SOLO flight rules

I had two Scorpion ones and sold them to a guy who had an A&P try to get
them going. They still have not been in the air. He had a lot of trouble
with slipping tail rotor belts. There are some problems with the old rotor
head. B.J Schramm, the designer should be contacted about those problems.
I believe I heard him tell one person not to fly the version with the looped
cable in the head. I used to fly a Benson gyro with a McCullough engine.
It was a quiet sewing machine compared to the sound of the Evinrude engine
in the Scorpion. Be very careful.
Stu Fields
wrote in message
...
"Gig Giacona" wrote:

You will have to be signed off by and instructor for that aircraft. Do
you
already own a flyable Scorpion? You will most likely have to get back in
the
R22 for your check ride.

My scorpion is a single seater and is not completely restored yet. I
checked with Rotorway, but it does not seem that there is any way to
get instruction in a scorpion one. I wonder if a scorpion 2 is close
enough. The scopion 2 and scorpion one are basically the same
helicopter with the 2 being bigger and wider.

It is starting to look like I'm going to have to get my certificate by
soloing in the R22 and then just switch to the scorpion afterwards.
It seems like thats a waste of money though since I will have to
relearn everything in the scorpion.

I have all the parts to the scorpion one, but I am not sure what to do
with the rotor blades. It looks like there are fine cracks in the
composite. I wonder if simply recoating them with new resin will be
good enough or if I have to rewrap them. They only have about 25
hours on them.

I will also say that the scorpion 1 was definitely not designed for
people with normal length legs. Its a real pain getting in and out of
it.

Dennis H.

Dennis Hawkins
n4mwd AT amsat DOT org (humans know what to do)

"A RECESSION is when you know somebody who is out of work.
A DEPRESSION is when YOU are out of work.
A RECOVERY is when all the H-1B's are out of work."
To find out what an H-1B is and how they are putting
Americans out of work, visit the following web site
and click on the "Exporting America" CNN news video:
http://zazona.com/ShameH1B/MediaClips.htm

Most of the problems with the one I have are due to age. A lot of the
aluminum parts have surface oxidation that must be hand removed and
polished. I am planning on having all the aluminum parts hard
anodized so that they don't do that again.

The tail rotor slider mechanism was rusted and I had to work it pretty
hard to get it going again. I am planning on having the TR shaft hard
chrome plated so that it will wear better.

The steel frame is actually in remarkable shape. I'm not sure what
they used to paint it, but I hope to get something that good to
repaint it.

The only components that I am really worried about are the blades.
They only have about 25 hours on them, but also have age cracks in the
composite.

I haven't contacted BJ about the Scorpion One. I don't think he would
have time to talk to me since he is very busy with his helicycle
project. I have the blueprints for the Scorpion 2 and was considering
getting those for the One, but the One is almost identical to the 2 so
I'm not sure if I should bother.

The bent cable is for the collective. Its a nutty way of doing
things, but it does work. Its just not as good as a regular system.
The only real problem with the bent cable rotor head is that it does
not use elastomeric bearings. It uses unsealed thrust bearings
instead. However, because of the way the cable head works, they only
move when you actually move the collective. I'll probably have to
spend a bit of time every few hours of operation greasing them, but a
friend showed me a trick where I can grease them easily with a
hypodermic needle. Hopefully that will make operating it more
manageable.

I'm still not sure what to do about the license.

Dennis H.



"Stu Fields" wrote:

I had two Scorpion ones and sold them to a guy who had an A&P try to get
them going. They still have not been in the air. He had a lot of trouble
with slipping tail rotor belts. There are some problems with the old rotor
head. B.J Schramm, the designer should be contacted about those problems.
I believe I heard him tell one person not to fly the version with the looped
cable in the head. I used to fly a Benson gyro with a McCullough engine.
It was a quiet sewing machine compared to the sound of the Evinrude engine
in the Scorpion. Be very careful.
Stu Fields
wrote in message
...
"Gig Giacona" wrote:

You will have to be signed off by and instructor for that aircraft. Do
you
already own a flyable Scorpion? You will most likely have to get back in
the
R22 for your check ride.

