Having just flown in one of these, all I can say is “I want one”. It was very stable and smooth, not too noisy(had headset on) and needed very little input from pilot-when trimmed correctly, it flew straight and level, hands off.
Electric fans for low speed, taxi ventilation, cooling? IR/Uv filtering canopy to reduce solar heat? Coated interior surfaces to reduce internal reflection?
Thanks. If you can highlight what you have heard in more detail then I'll give a view. However in general the reason I've not done "flight reviews" is in the main because the characteristics are broadly similar airborne to most other factory 2 seaters, with the nuances really depending upon what aircraft you fly usually. If you transition onto a Calidus from, say, an open Autogyro Sport then then biggest item of note would be the take off roll with regard to the stick feel especially if you are used to obtaining a definite wheel balance prior to deciding to actually take off.
@@gyrocopterflyingclub6148 I've heard Calidus likes to "duck-walk" down the runway. There was one accident where that caused a rollover...on to MTO 2017 Sport.. would love to see some video of that Rotax 915 bird with that 1500fpm climb...yeah baby! Any more info on that 915 Gyro would be great. Any chance you could re-record the audio on the MTO Sport?
@@TheLastDay-BobReese Hi, yes the audio was pretty poor on the original film and actually what I'll do is just do another version having flown the aircraft over the summer maybe with a bit more user colour. The 915 powered aircraft are really nice, and nice in the context that the motor really allows you to make the most of the higher pre-rotater speeds possible on the new AutoGyro aircraft and also the power delivery is very smooth. That makes for a great aircraft be it in 2017 Sport or Cavalon. I'll make a take off film to give some perspective of the performance. Finally the Calidus. I really like Calidus as a tourer 1 up. It is fast, handles nicely and I think there are some myths that put people off that are pretty un-deserved. Yes it will nod and stagger into the air if its mis-handled but (and this is where I get flamed by a great many) the problem is made much worse by those that continue to push on with a legacy technique that focuses on wheel balancing at part power and the stick all the way back for a long time. If you do that you'll find the nose leap skyward, it catches people out and if that hasn't caused major issue then the extra drag makes it sink and the pilot seems to find himself 1 step behind the aircraft and its off...no its on the deck... its off.....no its on the deck. It needs to be flown off the ground in a much flatter attitude and then it is a pussy cat. Here is a 2012 UK accident where the PIC over rotated. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/542302a2ed915d1371000bd3/Rotorsport_UK_Calidus_G-ETOJ_01-13.pdf
@@gyrocopterflyingclub6148 I can hardly wait for your 915 pilot reports..both MTO Sport & Cavalon!!! I'm really nervous about the sun/heat problem living out west in the U.S. with the canopies. How cool is Cavalon? I heard Cavalon is really hard to work on maintenance wise with its heavily 'buttoned up" rear cowling. Here's the problem with Calidus I'm referring to with an accident from the U.S.... app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20150205X21520&AKey=1&RType=Summary&IType=CA You have to keep the stick back but the tendency is come forward too quick to arrest the quick nose-up attitude after roll-out. Maybe the 915 will eliminate that tendency and not need so much 'just a foot off the runway' bobbing up and down for 1000 ft. down the runway before climb out.
@@TheLastDay-BobReese I'll see what I can do to get some 915 content up asap. Calidus and cockpit temps. Once flying with the fully enclosed canopy it is fine - on the ground it is a problem that can be helped by cracking the canopy whilst taxi'ing (leaving it fully open tends to crack the hinge points). Also they do an option canopy which is more a windscreen and the top is open. Cavalon is the same with the doors on (you can taxi with doors open however) plus you can take the doors off completely with Cavalon which is very nice in hot weather. Access wise both are similar "pain" wise (Calidus and Cavalon) and frankly removing daily risks more finger trouble than the discovery of anything that will cause an inflight issue. Only thing is either remove every 5 hours and get some good practical advice / instruction from the sales agent in the panel removal. Just looked at that 2015 accident - its a common issue. Here is a similar one from the UK in 2019 & 2017! assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ce3de1f40f0b627dbf740de/Rotorsport_UK_Calidus_G-CGOT_06-19.pdf assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5aa7e1db40f0b66b625e2b0e/Rotorsport_UK_Calidus_G-CIYU_04-18.pdf The issue (in my opinion) is a training one. Pilots are simply not being instructed to use and note the rotor tacho during take off. If you develop muscle memory such that you always bring the stick fully back once you have finished pre-rotating and then note what the rotor RPM is doing then it becomes impossible for this to happen. In most accidents the pilot will recall quite clearly his pre-rotation rotor RPM value and then has a no idea what that value was just prior to the accident..... that for me tells you all you need to know.
The issue for me with this aircraft [Niki] - and I've physically been to the factory - is the support. It is a relatively tiny operation and personally I don't think there is really a big enough network to give credibility to a statement that suggests it is "a far better choice".
I’d like to transition into a newer machine from my RAF2000 gyro, but have been told that with the Calidus, large pilots need not apply. Is it true that at 6’4” tall and 130lbs I would not fit? Where I’m from gyros are very rare birds, so I’ve not been able to try one on for size.
Hey Mike yeah you are going to be at toward the limit both in terms of maximum seat weight and height. You likely have 30lbs margin in the weight side but of course depending if you fly alone or with a passenger will also limit options. Height wise you will fit if your trunk/leg proportions are normal but i think you will at 6ft4 find the leg room challenged. It will be worth sitting in one not so much to see if you fit but if you want to sit in the position for hours at a time.
