RC 2012 04 Apr2 PDF
RC 2012 04 Apr2 PDF
RC 2012 04 Apr2 PDF
PRA President
Scott Lewis
In This
Issue:
Rotorcraft Editor
Lisa Kluttz
Contributing Writers
& Photographers
Tim OConnor
Doug Barker
Stan Foster
Bill Wieger
Bensen Days
was a Blast!
A Pictorial
Display of
Bensen Days 2012
Technical Editor
Doug Riley
Historical Editor
Dr. Bruce Charnov
Regulatory Committee
Chris Burgess, CFI
Gary Goldsberry, CFI
Tim OConnor, CFI
Paul Plack
Chapter Coordinator
Dave Bacon
PRA Office Manager
Jane Feldman
PRA Headquarters
PO Box 68
Mentone, IN 46535
Phone: (574) 353-7227
Fax: (574) 353-7021
www.pra.org
E-Mail: prahq@medt.com
Setting Goals
for Greatness
10 We Remember
Mark Carmouche
11 Time for
Nominations
PRA Membership
Advertising
12 PRA Board
Meeting Summary
13 Back In 1979...
14 Classifieds
15 PRA International
Convention
Pre-Registration
Article Submissions
On The Cover:
The Wauchula
local crew, known
affectionatly as
the morons,
helped with the
first hang-test for
Gabor Kovacs
Behemoth.
Amazingly, the
machine had
perfect centerline thrust.
4. MTO Sport.
April 2012 Rotorcraft
The Artwork
Awarded second place for the best
single-place machine was Tim Verroi, with
Gabor Kovacs receiving first place. Second
place in the two-place machine category
went to Ernie Boyettss Yamanator, with
first place going to Scott Lewis. The Best
Workmanship award was bestowed upon
Gabor Kovacs for the Behemoth; Most
Innovative was awarded to Ernie Boyette
for his Viking. The Grand Champion
award was taken by Jim Fields for his pink
Honeybee G2.
Contest awards were also given. Roy
Davis won the Spot Landing with an
The Sights
The People
The Artwork
10
11
1. Ernies Yamanator 2. Scott Lewis Dominator during the Egg Drop contest. 3. The new 2 place Honeybee G2. 4. One of a few trikes at the event.
5. One of the MTOs on display at the event. 6. David Littles RAF. 7. Scott Essex
8. Gabor Kovacs Behemoth 9. Powered Parachute on
display.
10. Rick Martins machine. 11. Pilots, early morning.
6
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
12. Our Bensen mascot. 13. Tim Verroi in the Butterfly 14. Dave & Phelinda Hopkins Subaru Dominator. 15.Steve Boyles Sparrowhawk
16. Butterfly from underneath. 17. Roy Davis laying down smoke 18. Steve McGowan on a training flight in his Parsons. 19. The Gyronimo
changed hands twice at Bensen Days. 20. Brooke Beetler. 21. Honeybee G2 on display, owned by Dr. Paul Rogers. 22. The well-known sign
for the Bensen Days Fly-In.
23. Ernie Boyettes Dominator line-up
24. Moe Ramos and Greg Spicola side by side.
April 2012 Rotorcraft
Setting Goals
for Greatness
By Doug Barker
PRA Board Member
Officers &
Directors
Scott Lewis, President
10175 SW Green Ridge La.
Palm City, FL 34990
(561) 718-3922
scottlewis.pra@gmail.com
Tim OConnor, Vice Pres.
