oklahoma City, OK. Dan is an 8000+ hour airplane pilot
who took his first gyroplane ride at Sun and Fun this year. He contacted Fun Air, LLC
when he returned home to get a second opinion about flying gyroplanes.
After his first flight he was not totally sure if he would like the
gyroplane but once he had a second opportunity he fell in love with the
machine. 
After his check ride Dan decided he wanted to fly his
gyroplane back to Spinks Airport (FWS), just south of Fort Worth. Now Dan
had to remember before he started this journey of 210 miles that he was
used to flying this course in his Bonanza at about 200 miles per hour;
which was only about a one hour trip. He started his trip
at 6:45 a.m. on July 15th in his RAF-2000. He made two stops enroute; one
at Healdton, OK (F32) and the other at Decatur, TX (LUD). He completed his
trip after flying 4.5 hours. When he called to say he made it safety to
Spinks he still had that happy sound in his voice. It would take a
significant amount of brillo-pad scrubbing to remove the smile that is on
Dan’s face every time he flies his RAF-2000. Dan is a gyroplane convert
that has put fun back into his flying career. We wish him well and safe
flying.
More on Dan. |
| Solo Event -
Congratulations Roger Hooker On Wednesday, May 31,
2006 at 09:35 CDT, Roger Hooker took to the skies of Oklahoma, USA in solo
flight in his ELSA RAF2000, N4208Q, for the first time.
Roger made three successful takeoffs and landings in his fun machine.
More pictures of the solo's
celebration! |
| Miss Champion on
The Grass
 Steve
Pitcairn started the throaty-sounding 1931 Pitcairn PCA-2 autogiro named
Miss Champion, pointed her into a steady breeze and in about
30 feet was airborne. NC 11609 gently lifted off the runway, climbed and
headed over to EAA's Pioneer Airport where it landed vertically in front
of its new home, the Pitcairn Hangar at EAA’s Pioneer Airport.
(See
Part I of this video) |
|
London Air Show - Gyro Success
By Martyn Love
This was a seriously good show. I reckon about 10,000
people passed through the London Air show over the 3 days (21st - 23rd
April 2006), and judging by my throat, I think most of them visited the
British Rotorcraft stand.
We had a fantastic response, and our stand was easily
the busiest at the show. We had 4 gyros on the stand, with 10 people
on hand to offer information, plus a DVD playing the entire time. It
generated a lot of interest, and in particular we had some of the head
guys from the CAA paying us a visit, they intimated that the raising of
the profile was long overdue, and it meant that gyros could now start to
be taken more seriously. We had an RAF, a Magni, an MT03 and a Cricket on
static display. My take on it was that if we had a pre-built 2-seater
enclosed gyro we could have sold quite a few; everyone loved the RAF but
not all wanted to build it.
After this show, I am really looking forward to the
start of the flying season, with our first major fly-in at
Popham Airfield (about 20 miles due west
of where I am located) on this Saturday (April 29th/30th, 2006).
|
| Two New Experimental Light Sport
Gyroplanes Certificated by
Martin Weaver
 |
| Pictured above (left to right) Martin Weaver, flight
instructor; Roger Hooker, proud owner and builder of N4608Q (white
machine); Edsel Ford, Airworthiness Inspector from the FAA’s Light
Sport Aviation Branch; Steve Keesey, FAA Airworthiness Inspector from
the OKC FSDO; Paul Patterson, proud builder and owner of N227E (red
machine); and Duane Hunn,
Rotary Air Force flight instructor and test pilot.
|
On March 1st, at Fun Air, LLC hangar, in Mustang, OK, USA, two new
RAF-2000s were certificated as Experimental Light Sport Aircraft (ELSA).
The ability to certificate both gyroplanes on the same day required
collaboration between the owners (one from Albuquerque, NM and the other
from Guthrie, OK), the FAA inspectors and the flight instructors. Planning
started for this event in November 2005.
Duane Hunn conducted the initial
test flights. N4608Q made her first flight at 10:17 a.m. on March 2nd.
N227E made her first flight at 11:36 a.m. on March 3rd. Both
builder/owners are proud of what they have accomplished after many hours
of labor. Mr. Hooker is working towards a Sport Pilot certificate and has
a goal of becoming a Sport Pilot Flight Instructor in the future. Mr.
Patterson is working towards a Commercial Pilot certificate and is also
has a goal to be a gyroplane flight instructor. Congratulations to both
these gentlemen for a job well done!
|
|
Some
people have all the luck.
Jerry Tiahrt,
who hangs out as an "Airport
Bum" at the Waycross, Georgia, USA Airport, was doing just that
(hanging out) when this good-looking blond pulls up in an Extra 300L.
You cannot make these kinds of
stories up - guys. So he
introduces himself to the Extra pilot who is
Patty Wagstaff, a six-time member of the US Aerobatic Team. Patty has
won the gold, silver and bronze medals in Olympic-level international
aerobatic competition and was the first woman to win the title of US
National Aerobatic Champion and one of the few people to win it three
times.