My scorpion is a single seater and is not completely restored yet. I
checked with Rotorway, but it does not seem that there is any way to
get instruction in a scorpion one. I wonder if a scorpion 2 is close
enough. The scopion 2 and scorpion one are basically the same
helicopter with the 2 being bigger and wider.

It is starting to look like I'm going to have to get my certificate by
soloing in the R22 and then just switch to the scorpion afterwards.
It seems like thats a waste of money though since I will have to
relearn everything in the scorpion.

I have all the parts to the scorpion one, but I am not sure what to do
with the rotor blades. It looks like there are fine cracks in the
composite. I wonder if simply recoating them with new resin will be
good enough or if I have to rewrap them. They only have about 25
hours on them.

I will also say that the scorpion 1 was definitely not designed for
people with normal length legs. Its a real pain getting in and out of
it.

Dennis H.

Dennis Hawkins
n4mwd AT amsat DOT org (humans know what to do)

"A RECESSION is when you know somebody who is out of work.
A DEPRESSION is when YOU are out of work.
A RECOVERY is when all the H-1B's are out of work."
To find out what an H-1B is and how they are putting
Americans out of work, visit the following web site
and click on the "Exporting America" CNN news video:
http://zazona.com/ShameH1B/MediaClips.htm




Dennis Hawkins
n4mwd AT amsat DOT org (humans know what to do)

"A RECESSION is when you know somebody who is out of work.
A DEPRESSION is when YOU are out of work.
A RECOVERY is when all the H-1B's are out of work."
To find out what an H-1B is and how they are putting
Americans out of work, visit the following web site
and click on the "Exporting America" CNN news video:
http://zazona.com/ShameH1B/MediaClips.htm

wrote in message
...

Most of the problems with the one I have are due to age. A lot of the
aluminum parts have surface oxidation that must be hand removed and
polished. I am planning on having all the aluminum parts hard
anodized so that they don't do that again.

The tail rotor slider mechanism was rusted and I had to work it pretty
hard to get it going again. I am planning on having the TR shaft hard
chrome plated so that it will wear better.

The steel frame is actually in remarkable shape. I'm not sure what
they used to paint it, but I hope to get something that good to
repaint it.

The only components that I am really worried about are the blades.
They only have about 25 hours on them, but also have age cracks in the
composite.

I haven't contacted BJ about the Scorpion One. I don't think he would
have time to talk to me since he is very busy with his helicycle
project. I have the blueprints for the Scorpion 2 and was considering
getting those for the One, but the One is almost identical to the 2 so
I'm not sure if I should bother.

The bent cable is for the collective. Its a nutty way of doing
things, but it does work. Its just not as good as a regular system.
The only real problem with the bent cable rotor head is that it does
not use elastomeric bearings. It uses unsealed thrust bearings
instead. However, because of the way the cable head works, they only
move when you actually move the collective. I'll probably have to
spend a bit of time every few hours of operation greasing them, but a
friend showed me a trick where I can grease them easily with a
hypodermic needle. Hopefully that will make operating it more
manageable.

I'm still not sure what to do about the license.

Dennis H.



"Stu Fields" wrote:

I had two Scorpion ones and sold them to a guy who had an A&P try to get
them going. They still have not been in the air. He had a lot of
trouble
with slipping tail rotor belts. There are some problems with the old
rotor
head. B.J Schramm, the designer should be contacted about those
problems.
I believe I heard him tell one person not to fly the version with the
looped
cable in the head. I used to fly a Benson gyro with a McCullough
engine.
It was a quiet sewing machine compared to the sound of the Evinrude
engine
in the Scorpion. Be very careful.
Stu Fields
wrote in message
...
"Gig Giacona" wrote:

You will have to be signed off by and instructor for that aircraft.
Do
you
already own a flyable Scorpion? You will most likely have to get
back in
the
R22 for your check ride.

My scorpion is a single seater and is not completely restored yet. I
checked with Rotorway, but it does not seem that there is any way to
get instruction in a scorpion one. I wonder if a scorpion 2 is close
enough. The scopion 2 and scorpion one are basically the same
helicopter with the 2 being bigger and wider.