4230 Barton Drive
Batavia, OH 45103
(513) 477-4488
bmwcyclist@yahoo.com
Robert Rymer, Treasurer
3583 Leadmine Valley Rd SW
Cleveland, TN 37311
(423) 479-8460
robert.rymer@netzero.com
Stan Foster, Secretary
1680 E State Route 9
Paxton, IL 60957
(217) 379-2376
strbldr@yahoo.com
Doug Barker
738 East 425 South
Layton, UT 84041
(801) 444-3736
doug@domaworld.com
Duane Hunn
12296 West 600 South
Mentone, IN 46539
(219) 682-6228
dgyro2000@yahoo.com
Tom Milton
3441 Washington
Lansing, IL 60438
(708) 895-0398
gyroplanes@aol.com
Matt Novotney
12615 Gibson St.
Crown Point, IN 46307
(708) 670-7451
mnovotney@hotmail.com
Rick Whittridge
1290 North Broad St.
Fairborn, OH 45324
(937) 878-2598
gogadget1@yahoo.com
PRA Membership
Has Its Advantages
access to the only on-line sport pilot
gyroplane ground school that provides 21
hours of live professional training to PRA
members for a mere $99
members-only discounts on insurance
and other products
members-only content on the PRA
website
voting privileges in elections
expanded
issues)
magazine
content
Join today at
www.pra.org
(future
PRA Chapters
Arizona
#15 Arizona Rotorcraft Club
Britta Penca
(520) 840-0951
brittaglo@yahoo.com
Arkansas
#6 Mid-South
Rotorcraft Club
Thom Francis
(870) 403-2888
thomefran@netscape.net
California
#1 Ken Brock
Rotorcraft Assoc.
Terry Smith, President
terry.smith@earthlink.net
#31 San Diego
Rotorcraft Club
Dave Bacon
(760) 941-3266
davesconcretepumping@msn.com
#58 Sierra Rotorcraft Club
www.sierrarotorcraftclub.org
Jim Burrow
(925) 449-4855
SierraRotorcraftClub@yahoo.com
Colorado
#38 Colorado Rotorcraft Assoc.
http://www.copterpilots.org
Mark Shook
(719) 683-3062
Mark@copterpilots.org
Florida
#26 Sunstate Wing & Rotor Club
www.bensendays.com
Scott Lewis
(561) 718-3922
bslewis@ambassadorpest.com
Georgia
#56 Peach State Rotorcraft
Jon Carleton
(770) 292-0165
jon@miservice.net
#13 NC / SC / GA Rotorcraft Club
www.pra13.org
John C. Magnan, (706) 547-3607
jcm2@earthlink.net
Illinois
#18 Greater Midwest Rotorcraft Club
www.gyroclub.com
Tom Milton, (708) 895-0398
gyroplanes@aol.com
#25 North IL-South WI Rotorcraft
Mike McKiernan, (847) 638-4840
#35 Saint Louis Rotorcraft Club
www.stlrotorcraft.com
Mark Greene, (309) 287-1470
cgmg@elpaso.net
10
We Remember
Mark Carmouche
Mark Wayne Carmouche
(Feb. 16, 1952 - March 17, 2012)
(Announcement sent by Bill Wieger on March
18th, reprinted from Southwest Rotorcraft)
Mark Carmouche passed away very
suddenly on March 17, as a result of a
heart attack sequence at his shop area. This
synopsis will provide everyone with a quick
perspective of his sudden passing.
All things were normal until he realized
his chest was hurting at which time he called
911. Mark Lohman happened to appear just
after the first responders had arrived, and
Mark was talking OK; Mark L. thought he
would come through just fine. Enroute to
the hospital he was hit with a fatal attack.
Lohman inquired what was wrong, Mark
replied I think that Im having a heart
attack, buddy. He provided additional
info to the responder and spoke about his
phone conversation with Scott Bordelon
about Scotts morning flight and that he had
just unbolted the refined bellhousing for the
Weber motor from the milling machine when
his chest started hurting, followed by arms
hurting. For the ambulance, he proceeded to
get onto the stretcher by himself.
This is a big loss for the gyro community
in Louisiana and also in the surrounding
states, because his crafted parts have been
put into use across quite an area plus from
around the country, he had several parts on
order along with collaboration with other
creators for various innovations.
Mark was one of those rare people
who was gifted with machinist expertise,
combined with great creativity for designs
and improvements, and at the same time he
was a non-eccentric, normal guy.