We understand
that they will be exchanging rides in her airplane and Jerry's RAF 2000
gyrocopter at a later date.
|
Giddy With Pride - RAF Owner Speaks Out
We had an open survey online of
the puzzler below for over 40 days and nobody guessed the identity of the
widely-known and outspoken person quoted. He built and flew an RAF for
years, converted it with an American Autogyro modification kit. He
kept that a relatively short time and sold it. The survey results show
that it was hard to guess the answer.
Guess Who This Happy RAF 2000
Owner Is.
Below is the widely-published quote from
the happy RAF 2000 owner. Since the quote
included a specific date (Month, Day, and Year) and Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter (in his home
town) we dropped those specifics to keep you all guessing. We
now let you all know who this mystery owner is.
The mystery Quote:
“I flew my Rotary Air Force gyroplane for the first time on” Month, Day,
Year. “The flight was also my first gyro solo after 25 hours of dual
instruction. The kit went together in a little over 300 hours spread over 9
1/2 enjoyable months. I flew 106 hours in the first year and am on track for
doing the same thing during the second year. I'm a member of the EAA
Chapter” in my hometown “and just received my pin for flying more than 10
Young Eagles last year. The RAF is the most fun flying I’ve experienced and
I share it with as many people as I can. She cruises near 80 mph and the
view is fantastic."
|
|
|
Second
Gyro Accomplishes Landings in All 48 Lower US States
By Jim
West
Congratulations to Rob
Dubin who completed his series of flights across the lower 48 United States
in his RAF 2000 with the AAI-modified gyroplane on February 28, 2005. RAF Pilots celebrates his
accomplishment which certainly helps to get gyroplanes more publicity.
A job well done, this is no small accomplishment since landings in all 48 have only been
flown once before.
Rob flew his gyro-journey
from Mesa, Arizona to St. George, Utah, flying over 10,000 miles as he was
supported and followed by his wife, Dee, in the couple’s motor home.
During their trip, Rob
flew his gyro over at an average speed of 55 mph with the couple stopping at
more than 140 airports along the way. Most in the gyroplane community
followed Rob’s website log which is a fantastic read. The entire trip was
marred by only two interruptions. The journey was first delayed about a
week while a crew of mechanics from North East Florida Aviation Maintenance
at Jacksonville Florida's Craig airport repaired the gyro after its drive
belt lost teeth and subsequently encountered a hard gear-busting landing.
Later the trip was held up for a month and a half while Rob’s wrist and
thumb were healing from being broken when the gyro’s prop compression-kicked
back as he tried to turn it by hand.
The first gyro to successfully land in all 48 lower United
States was Chuck Feil’s RAF 2000 affectionately referred to as “Rooty
Kazooty”. Chuck’s trip sponsored through Spirit of American
Youth 2000 ended at the EAA Airventure in July 2000.
|
|
United Kingdom Insurance - Moves
Forward – Slowly
European legislation that has come into force effective the
first of May, 2005, states that it is compulsory for all aircraft to carry
passenger insurance. Since no insurers in the United Kingdom cover gyro
passengers the new law effectively means we RAF 2000 pilots can no longer carry
passengers over the UK. This change has obvious serious impact on our British
and Scottish members. Do not take a chance flying passengers without insurance
coverage unless you are willing to risk a fine of £5,000 and or 6 months
imprisonment.
It is now February, 2006. The UK insurance industry leaders
still have nothing substantial to report on the passenger insurance front. The
deal is that the premium for the entire UK, based on the RAF 2000 fleet, was US
$130,000. There are approximately 80 RAF 2000's in the UK, of which (a rough
guess would be) only half are currently flying, and of those (another rough
guess again) only half would take up the insurance. The arithmetic would
indicate that the pilot/owners wanting to take passengers legally are possibly
looking at an annual premium of $6000 or more. As the whole gyro-flying culture
puts us all into the ''poor relation or risk'' category, there isn’t a lot of
hope. As the European Union passed this law without providing a comment period
for collecting a proper response from the UK gyro pilots, or the insurance
industry, we are all waiting for the next chapter to be written. We will keep
you posted on future developments.
We asked a question last year and it is appropriate to ask it
again. How long will it take to fix this problem?
A background article
If there are any comments or updates, please
let us know.
|
2.5 Liter Fuel Injected
RAF Wins
Pylon Race AT 2005 PRA Convention
By Jim West
Congratulations to
Jim Logan (pictured on the left), RAF Flight Instructor, winner of the 2005 Popular
Rotorcraft Association Pylon Race held at Mentone, Indiana, USA on July
22nd, 2005 Jim flew his green and very swift RAF 2000 in figure-eights
around the white banded orange drum pylons with careful precision.
More information
|
RAF Pilots First Annual International
Get-Together
by Jim West
The EAA Airventure began at
Oshkosh, WI USA on Monday July 25, 2005 and ended on Sunday, July 31, 2005.
