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#11
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A/W-95 Helicopter by A-B Helicopters
One of the problems with two strokes in helicopters is the need to be
running at or near full power. Then to practice an auto you chop the throttle and if steps aren't taken, a seizure can result. I know one guy who has added an enrichment device for just those times when he reduces throttle after running at full chat for awhile. In my old motorcycle days I had a compression release installed for those long down hills so that I kept some fuel-oil mixture going thru and also I could avoid a fouled plug at the bottom. With an sprag clutch and no real flywheel on a helicopter the compression release would not work. All that said I do know of a couple of guys flying the Ultrasport with the two stroke engine and they seem to have over come some of the two stroke problems. Engine power requirements can be kind of estimated quickly using the old 10#/hp For adequate helicopter performance this rule of thumb gives some indication of how much power is going to be needed. Whether the Rotax can supply this for a period of time is a question better asked of people who have used them in such an environment. "Morgans" wrote in message ... "Stuart & Kathryn Fields" wrote People who have flown both the R-22 and the Mosquito say the Mosquito is much easier to fly. Now I don't have any experience or second hand info on the AW-95. What do you think of the power output of the little Rotax in the 95? Is it over taxing the engine, or is it going to be able to put out that much power without reliability problems in the long run? Whenever I see a 2 stroke in a Heli, it reminds me too much or an earlier helicopter no longer in business (that shall go nameless) and it concerns me. -- Jim in NC |
#12
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A/W-95 Helicopter by A-B Helicopters
Stuart & Kathryn Fields wrote:
Richard: As I recall the control forces were fairly light but such that I felt connected to the ship and control excursions required were not large but generated response that seemed very appropriate. This seems to be supported by the fact that several people have learned to fly the thing without having any helicopter instruction. Something I sure don't recommend. Sounds like somebody got it right. "cavelamb himself" wrote in message ... Stuart & Kathryn Fields wrote: Well...Have I got a surprise for you guys. A few years ago Dwight Junkin, who is involved with the Mosquito, asked me if I wanted to try his Mosquito. OK I'm helicopter rated, have hovered a UH-1, Safaris, Schweitzer 300CB, Bell 47s, and a Brantly B2B, and tried to hover a R-22. Here was Dwights Mosquito that weighs less than 300 #. I knew it was going to be skitterish as hell and was scared spitless as I slowly raised the collective keeping the rpm in the green. The little bugger came nicely off the ground and just set there like a much much heavier helicopter. Withing 15 sec I was hover taxiing the thing around the field. Having raced two stroke motorcycles I wasn't inclined to go flying about though without accumulating more faith in the engine. Bottom line? It was easier to hover than any other helicopter I've tried with the exception of the Huey. People who have flown both the R-22 and the Mosquito say the Mosquito is much easier to fly. Now I don't have any experience or second hand info on the AW-95. The Exec that I hovered felt very much like a Safari. Just a guess, Stuart, but what were the control forces and excursions like on the Mosquito? Richard |
#13
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A/W-95 Helicopter by A-B Helicopters
"Stuart & Kathryn Fields" wrote in message
... Richard: As I recall the control forces were fairly light but such that I felt connected to the ship and control excursions required were not large but generated response that seemed very appropriate. This seems to be supported by the fact that several people have learned to fly the thing without having any helicopter instruction. Something I sure don't recommend. http://youtube.com/watch?v=232hX895nU0 -- Geoff The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate. |
#14
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A/W-95 Helicopter by A-B Helicopters
Capt: That video has been around for awhile. There were a bunch of
helicopter pilots looking at it a few years back and the consensus of opinion was that the pilot probably had a brief flight with his instructor the day before and the danged instructor never really let the guy have the controls but was "On there with him" and the guy thought he was flying the thing OK. This gave the guy the impression that it wasn't that hard so he tried it by himself. Bad instruction technique. I had the same kind of instruction in a Schweitzer 300CB at a fairly famous flight training school. I never knew whether it was me or the instructor on the controls. Left there and took training with Mike Zemlock in Chino. There was never any doubt in my mind who just screwed up that maneuver. "Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" The Sea Hawk at wow way d0t com wrote in message news:Y7adnR53GqRVoMHanZ2dnUVZ_veinZ2d@wideopenwest .com... "Stuart & Kathryn Fields" wrote in message ... Richard: As I recall the control forces were fairly light but such that I felt connected to the ship and control excursions required were not large but generated response that seemed very appropriate. This seems to be supported by the fact that several people have learned to fly the thing without having any helicopter instruction. Something I sure don't recommend. http://youtube.com/watch?v=232hX895nU0 -- Geoff The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate. |
#15
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A/W-95 Helicopter by A-B Helicopters