As a remnant of good news, he definitely
concluded life doing what he enjoyed most.
He had just finished his intended refinededition of the bell-housing for the Weber
motor. He had just recently paid off the
milling machine. He was able to figure out
7th ANNUAL
CENTRAL SIERRA
HELICOPTER MEET
May 4 - May 6, 2012
The only All-Helicopter Meet in the West.
All Factory, Home Builds & Experimental
helicopters are welcome. There will be
Helicycles, Mosquitos, Rotorways, Bell 47, Bell
Jet Rangers, Etc. Some factory reps will be on
hand. Bring your ships finished or not, or bring
a photo album. Bring items for the Heli Swap.
Camping available on-site Motel nearby
About 14 miles East of Groveland, CA. On Hwy.
120 to Cherry Lake Rd. turn left. Go about 2
miles. Ranch will be on your left.
Any questions, call Hap or Nancy at
707-833-5905.
(Week of meet, call Les at 209-962-4828
or Nancy at 209-768-0028)
Website: cshelimeet.com
PRA Chapters
Nominations
must
be in writing and include
three signatures from PRA
members that are in good
standing for at least two
years, or signatures from
two PRA advisory council
members (Doug Barker and
Stan Foster).
A PRA member may
sponsor up to two nominees.
Nominations shall be
delivered to the Nomination Committee at
the following address:
PRA Nomination Committee
c/o Stan Foster
1680 East State Rt. 9
Paxton, IL 60957
Nominations in excess of the three
allowed per board seat will be decided in
order received.
Nominees must submit a bio describing
their credentials and reasons for accepting
the nomination.
These bios of the nominees will be
posted in the e-zine two months prior to the
convention.
Come To
Have Fun
at the
2nd Annual
Mt. Vernon, IL FLY-IN
August 25-26, 2012
Directions: On Interstate 57,
take exit 95 and go east 3 miles
Lat / Long:
38-19-24.076N / 088-51-30.525W
38.3233544 / 88.8584792 (est.)
Airport Communications:
CTAF- 123.0 UNICOM 123.0
Onsite restaurant
Nearly 60 local restaurants
Onsite camping hookups
Over 1,111 hotel rooms locally
Sponsored by: PRA Chapter #35
Phone: 618-427-9994; 815-761-3623
Indiana
#34 Indiana Rotorcraft Assoc
www.prachapter34.com
Sue Goldsberry, (317) 996-2487
gsgold@ccrtc.com
#36 Wendell Knight Gyro Club
Cynthia Sanders, (765) 795-3489
#81 Mentone Aero Club
Bernard Ernst, (574) 633-4675
mikeernst@datacruz.com
Kansas
#75 Wichita Wing & Rotor Club
Jim Sampson, (316) 685-3430
Louisiana
#20 Pelican State Rotorcraft
www.pra20.com
Bill Wieger, (318) 640-5656
bwieger@suddenlink.net
Michigan
#77 West Michigan Rotorcraft
Wes Clements, (616) 225-0200
tazmaniac@auis.net
#32 Bay Area Rotorcraft Club
bayultralite.org
Brian Anthony, (517) 777-7617
#63 Central MI Gyroplane Club
Kurt Pochert, (810) 632-7830
Kurtpochert@hotmail.com
#36 Wendell Knight Gyro Club
Cynthia Sanders, (765) 795-3489
#70 Maumee Valley Rotorcraft
Michael L. Marckel, (260) 316-4022
mmarckel@msn.com
Minnesota
#17 Minnesota Rotorcraft Club
minnesotarotorcraftclub.com
Brent Bruns, (612) 802-1210
brent@igotoofar.com
Missouri
#35 Saint Louis Rotorcraft Club
John Wohaska, (636) 296-7188
www.stlrotorcraft.com
jswoh@yahoo.com
#67 Mid-America Rotorcraft
Craig Tompkins, (816) 618-3840
Nebraska
#12 Nebraska Rotorcraft Club
Warren Hale
New Hampshire
#39 Yankee Rotors
www.yankeerotors.net
John Christopher, (603) 744-6232
rotorhed@hotmail.com
New Jersey
#14 North Jersey Rotorcraft
Ralf Schumann, (201) 652-6294
11
PRA Chapters
NORTH CAROLINA
#13 NC / SC / GA Rotorcraft Club
www.pra13.org
John C. Magnan, (706) 547-3607
jcm2@earthlink.net
Ohio
#19 Buckeye Rotorheads
Brad Dutton, (330) 767-1019
gyrohead@aol.com
#40 Cincinnati Rotorcraft Assoc.
