Monarch gyrocopter doing stop and drop landings

[BobcatMartin]

At 3:40 I was sure something was going to get tore up. Very cool design.

[raymac101101101]

Looking at the Gyros on the Butterfly web site , I note the suspension looks a bit different ! and doesnt have the long suspension travel,  more like a standard Gyro with ridged suspension, " please explain"

Do we get this GREAT long suspension with the $15k Butterfly Gyro..

.or is THAT extra?????? Ray Sydney

[tchick]

@raymac101101101 Ray, Some of the photos on their web site show the standard suspension setup. If I remember correctly, the G-force landing gear is not included in the base price listed but is available as an option on all models except the ultralight model for around $1000 extra. Some people like the Butterfly design but don't want the G-force landing gear.

[paullubliner]

How much of the under the seat construction is structurally redundant? I understand the CLT concept but look at how Ken Wallis by simply raising the pilot's butt over his earlier designs accomplished this same feat. Do you have any dampening with that extended gear's travel? I also see that since you've used unequal length landing gear arms as you set down, you're generating significant lateral (side) loads on those tires. They appear to move outwards several inches.

[tchick]

@paullubliner What are you babbling about. Dampening? Did you watch the video? There's about 16" of dampening in the landing gear. Lateral loads on the tires is insignificant.

[paullubliner]

@tchick: I am asking if it is straight coil springs or an additional use of oleos. That lateral movement could relatively easily be designed out of the motion with an additional link.

[mark675]

thats awesome the way the suspension takes that drop! like a motocross bike with rotors! :P

[tsbrownie]

How do they do in x winds?

[tchick]

@tsbrownie Gyros handle very well in x winds.

[tsbrownie]

@tchick I asked about this one because I've seen one turn into a ball of bent aluminum in a x-wind HS taxi.

[tchick]

@tsbrownie Pilot error can lead to an accident in any aircraft. If the pilot was taxiing in a strong crosswind and tipped it over he was not doing it correctly. I go to a gyro flying event every year and there is always a strong crosswind at that airport that time of year. In 10 years of attending that event I've never seen anyone tip they're gyro over by taxiing in a crosswind.

[crapcameron]

How much does that thing cost

[ArtashesShaginyan]

Very good mechanism of amortization. Thanks for this video. You couldn't show more in detail as they are arranged?

[Puronicth]

I think my instructor wants this for Christmas XD

[tonymac96]

I used to fly gyrocopters with heavy engine such as the Subaru EA81...using 23 feet mcullon rotor blades ...the only shock absorbers were in the wheels...if you land hard it will bounce off...and the blades will probably hit the pavement...very ugly indeed... I really appreciate this design !!!!

[Dinosorable]

I just love the sound of that motor. :D

[Dinosorable]

My dad used want one of these. He probably still does.

[leroymoorejr]

Totally sweet ass landing gear!

[davecrouch44]

This Monarch Gyrocopters undercarrage is very well built great shockers, they should all have these springs on the wheels. A great safety aid on hard landings.

[Dubconferencedotorg]

fascinating :) 

[fcabido]

small carbon fiber boat bottom could take a lot of scary out and create an all new vehicle with unlimited runways/ airports

[atreewithnolife]

wot an amazing machine !! great pilot 2. im totaly blown away !!

[rcc0621]

i want one.

[Giddimskennels]

He's GoOD !

[wingzofsteel]

I would love to see that in person.

[CreoleCommando]

Thats some great skilled flying dude, wished I can learn to fly like that on that type too.

[Skyway172]

That's some crazy-cool gear! Is there a website for the gear. (How much can it hold, can it be put on a fixed gear plane?)

[tchick]

The Butterfly web site link is in the video info section. As far as I know they do not sell gear for use on other aircraft.

[ericsonfire84]

WOW! Didn't even spill his beer!

[stefanorso]

The gyroplane is relatively straight forward to fly and offers a good standard of safety. It cannot stall and spin. It can perform very short take-offs and landings and operate on semi-prepared runways. It can turn very steeply.

It's major vice is the high consumption of fuel and its top speed, that is not high.

Its the ideal choice for those who fly only for recreational purposes.

Misfortunately, gyroplanes are not cheap at all and they've got to have a great deal of power.

[RapDeRaphael]

danger

[ruger1430]

are these copters made from kits, and do you need a license does anybody know.

[tchick]

Yes they are made from kits and yes a pilot's license is required.

[mannhorn34]

@tchick WhY do you need a license and where do you get one?