"ed" wrote in message ... Is the A/W-95 Helicopter by A-B Helicopters a good design for what it is ??? I'm thinking of building it but appreciate any advise . Thanks ED I have wanted to build an experimental helicopter most of my life, and have read, visited and otherwise observed the situation for many years. I should also add that I own a well equipped welding and machine shop, so I would be a good bit more fearless than most people attempting to do so. But so far a good, safe, reliable kit built helicopter is just not a reality. From what I have seen at best, everyone that builds something like A/W 95 winds up with something they are afraid to fly higher than they are willing to fall, or something the hurts them. Notice a lot of footage on the internet of people demonstrating designs, but seldom much above 10'. I have only talked with 1 person, that claims to have profited by building a kit build copter, and I have to doubt his success due to the extreme failure of others. The primary reasons seem to focus on the smaller crafts LIMITED ability to enter and safely execute an auto rotation, and the less reliable light weight engines required to make them successful. But this certainly isn't the only reasons. Helicopters and light weight power plants are much more complex than the inexperience could ever imagine. Although I feel confident someone could in fact build one, I doubt it has been done yet. And the time and money it would take to accomplish the task would quickly out weigh the cost of just buying a good used helo. My experience tells me that if I every commit to such a project, I will only be doing so because I enjoy a good challenge, and that would be a good one. Certainly not because I was hoping save some money on flying a sport helicopter. |
#16
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A/W-95 Helicopter by A-B Helicopters
Maxwell: We publish the Experimental Helo magazine and as such attend some
13 events each year which have at least some kit built helicopters in attendance. One of the most recent, Homer Bell's in Ohio had one single seat kit built helicopter (Helicycle) fly in from Louisianna. At the end of the event he jumped in his bird and flew home. The January issue of our magazine has an article on that. In another example, Mark Richards flew a Baby Belle two seat kit built helicopter from Ear Falls Ontario to the Sun'n Fun Fly-In in Florida. Another example is Al Behuncik who has flown his Rotorway Exec, a two seat kit built helicopter from Alberta Canada to Oshkosh several times. Now I've got 240 hrs on my two seat Baby Belle and while I haven't flown long cross countries, the 240 hrs have been just almost maintenance free with the exception of oil and filter changes. BTW another Baby Belle was flown from the Seattle area to Oshkosh and return. Auto Rotations. With two of us up and 1/2 tank of fuel, Mark Richards did an autorotation down to the 3' level where I counted to three before he added the power back. Another example was John Snider at Oshkosh this year was doing hovering autos in his two stroke Mosquito from as high as 18' agl. I don't think that you will find anyone willing to do that in an R-22 or a Schweitzer 300CB, or for that matter a D model Bell 47. Also operating an ultralite, two stroke engined Mosquito, less than 254#, was a highly experienced airline captain. While it is true I've never seen an AW-95 flying at any of the events that I attend, I do know of two highly reputable people who have accumulated some hours in their version of the AW-95. There are an increasing number of kit built helicopters ranging from single seaters to and including a 4 -5 seater, co-axial, turbine powered etc. The reason for this is the cost of maintenance and the ability to modify and fix things that aren't done as well as changing technology will allow. Example: Metal rotor blade replacement for Bell 47. $64,000. Not too long ago a pair of brand new control links for a Bell 407 were on ebay listed for $8,000. His comment was that the Bell price was $30,000 for the pair; just two pieces of tubing with a rod end on one end and a control fork on the other. I could make them in my shop in a couple of hours. I didn't believe the $30,000 so I called Bell and indeed the price was $28,500!!! While I can probably afford to pick up a used Bell 47, I refuse to pay for the maintenance and operating costs when both Bell and FAA tell me where I have to buy my parts. BTW the performance difference between my Baby Belle and a D model Bell 47 is very small. It is my contention that it is not possible to own a certified helicopter because of this relationship with Bell and FAA. With your background of welding and machining, you would be a more than welcome addition to the Experimental Helo community. I too dreamed of flying my own helicopter since the late 60's but in 1997 I was in the air. Since then I've flown my Baby Belle in Ca, Ore, Wa. AZ, NM, Tx, Ok, Ohio, IN, IOwa, WI, MI and Ontario Canada. Still having a blast. Stu "Maxwell" wrote in message ... "ed" wrote in message ... Is the A/W-95 Helicopter by A-B Helicopters a good design for what it is ??? I'm thinking of building it but appreciate any advise . Thanks ED I have wanted to build an experimental helicopter most of my life, and have read, visited and otherwise observed the situation for many years. I should also add that I own a well equipped welding and machine shop, so I would be a good bit more fearless than most people attempting to do so. But so far a good, safe, reliable kit built helicopter is just not a reality. From what I have seen at best, everyone that builds something like A/W 95 winds up with something they are afraid to fly higher than they are willing to fall, or something the hurts them. Notice a lot of footage on the internet of people demonstrating designs, but seldom much above 10'. I have only talked with 1 person, that claims to have profited by building a kit build copter, and I have to doubt his success due to the extreme failure of others. The primary reasons seem to focus on the smaller crafts LIMITED ability to enter and safely execute an auto rotation, and the less reliable light weight engines required to make them successful. But this certainly isn't the only reasons. Helicopters and light weight power plants are much more complex than the inexperience could ever imagine. Although I feel confident someone could in fact build one, I doubt it has been done yet. And the time and money it would take to accomplish the task would quickly out weigh the cost of just buying a good used helo. My experience tells me that if I every commit to such a project, I will only be doing so because I enjoy a good challenge, and that would be a good one. Certainly not because I was hoping save some money on flying a sport helicopter. |
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