Scott Biser, (513) 383-5046
scott.biser@formica.com
Oregon
#73 Great NW Sport Rotorcraft
www.pra73.net
Robert Johnson, (503) 665-4449
verticalbob1@gmail.com
Pennsylvania
#4 West Penn Rotorcraft Club
James Nadig
gidanmij@verizon.net
South Carolina
#13 NC / SC / GA Rotorcraft Club
www.pra13.org
John C. Magnan, (706) 547-3607
jcm2@earthlink.net
Texas
#62 Lone Star Rotorcraft Club
www.gyrosaway.com
Steve Weir, (832) 457-1785
zsteve54@earthlink.com
#78 Texas Rotorcraft Assoc.
www.txrotorcraft.org
Bob Stark, (940) 564-2938
rgstark@brazosnet.com
Utah
#2 PRA Chapter 2
www.pra2.org
Doug Barker, (801) 444-3736
doug@domaworld.com
Virginia
#22 Natl Capital Rotorcraft Club
Buck Buchanan, (703) 250-4868
aabuckfly@gmail.com
Puerto Rico
#60 Puerto Rico Rotor Club
Charles D. Peterson, (787) 460-6820
International Chapters
France
#28 Autogyre St. Ciers Charente
Eric Changeur
Moulin du Chatelard, Puyreaux
Charente France F-16230
Japan
#79
Akira Ishikawa
2-1-11 Tsujido-Taheidai
Fujisawa 251, Japan
gyroakira@j-comhome,ne,jp
12
construction, Bensen
recalled, but good
wood has become
scarce in the U.S., so
we changed to allmetal construction.
So unique is the
construction of the
Bensen rotor blade,
it has been issued a
U.S. patent. It features
structural redundancy, or double stress
path, so if one fails, the other one will carry
the full load. Because of this, Bensen rotor
blades have an outstanding safety record:
in its 26-year history there has not been one
single in-flight failure of any of its rotors.
Gyroplane CFIs
The following instructors are PRA
members. This list is provided as a
convenience for readers, and does
not constitute an endorsement of
any instructor, aircraft, syllabus
or training enterprise by PRA.
(Aircraft listed in parentheses are
available for instruction.)
Arkansas
Ron Menzie (501) 766-6456
2715 S Main St
Searcy, AR 72143
ronsgyros@gmail.com
(SparrowHawk, Parsons, RAF)
Arizona
Terry Brandt (602) 739-0554
11423 W Citrus Grove
Avondale, AZ 85392
tbrandt33@earthlink.net
Florida
Dofin Fritts (850) 587-2504
Brewton Muni Airport AL 12J
Pensacola, FL
gyrocfi@aol.com
(251) 867-9446
Roy T. Hanan
188 Edgewater River Rd
Edgewater, FL 32141
407-754-4679
roythanan@yahoo.com
(Autogyro MTO Sport)
Indiana
Gary Goldsberry (317) 996-2487
1181 W SR 42
Mooresville, IN 46158
gsgold@ccrtc.com
(Twinstarr)