[tchick]

@mannhorn34 If an aircraft does not meet the ultralight category specifications then a pilot's license is required. A couple requirements are: must not weigh more than 254 lbs and can only carry 5 gallons of fuel. Most gyros weigh more than 254 lbs. Some do fall into the ultralight category but they have small engines and can not carry heavy pilots. To get a pilot's license you will have to take flying lessons from a flight instructor along with the rest of the requirements.

[mannhorn34]

@tchick 254 lbs. seems like not a lot to work with and is set at an unfairly low weight. I bet there are also all sorts of hoops and hurdles to get the license and when you do I bet there are repetitive fees and taxes placed on such a sport. Do the feds have there hands in this cookie jar too? Are there a lot of Do -nots?

[moneybelt22]

bridgeport number 9 bridgeport number 9!!!!!!!!!!!

2 ladies on the ground naked!!!!!!!!

PROCEED AT ONCE AND DESTROY!!!!!!!

[alexinchains1]

This is the most awesome toy ever,,,it looks way fun,but I would poop and drop my balls in mid air. I think I just did by looking this video!!

[3dd4dd]

very good shock absorber!

[kakompo]

Same thing I thought. I thought it was bounce off the pavement when it landed. Good shock absorbers

[WickedTRX]

i love gyros, but never seen one in person, I know the rotor isn't powered, but does it use some kind of colective, or pitch mechanism so it can change the amount of lift?

[tchick]

The rotor blades are fixed pitch, no collective. The cyclic tilts the rotor blades forward, back, left and right for flight control.

[dementedodo1000]

little nellie

[handsupbud]

You only live once,buuuuut then again you only die once so where do I sign?

[redmight93]

how much did that model cost?

[tchick]

I don't know what the prices are for this model. Visit the manufacturer's web site. It's listed up in the video description section.

[redmight93]

Are they hard to fly? looks fun.

[tchick]

With a few lessons they're fairly easy. Doing landings like this video shows may take a little more skill but the flying part is easy.

[BLODRUMPE]

What's the price of one?

[tchick]

The price depends on engine options, etc. I think $15,000-$18,000 is about right. A link to the manufacturer's web site is in the info section to the right of the video window.

[jethou1]

That undercarriage design allows for some fairly heavy landings!

Without the amount of give that design has, there would surely be some damage.

[DFX2K9]

nice landing.... could land in my work parking lot like that....

[JUKIO01]

what happens if the main power fails, does it glide down using wind resistance?

[tchick]

If the engine stops it will land just like a normal landing, just quieter. In a normal landing the engine power is reduced to glide in.

[JUKIO01]

so, are the rotors(the on top) act as the glider?

[tchick]

Think of the rotors as a wing. They are not powered by the motor, they are free spinning. The big difference between rotorcraft and fixed wing aircraft is the rotors on rotorcraft can not stall like airplane wings do at slow speeds. The rotors will keep turning, providing a wing surface.

[efesair]

this machine is great. only thing, the two seater they have are massive in size.

[Doodlebugyro]

how much does that cost? i want one?

[f16c5212345]

$10,000

[Keveeee2000]

serious suspension on that thing!

[bluesteel1111]

I want to learn!!!any places in upstate New York where I can go,,,anyone??

[tchick]

Visit the web sites in the video description. Visit the rotaryforum for more info. I think the closest gyro instructor to you is in Maryland.

[BlueytheWalrus]

I am def gonna learn how to fly one of these in the future. That things is pretty sweet!

[bretjr]

alright - - novice (former hanglider pilot) questions but really interested to understand - - do the top blades pitch? are they stationary and always creating lift? then you would rise with no "push" from behind - - so that would mean that the blade in the back creates the airspeed and the elevator in the back gives lift? - - if the engine failed would it "auto rotor" safety or would it drop? can you tell this is really cool to me and would love to fly this . . . thanks!

[tchick]

The top blades are fixed pitch. They do not change pitch in flight. There is no elevator in the back, just a horizontal stab to dampen pitch. The prop in the rear gives the airspeed. The rotor on top tilts forward/back and side to side for flight control. If the engine quits the gyro can simply glide down to a normal landing.

[buckmetta]

great perfomance...suspension works pretty good..I`m pilot of airbus 320 in Brazil and if I try something like that maybe the landing gear will stop near the airplane`s tail...hum !?

[rva1945]

The blades do pitch. They are not stationary, they create lift as the result of the forces on every blade. To take off, you need to make the rotor spin and gain speed using the push propeller. In case of engine failure, the aircraft does auto rotor because that's just its principle of working: "auto gyring".