It is starting to look like I'm going to have to get my certificate by
soloing in the R22 and then just switch to the scorpion afterwards.
It seems like thats a waste of money though since I will have to
relearn everything in the scorpion.

I have all the parts to the scorpion one, but I am not sure what to do
with the rotor blades. It looks like there are fine cracks in the
composite. I wonder if simply recoating them with new resin will be
good enough or if I have to rewrap them. They only have about 25
hours on them.

I will also say that the scorpion 1 was definitely not designed for
people with normal length legs. Its a real pain getting in and out of
it.

Dennis H.

Dennis Hawkins
n4mwd AT amsat DOT org (humans know what to do)

"A RECESSION is when you know somebody who is out of work.
A DEPRESSION is when YOU are out of work.
A RECOVERY is when all the H-1B's are out of work."
To find out what an H-1B is and how they are putting
Americans out of work, visit the following web site
and click on the "Exporting America" CNN news video:
http://zazona.com/ShameH1B/MediaClips.htm




Dennis Hawkins
n4mwd AT amsat DOT org (humans know what to do)

"A RECESSION is when you know somebody who is out of work.
A DEPRESSION is when YOU are out of work.
A RECOVERY is when all the H-1B's are out of work."
To find out what an H-1B is and how they are putting
Americans out of work, visit the following web site
and click on the "Exporting America" CNN news video:
http://zazona.com/ShameH1B/MediaClips.htm


Dennis,

Do you have a PPL? If so, except for safety, you don't need anything for
the rotorcraft.

Phil

"PW" wrote:

Dennis,

Do you have a PPL? If so, except for safety, you don't need anything for
the rotorcraft.

Phil

I assume that you mean a private pilot license for helicopters. No.
I haven't gotten that far. I'm still learning in the R22.

I have had some people tell me that the scorpions were much harder to
fly than the R22 and others tell me that they were easier. I'm
totally confused.

Dennis H.

Dennis Hawkins
n4mwd AT amsat DOT org (humans know what to do)

"A RECESSION is when you know somebody who is out of work.
A DEPRESSION is when YOU are out of work.
A RECOVERY is when all the H-1B's are out of work."
To find out what an H-1B is and how they are putting
Americans out of work, visit the following web site
and click on the "Exporting America" CNN news video:
http://zazona.com/ShameH1B/MediaClips.htm

Dennis, I think he was trying to tell you you don't have to have a catagory
license to fly a single seat helicopter. Only a rating with that of a power
plant included is required and a SEL will suffice. You can not fly a two
seat though even if solo with out the Rotorcraft-Helicopter rating.

Jim


wrote in message
...
"PW" wrote:

Dennis,

Do you have a PPL? If so, except for safety, you don't need anything
for
the rotorcraft.

Phil

I assume that you mean a private pilot license for helicopters. No.
I haven't gotten that far. I'm still learning in the R22.

I have had some people tell me that the scorpions were much harder to
fly than the R22 and others tell me that they were easier. I'm
totally confused.

Dennis H.

Dennis Hawkins
n4mwd AT amsat DOT org (humans know what to do)

"A RECESSION is when you know somebody who is out of work.
A DEPRESSION is when YOU are out of work.
A RECOVERY is when all the H-1B's are out of work."
To find out what an H-1B is and how they are putting
Americans out of work, visit the following web site
and click on the "Exporting America" CNN news video:
http://zazona.com/ShameH1B/MediaClips.htm

"Treetopper" wrote in message
...
Dennis, I think he was trying to tell you you don't have to have a
catagory
license to fly a single seat helicopter. Only a rating with that of a
power
plant included is required and a SEL will suffice. You can not fly a two
seat though even if solo with out the Rotorcraft-Helicopter rating.

Jim


wrote in message
...
"PW" wrote:

Dennis,

Do you have a PPL? If so, except for safety, you don't need
anything
for
the rotorcraft.