Ohio
Ed Newbold (614) 207-3909
5657 Balkin Pl.
Columbus, OH 43231
ednewbold@enewbold.com
(Modified RAF)
Tim OConnor
4230 Barton Drive
Batavia, OH 45103
(513) 477-4488
bmwcyclist@yahoo.com
Maryland
Chris Burgess (301) 668-4124
527 Sylvan Ct.
Frederick, MD 21703
gyrocfi.burgess@gmail.com
(SnoBird)
Oklahoma
Paul Patterson (405) 826-8443
1405 Cedar Ridge Rd
Edmond, OK 73013
paulpatterson1@cox.net
(RAF)
Robert L. Snyder
60 W Earleigh Heights Rd.
Severna Park, MD 21146
cfibob@atlanticbb.net
(Calidus, MTOSport)
Pennsylvania
James Nadig (724) 458-4665
PO Box 724
Grove City, PA 16127
gidanmij@verizon.net
(RAF)
Michigan
Duane Hunn (219) 682-6228
6835 Janes Road
Saginaw, MI 48601
dgyro2000@yahoo.com
New York
Jim Logan (516) 746-3427
163 Primrose Rd.
Williston Park, NY 11596
jlgyro@hotmail.com
(RAF)
South Carolina
Gary Neal (864) 583-4319
320 Bryant Rd
Spartanburg, SC 29303
gyroman@bellsouth.net
(RAF)
Tennessee
Larry Banks (931) 260-3032
Crossville, TN
heroncreek@bledsoe.net
Texas
Henry Foster (214) 692-0727
7777 Royal Lane
Dallas, TX 75230
Trains at Olney, TX Airport
hsf66@yahoo.com
(Mod. RAF, SparrowHawk,
Air Cmd)
Desmon Butts (907) 841-2409
8303 Hayden Cove
Tomball, TX 77375
Trains at
David Wayne Hooks Airport
texasautogyro@yahoo.com
(AutoGyro MTO Sport N446QT,
Calidus, Sparrow Hawk, RAF,
Air Command, Golden Butterfly)
Utah
Michael Burton (801) 794-3434
Spanish Fork, UT
michaelburton@pilotco.com
Costa Rica
Guido Scheidt +506 2656 8048
Ultralight Tour S.A.
www.autogyroamerica.com
13
Classifieds
RF 170 (3 Seater) For Sale
$15,000.00
Includes:
- 3 carbon prop blades w/covers
- one extra set of used carbon blades
- one set of sport rotors 8x13 (new in Box)
Reasonable offers and trade offers
will be considered.
FOR
SALE
$4,000.00
For further
information,
contact
Ralph Heading
at
1-604-644-2132
Previously
owned
and flown by the late
Mr. Bert Wichers of
Hawthorne, California.
As you can see on
the left, the Rotax,
built by Bill Allen, was
featured in the August
1982 issue of Popular
Rotorcraft Flying. Mrs.
Wichers would like for
someone to get some
good use out of this
machine.
For further
information,
please call
Mrs. Jacqueline
Wichers
at 760-388-4206.
RAF 2000/
Sparrow Hawk
Project
FOR SALE
FOR
SALE
14
250 TTSN. Glass Panel, and Panel Mounted Radio and Transponder
plus Garman 296 GPS. Cabin heat, Elect trim, Strobes. This Gyroplane is
loaded with just about every factory option available. Powered by a Subaru
165 hp Legacy 2.5L engine. 4.5 GPH on auto gas. Lands in 10 ft, takes off
in 250 ft. Flies at 80 MPH. Always been hangared, no damage history. Flies
with/without doors which are easily removed. All logs and building manuals
come with it. Custom trailer optional. Get LSA Training and Gyro license in
Arkansas with Ron Menzie of Rons Gyros, Inc., who is certified to teach in
this type of machine. Ron is also one of two FAA examiners in the country.
You can train in about one week and fly it home. Asking $42,100 or make
offer. This is one of the most loaded Sparrow Hawks in the country.
Email me at BarryRBeck@gmail.com
or Call Barry 501-607-4070.
15
16