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Stair sale flying mission

StanFoster | Posted in Photo Gallery on August 18, 2006 05:39am

I flew to Peoria today…a 220 mile round trip flight to try to land two things…my gyrocopter and a curved stair deal.  I accomplished both.  I had to cross the Illinois river and then a whole bunch of thick wooded areas that were miles across.  

 

 

It was a good day.

 

Stan

Reply

Replies

  1. DougU | Aug 18, 2006 05:57am | #1

    Stan

    That's so cool! Most of us cant fly our hobbies/passions to land our next gig, good for you.

    Doug

  2. wrudiger | Aug 18, 2006 06:15am | #2

    Excellent!

     

    be the crow

  3. BoJangles | Aug 18, 2006 02:31pm | #3

    AAaahhhh......I see a business write-off coming!   Why didn't I think of that???

    Sure beats the freeway doesn't it!

  4. JohnT8 | Aug 18, 2006 07:17pm | #4

    What kinda miles per gallon did you get?

     

    jt8

    "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success."  --Albert Schweitzer

    1. StanFoster | Aug 19, 2006 12:22am | #5

      John:    80 mph at 6 gallons an hour.  Thats about 13.33 miles per gallon. Dont forget this is a rotorcraft and they arent that efficient.    However.....the miles up there are always a lot less.   For instance...one flight I make is 121 miles by air....and 175 miles by ground.

       

      Stan

      1. DougU | Aug 19, 2006 12:40am | #6

        Stan

        I'm sure you mentioned it at one time but how much fuel can you hold?

        Doug

      2. JohnT8 | Aug 19, 2006 12:41am | #7

        That's probably better than you would have done with the stair truck.  Especially since it's a whole lot shorter distance 'as the crow flies'.  Lot less stop signs at 4k ft too.  And very few traffic cops.

        [edit] oops, guess I need to pay attention, you already said that.

         

         

        jt8

        "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success."  --Albert Schweitzer

        Edited 8/18/2006 5:42 pm by JohnT8

      3. shearwater | Aug 19, 2006 01:04am | #8

        I'm sure it's only a matter of time before you also DELIVER those stairs with the copter, eh? :)

      4. Mooney | Aug 19, 2006 07:32pm | #13

        very cool thanks

        Tim

  5. ponytl | Aug 19, 2006 02:59am | #9

    sweet...

     it must so suck to be you

    talent overload

    nice pics...

    p

  6. User avater
    McDesign | Aug 19, 2006 03:33pm | #10

    Did you see the movie "Brazil"?  DeNiro's character, an unregistered repairman, comes swooping in on ropes (wearing special ops gear) to your highrise apt, fixes your HVAC ductwork and then swings away!

    I kinda' picture you doing the same thing - too bad you can't land & take off from a roof.

    Forrest

  7. stinky | Aug 19, 2006 06:33pm | #11

    thats gotta impress the bejesus out of the customers...Cool pics. stinky

  8. ponytl | Aug 19, 2006 06:52pm | #12

    man i know you have posted the answers before  but if you have time...

    did you start fly'n fixed wing? hours? ever flown a true rotory wing?

    was your first gyro flight solo? or are there 2 place trainers?

    did you build or purchase first gyro? 

    background for building gyro? welder, machinist? or just raw take your time learn & do talent?

    have'n a love for all things mechanical and only flown fixed wing... and love'n all things that fly so much so that i eat lunch a few times a week at places that the pathe there takes me past a small airport just so i can look as i pass (it's where i learned to fly so it holds special interest)

    thanks

    p

    1. StanFoster | Aug 20, 2006 05:25am | #14

      Ponyt:    I started with fixed wing,...and have a private pilots license.   But all I want to fly is gyrocopters.   There is nothing like them period.

       

      All my gyro flights were solo as I taught myself to fly each machine I have flown.   even the two seaters.

       

      I bought my first gyro already built..it was a Bensen.

      I have flown an Enstrom helicopter...but not solo.

      Background for building the gyro?   same as building curved stairways.   off the farm...do what it takes to get it done type of training.   sink or swim on your own.   It really is a catalyst for desiring success.

      You obviously have a passion for flying.....follow that passion...life is short and do something that mankind has just barely over 100 years at doing....flying.    Think of the thousands upon thousands of years we were all surface dwellers.   Break free and fly.  It is an awesome experience.

      1. ponytl | Aug 20, 2006 05:52pm | #15

        thanks...

        I like my father & 1 brother have flown... i solo'd with 7hrs @16 ... like most around here learned in a 150... pulled banners in a 172 just for the hours.... i use to fly a friends 421c  and his king air 90c  the king air was like fly'n a bus... but i got to fly...

        I keep try'n to figure a way to justify have'n a plane.... the only other option is to have so much money that it just doesn't matter.... 

        I haven't flown since 9-11   and am not sure that all that much has changed... but it was pretty lax... walk up preflight and if it was VFR  just go....

        think i mentioned before i use to ride dirtbikes with a guy who worked with bensen and had & flew some of his first designs... the first pulled behind a boat, later verisons powered by ex military Mcculluch? (sp) engines... same as the chainsaw people... I trail rode with the guy i know into his 70's... when i might have been 17-19yo but i spent many nights in his garage learning to weld (i got to grind alot) and listen to his stories... he was an old redneck jewish Lawyer.... so "main stream" is not the first words anyone would use to describe him...

        p

         

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