With that came a new chapter in RAF Pilots history. RAF Pilots enjoyed
themselves at their first Annual International get-together. So mark
your
2006 calendars because there will be another such event the day
following EAA Airventure 2006.
This event unofficially started
on the last day of Airventure for some and in the local Holiday Inn
breakfast on Monday August 1st for others.
The actual and official
start was at Fond du Lac airport on August 1, 2005. Where? Fond du Lac
Airport FLD Wisconsin USA. Fond du Lac is very near the EAA
convention.
The all-day flying and talking
and asking and photo-taking party was held at the airport. Attendees
included members, drop-in guests, pilots and builders and "wanna be" pilots
and builders.
The Senior RAF 2000 staff members
graciously did the cooking and eat everyone did. Even my eighty-nine
year old uncle who had never attended the EAA convention stopped in (drove
his car to the event after playing an early round of golf) to see what we
were all up to and soak up the fellowship of pilots always exuded when fully
involved with their sport.
Hanger facilities, fuel and food
were be available at the airport. RAF Flight instructors also provided
lessons and introduction flights. With the EAA over, there were plenty of
hotel rooms nearby as well as one member's home, which was open as an inn
for RAF Pilots members.
Those that arrived by air prior
to Monday, were greeted by the busiest air traffic
system in the world. Pilots were required to follow the relatively simple
posted procedure. Transponders were not a requirement and aircraft were
referred to by general type and color. I have to say that I never heard
controllers talk so fast. They were like auctioneers moving aircraft
along through the transaction of airport arrival and departure sequencing.
For more of this story and
photos, simply click on the line-up of ships pictured above. for the report
on the planning behind the event see the
August Issue
in our members only section.
|
|
This event took place at the
Burlington airport, WI USA. Food was provided by the local Burlington
Kiwanis Club
as part of the town's fly-in breakfast. Gyros were parked in front of
Hanger 904 on the north side of runway 11/29. All rotor craft are welcome to
these events, including size differences from Benson to Blackhawk.
Burlington Airport BUU is a nice
airport with two runways, one hard top and the other grass. There were
nearly 100 experimental and antique aircraft attending as well as gyros.
This annual event took place Sunday August 28, 2005. Breakfast was
served at the airport.
These events are constantly under
planning discussion and open to members input. If you have a comment,
please send it
Jim West.
|
RAF Pilots From Wisconsin, USA Visit Weilerbach,
Germany
Chuck & Cathy Lukas, from
Appleton, Wisconsin, USA are enjoying a holiday in Germany, where they are
visiting their daughter and her husband. Chuck Lucas
has some EAA gyro notoriety since he won the Ken Brock award for workmanship in 2002 and the Bronze Lindy in
2003 for his Champion, RAF 2000 GTX SE.
Last week they traveled to
Zugspitze, the tallest mountain in Germany at 9,724 feet. The first picture
shows that an RAF Pilots hat has made it to the top of Zugspitze which is
also the dividing point between Germany and Austria (the cross in the
background). The second picture shows there is still some snow at the top of
the mountain. By the way, as they toasted the RAF Pilots around the globe,
Chuck and Cathy indicated that a German beer tastes very good at this
altitude.
|
 RAF
Pilot Chuck Lucas at the German / Austrian border. |
Summer snow on the mountain. |
Cathy and Chuck enjoying some of the historic culture of area. |
|
I am an RAF Pilot
Get your mail sent to you@rafpilots.com. RAF Pilots will
forward emails sent to you@rafpilots.com to your existing email address free, as
part of your membership benefit. This is a $20.00 per year service provided for
free to the membership. Ask our
webmaster
to set you up and say "I am an RAF Pilot" with every email that you send.
RAF pilots are fun-omenal!
|
|
Russ Kempka Gets The Ticket at
EAA Airventure!
|
Ship is award-winning RAF - twice at EAA Airventure |
|
Bronze Lindy
Champion in 2004 |
|
Silver Lindy,
Reserve Grand Champion in 2005 |
|
Received Rotorcraft Gyroplane ticket at Airventure
2005 |
|
Russ Kempka must really like the EAA
event. Russ won the Bronze Lindy in 2004 and the Silver Lindy in
2005 for his Champion, RAF 2000 GTX SE FI and then received his Rotorcraft
Gyroplane ticket at Airventure 2005. Congratulations Russ! |
|
|
|
Dave Reich
must really be proud of his accomplishment. His RAF 2000
GTX SE FI
won two
awards at the 2005 EAA Airventure prior to our
RAF Pilots get together on Monday August 1.
|
|
|
Gyro Escape RAF 2000 GTX
SE FI |
|
Won Bronze
Lindy Champion |
|
Won the Ken Brock Workmanship Award
|
Dave is not
new to Oshkosh Airventure. He also won the Ken Brock Workmanship
award in 2003.
Back to Top |
|
|
|
|
|
Around 1,500 individuals on average have visited the
RAF pilots website almost 3,000 times in a month. That is great, since we opened our
doors only three years ago. To view this information, check out the
traffic page.
|
|
Visit the
"What's New" Archive Back to Top |
|