Phil

I assume that you mean a private pilot license for helicopters. No.
I haven't gotten that far. I'm still learning in the R22.

I have had some people tell me that the scorpions were much harder to
fly than the R22 and others tell me that they were easier. I'm
totally confused.

Dennis H.

Dennis Hawkins
n4mwd AT amsat DOT org (humans know what to do)

"A RECESSION is when you know somebody who is out of work.
A DEPRESSION is when YOU are out of work.
A RECOVERY is when all the H-1B's are out of work."
To find out what an H-1B is and how they are putting
Americans out of work, visit the following web site
and click on the "Exporting America" CNN news video:
http://zazona.com/ShameH1B/MediaClips.htm




What Jim said.

"Treetopper" wrote:

Dennis, I think he was trying to tell you you don't have to have a catagory
license to fly a single seat helicopter. Only a rating with that of a power
plant included is required and a SEL will suffice. You can not fly a two
seat though even if solo with out the Rotorcraft-Helicopter rating.

So now you have me curious. Hypothetically speaking. If a guy, for
whatever reason, is a really good helicopter pilot but does not have a
license, who then subsequently gets a US fixed wing private pilot
license, can he legally fly a helicopter?





Dennis Hawkins
n4mwd AT amsat DOT org (humans know what to do)

"A RECESSION is when you know somebody who is out of work.
A DEPRESSION is when YOU are out of work.
A RECOVERY is when all the H-1B's are out of work."
To find out what an H-1B is and how they are putting
Americans out of work, visit the following web site
and click on the "Exporting America" CNN news video:
http://zazona.com/ShameH1B/MediaClips.htm

I flew solo with a sign off from the CFI It requires renewing every 90
days. In fact the first time he signed me off he forgot to put the 90 day
thing in and I flew for awhile longer than 90 days.
I would sure be careful and keep the Scorpion at a hover until you get at
least 40hrs. successful. The inital hover time on a completed Safari is
20hrs. before it is flown in the pattern and the Safari doesn't have some of
the funny drive package you have in the Scorpion. The first pattern flite
involved an auto to insure that there was enough down pitch to get proper
blade speed.
Good luck (luck is better than skill)
Stu.
wrote in message
...

Most of the problems with the one I have are due to age. A lot of the
aluminum parts have surface oxidation that must be hand removed and
polished. I am planning on having all the aluminum parts hard
anodized so that they don't do that again.

The tail rotor slider mechanism was rusted and I had to work it pretty
hard to get it going again. I am planning on having the TR shaft hard
chrome plated so that it will wear better.

The steel frame is actually in remarkable shape. I'm not sure what
they used to paint it, but I hope to get something that good to
repaint it.

The only components that I am really worried about are the blades.
They only have about 25 hours on them, but also have age cracks in the
composite.

I haven't contacted BJ about the Scorpion One. I don't think he would
have time to talk to me since he is very busy with his helicycle
project. I have the blueprints for the Scorpion 2 and was considering
getting those for the One, but the One is almost identical to the 2 so
I'm not sure if I should bother.

The bent cable is for the collective. Its a nutty way of doing
things, but it does work. Its just not as good as a regular system.
The only real problem with the bent cable rotor head is that it does
not use elastomeric bearings. It uses unsealed thrust bearings
instead. However, because of the way the cable head works, they only
move when you actually move the collective. I'll probably have to
spend a bit of time every few hours of operation greasing them, but a
friend showed me a trick where I can grease them easily with a
hypodermic needle. Hopefully that will make operating it more
manageable.

I'm still not sure what to do about the license.

Dennis H.



"Stu Fields" wrote:

I had two Scorpion ones and sold them to a guy who had an A&P try to get
them going. They still have not been in the air. He had a lot of
trouble
with slipping tail rotor belts. There are some problems with the old
rotor
head. B.J Schramm, the designer should be contacted about those
problems.
I believe I heard him tell one person not to fly the version with the
looped
cable in the head. I used to fly a Benson gyro with a McCullough
engine.
It was a quiet sewing machine compared to the sound of the Evinrude
engine
in the Scorpion. Be very careful.
Stu Fields
wrote in message
...
"Gig Giacona" wrote:

You will have to be signed off by and instructor for that aircraft.
Do
you
already own a flyable Scorpion? You will most likely have to get
back in
the
R22 for your check ride.

