StanFoster Posted October 13, 2012 Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 I dont post on here much as this site is more for the professional pilots whom I respect a lot. However, I have been having the time of my life feeding kerosene into my Helicycle. It has flown me on many cross country flights. I recently flew to Chicago to a rotorcraft fly-in and had a typical nice gathering around it. This last year I streamlined the landing gear and the swashplate area. The landing gear fairings added over 4 mph to it and the swashplate almost 2 mph. It has been the least maintenance of any rotorcraft I have ever owned...the other four were all gyroplanes. B.J. Schramm did one nice job engineering this machine. It stays inside my shop in a heated and air conditioned environment....so its pampered for sure. The turbine is a 150 horse Solar T-62 derated to 100 horse. I never have seen such an abundance of power on the HOTTEST and heaviest of days. Very easy to fly and very fast also. Just saying there are some experimental success stories out here. This one took me 760 hours to build, and I love every minute of flying....and even more so savoring the memories of the last flight. I wish everyone could at least experience a flight in one of these. I tried attaching a picture here, but it would not go through. I have over 140 videos on YouTube under "Helicyclepilot" if you want to see it flying. Stan Illinois 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBuzzkill Posted October 13, 2012 Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 Glad to hear some follow up. What's your typical range at cruise speed assuming no wind? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanFoster Posted October 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 buzzkill- I can hold 24 gallons. It burns around 13 gallons an hour cruising at 100-105 mph. I can fly 150 miles with reserve. 90% of my flying is within 10 miles.....occasionally I fly 50 mile trips....and there have been many flights to around 120 miles. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloidaho Posted October 13, 2012 Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 Super rad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotortramp Posted October 13, 2012 Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 How much do you pay for kerosene and does it gunk up the turbine more than strictly jet-a? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
500E Posted October 13, 2012 Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 There you go Stan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanFoster Posted October 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 Rotortramp- My last batch of kerosene was just under 4 dollars a gallon. Kerosene burns very clean. I put 3/4 ounce of Biobor per 55 gallon drum ofkerosene. My gascolator filter hasn't had so much as a speck in it the last year and a half. I just did a fuel flow test earlier today. That's how I caught the one incidence of algae starting to build up on my filter screen. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl Posted October 13, 2012 Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 Cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Red 22 Posted October 13, 2012 Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 How many hours do you have on it now? It is a way cool machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avbug Posted October 13, 2012 Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 I met with BJ in his shop in Idaho, not too long before he died, to talk about the helicycle. I got the information packet and a bundle of videos, and I've stopped in a few times since he was lost. I really love hearing people's success stories in the experimental arena. Looks like you've done some nice work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagle5 Posted October 14, 2012 Report Share Posted October 14, 2012 2 years of steady flying?,...how long do they usually last? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanFoster Posted October 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2012 Most of my flights are 30 minutes to one hour. Most flights are checking out the farms, enjoying flying "in" the scenery, landing at friends homes, and some are over 100 mile flights either on business or pleasuure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBuzzkill Posted October 15, 2012 Report Share Posted October 15, 2012 That's awesome. I would love to have a machine like that to buzz around in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindsey Posted October 15, 2012 Report Share Posted October 15, 2012 That's awesome. I would love to have a machine like that to buzz around in. I see what you did there. <_ src="%7B___base_url___%7D/uploads/emoticons/default_cool.png" alt="B)"> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotortramp Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 If you get a chance could you break down your estimated hourly cost? Or possibly point me in a direction that lists out the maintenance and running costs. I've seen many of your videos and I gotta say, you have one of the best looking helicycles out there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanFoster Posted October 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 Rotortramp- Thanks for the kind comment. I am appoaching 150 hours on it and so far the most expensive item were replacing my two Odyssey 680 batteries which had their lives shortened by my faulty battery charger. Other than a few shots of grease....changing some inexpensive turbine and main rotor transmission oil filters which I buy at my local NAPA helicopter supply store....my main expense is feeding this machines 12-13 gallon an hour appetite. It has been the most dependable aircraft I have ever owned and flown. I have had ultralights......over 800 hours in four different gyroplanes, and now this Helicycle. I have worked far more on just the pre-rotators on each of my four gyroplanes than I have on this whole machine. It is in my stairshop and is always on a state of readiness for my next flight. You can go to my website and go to my helicopter page to see some shots of it from 2 years ago. I am going to upload some new pictures soon. www.stansstairways.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avbug Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 Those are some spectacular looking stairways. Makes me want to buy a big house just to put one in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeroscout Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 Those are some spectacular looking stairways. Makes me want to buy a big house just to put one in.Get the helo first, then build the house around it. Priorities for the consummate pilot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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