[tchick]

Yes, this gyro's suspension is pretty impressive. There are gyros in Brazil. Go check them out.

[mitchbarker]

some of the landings are pretty hard

[giup888toi]

what if i am sleep while in the air...lol

[leapoffaith20]

Mow that is some BEAFY suspension!

[TIgor79]

Perfect demonstaration of autogyro advantages.

Together with another your video with jump start it perfectly shows that autogyros can do 90% of helicopters missions.

[Bigjohnnywad]

AWESOME!

[marxxelo]

crazy genius, same time, so crazy

[vovabh]

what else can be said again,---crazy gyrocopter crazy man

[Sofiepup]

whats the cheapest ultralight sport gyrocopter you know?

[littlebenoit16]

this is the first time i saw a gyro copter like this and i thought for sure he was going to go for a BIG bounce on the first landing, very nice vid, thanks

[LTF85199]

Very interesting craft, thanks for the quick reply, I am just now getting into these Gyrocrafts. Very unique and outstanding birds!

[LTF85199]

Hey do you have any aleron alternative? also i am guessing you have rudder and elevatior controls with the help of the main fins on the back. Also how safe is this thing in typical wind and maybe sligtly unpleseant conditions. I guess i am triying to say is how well it compares with conventional airplanes / helicopters?

[tchick]

The cyclic (control stick) tilts the rotor forward, back, left and right. No elevator. Just a rudder with a fixed horizontal stabilizer. Gyros handle wind better than fixed wing aircraft. Gyros don't get bounced around as much as a fixed wing does in the wind.

[Seif5034]

aaah ok.  thanks!

[Seif5034]

how do the props turn perpendicular to one another?

pls send a message. thanks!

[miniheli]

Please someone please help me. I have a question. Does the monarch butterfly come ready to fly?

[toddi1971]

pretty fast as well, nice machine

[14erjohn]

That looks like a lot of fun... hard landings for sure but a good test of the suspension. Looks like it can handle a pretty good ground slam.

[av8york]

Igor Bensen was a well-known designer and manufacturer of these aircraft, both with and without engines. Apparently he later became an ordained church Minister; some claimed so that he could supply the Last Rites with his kits....

[kakashi789456123]

hey were do you buy these. please rite back

[mmdghr]

wow great suspention

[newgenadam]

Looks pretty cool!

It also looks like it lands VERY heavily, but the wheel base and suspension seem to absorb most of the shock.

[Eagle00006]

alright thanks! Im gettin the same model you have, but it has the pod on the front and the wheel pants and everything. Im 6'3 about 240 what size rotor do you think i will be getting?

[Eagle00006]

that what i figured, what size rotor is needed for the monarch? my friend is about to give me his, but he has no rotor.

[Eagle00006]

Would it be possible to fly the gyro with/out the rotor on top? Cause im thinkin you then couldnt adjust your alt.

[Gatormon]

What is the engine on this bird?

[jimsterJ]

seems like the wheelbase distance has to increase abruptly when the shocks are engaged. Hope the wheels are mounted and reinforced to account for this. Really great video, though. This is the same company with the flying motorcycle right?

[MartySchrader]

No doo-doo it can take it! I thought I was watching Army trials on the UC for an Apache! Great piece of mechanics, guys.

[MartySchrader]

Those ultra-slow approaches are way cool. This thing isn't three axis, being an autogyro, but can you flare it and stop quickly?

[Will777ABQ]

The power off auto rotate looks quite safe. Just point it into the wind and she floats down like a feather. How is the noise level inside your helmet? Seems like it would be like riding a Harley down the highway without ear protection.

[Deadmeme]

Looks more like a mosquito with wheels than a butterfly.

[proutsos]

I think any other gyro without your suspension would break under those rough landings...

[dovesmagic]

Thank god for aircraft grade alluminum. Those are some crazy shock absorbers. FBOs should install those on their training aircraft, so the planes don't upset the richter scale.

[bonggorospe]

hey. great flight man.how many flight hours to train?Thaks

[Quik912]

Love the vertical landings! Bounce that bad boy

[commandro]

this gyro make a nice sound, what engine are you using?

[tchick]

Rotax 582.

[Scoobyvroom]

The wheels have about 1 foot of travel that is crazy, It looks like you could land it on some rought terain..

[bobg3723]

That power off autorotate descent looked soooo easy. Nice! What type of pilot's license is required for this particular aircraft?

[vespa444]

Achei o pouso perfeito,adorei.