My scorpion is a single seater and is not completely restored yet. I
checked with Rotorway, but it does not seem that there is any way to
get instruction in a scorpion one. I wonder if a scorpion 2 is close
enough. The scopion 2 and scorpion one are basically the same
helicopter with the 2 being bigger and wider.

It is starting to look like I'm going to have to get my certificate by
soloing in the R22 and then just switch to the scorpion afterwards.
It seems like thats a waste of money though since I will have to
relearn everything in the scorpion.

I have all the parts to the scorpion one, but I am not sure what to do
with the rotor blades. It looks like there are fine cracks in the
composite. I wonder if simply recoating them with new resin will be
good enough or if I have to rewrap them. They only have about 25
hours on them.

I will also say that the scorpion 1 was definitely not designed for
people with normal length legs. Its a real pain getting in and out of
it.

Dennis H.

Dennis Hawkins
n4mwd AT amsat DOT org (humans know what to do)

"A RECESSION is when you know somebody who is out of work.
A DEPRESSION is when YOU are out of work.
A RECOVERY is when all the H-1B's are out of work."
To find out what an H-1B is and how they are putting
Americans out of work, visit the following web site
and click on the "Exporting America" CNN news video:
http://zazona.com/ShameH1B/MediaClips.htm




Dennis Hawkins
n4mwd AT amsat DOT org (humans know what to do)

"A RECESSION is when you know somebody who is out of work.
A DEPRESSION is when YOU are out of work.
A RECOVERY is when all the H-1B's are out of work."
To find out what an H-1B is and how they are putting
Americans out of work, visit the following web site
and click on the "Exporting America" CNN news video:
http://zazona.com/ShameH1B/MediaClips.htm

Dennis,
Do yourself (and your family) a favor and throw away all the Scorpion
junk.
I'm sory, but if you want to take ridculous risks, try tightrope
walking.
Seriously. For some reason most here using this forumn are obviously
kit chopper hobbysts and won't face the music and tell you that you're
gambling with your life fooling around w/ this junk.
Try Robinson. Schweitzer, Bell ect.

Well, "junk" is in the eyes of the beholder I guess. I do have plans
for upgrading the Scorpion's rotor head and control systems at some
time. It currently uses the old cable-in-shaft system. Upgrading the
power transmission system to a transmission/shaft system will be a
little longer.

The first upgrade on the list is the landing gear. Scorpions have a
low (and thus dangerous) landing gear. The gear needs to be more like
an R22 so that the steel will cushion an impact with the ground.

There are several upgrades that I will be doing before I take it more
than a few feet up. The ignition system on the evinrude motor needs
attention. Its a solid state electronic module made in the late 60's.
I have heard rumors that this unit can fail. I want to convert to
some sort of makeshift dual ignition system like the one that the R22
uses.

And the list goes on. Don't worry about me and my bird. I also plan
to eddy current test or magnaflux all the critical components.
Speaking of which, does anybody know if x-ray is a better test than
eddy current when testing aluminum parts?

Dennis H.

(helicopterandy) wrote:

Dennis,
Do yourself (and your family) a favor and throw away all the Scorpion
junk.
I'm sory, but if you want to take ridculous risks, try tightrope
walking.
Seriously. For some reason most here using this forumn are obviously
kit chopper hobbysts and won't face the music and tell you that you're
gambling with your life fooling around w/ this junk.
Try Robinson. Schweitzer, Bell ect.

Dennis Hawkins
n4mwd AT amsat DOT org (humans know what to do)

"A RECESSION is when you know somebody who is out of work.
A DEPRESSION is when YOU are out of work.
A RECOVERY is when all the H-1B's are out of work."

To find out what an H-1B is and how Congress is using
them to put Americans out of work, visit the following
web site and click on the "Exporting America" CNN news
video: http://zazona.com/ShameH1B/MediaClips.htm