Auto Gyro MTO-Sport 2017 aircraft review

A review of the new Auto Gyro MTOsport 2017.

[@jasonrwilkinson9216]

Hi Phil, I have a Sport 2017 which I've flown for around 40 hours now. Lovely aircraft to fly, few other things to mention to viewers who have an interest in the aircraft are: The undercarriage design which significantly improves ground handling and take-off/landing comfort. With the TOPP rotors (blue caps) a lot smoother (IMHO) flight, more stable 'heavier' feeling cyclic. Mast height lower for a lower CofG, split mast if you ever need to transport the aircraft. Pre-rotator iii you mentioned but the clutch action is smoother and doesn't require belt changes, I've never once had the clutch light lit, have pre-rotated to 300rpm on a warm day with my instructor in (so max all up weight) and we realised a significantly shorter ground run using the standard take-off technique. Apparently very comfortable in the back as reported by my instructor. Better wind protection with the larger screens. Definitely runs cooler in the warm weather than my friend's Sport 2010 as it has a larger oil cooler and radiator. Option on the 914/915 of a night kit which enables the aircraft to fly in night VFR conditions (although this is pricey with a certified EFIS on-board and adds further weight due to an auxiliary alternator, certified landing lights etc...) . How do your students feel about the Sport 2017 - do they prefer it? Are you going to keep the aircraft?

[@gyrocopterflyingclub6148]

Jason R Wilkinson hey Jason thanks for the views and some good points made which the good ones I’ll cover in my review of the 915 engined version if that’s OK. So I’ve been instructing in one over the summer and agree it is a nice aircraft although even low spec 912 ones are near £80k in the UK which if I’m honest is toppy. Undercarriage I think is at best marginal change although to be fair I operate of tarmac mainly so perhaps that colours my view? Rotors are an interesting one. I agree on a long flight the TOPP edition (which for the new to Auto Gyro product is effectively rotor system 3) as they have moved toward mimicking a Magni feel but local area dynamic flight I always loved rotor system 1! Actually the split mast is less about transportation and more that if you roll then it becomes the natural breaking point rather than twisting the entire airframe. I’m going to assume you have a 914 version regarding the ability to make the most of the additional pre-rotation RPM and using a modified technique as per the POH (which is actually closer to my own preference of take off technique) with a 912 at MAUW the motor struggles to deal with the extra drag and you need more forward stick than almost anyone I know flying a gyroplane would be naturally comfortable with (I actually think it’s probably worthy of a factory pilots course to teach people how to get the best from the system). The aircraft is a nicer environment than pervious editions I have a small frequency hit my helmet in the rear if I’m honest but it might be a size/position thing? Yes it is well cooled but night kit (in the UK anyway) is largely pointless. Obviously it adds a layer of regulation which is entirely unwanted (if you have dealings with our own CAA you’d take my point) and the number of night equipped airfields are minimal. In the UK we have gone down a rabbit hole with night/CPL. Students love it. Will I keep it? In a word no. Not because it isn’t a great aircraft - it is but, and it’s a big but. All gyroplanes in the UK have raced away price wise to the point of questionable value. It’s hurting the market here. They are far in excess of the original adopters of the class and so they can’t afford to change into a new aircraft. Instructors don’t see an additional £50k value from an old MT03 as the price of a lesson is same/same. And finally new students (or potential new students) ask “what can I do once I have my PPL?” And you explain the price of entry is what it is and they at best just don’t get excited. At £50-60k these things sell all day. At £80k the get sticky.

[@chriso847]

Great video. I own and fly a Magni M-16 in California and would love to see a side by side comparison of the M-16 and the MTO Sport 2017. I watch all your webinars and am very appreciative of you for putting so much great info out there for us gyro pilots. Keep up the great work 👍

[@gyrocopterflyingclub6148]

Hey Chris appreciate the kind words, thank you. I have to confess I haven't flown a Magni M16 for a few years now and once the virus is out of the way I'll ask Magni to make an aircraft available and get it posted up. As a starter for ten actually the M16 is a better longer distance aircraft, it trims more nicely than a 2017 Sport and many people will tell you that you fell like you sit 'On" an AutoGyro Sport and "In" a Magni M16. The M16 is the pick of the Magni range IMO.

[@ATECZephyr]

The audio on this is painfully low. I enjoy your videos but you need to mic yourself up when doing walk around reviews.

[@gyrocopterflyingclub6148]

Yes agree its been a learning process

[@flyingwheeliebin]

Lovely Aircraft, awful audio with rustling sounds, buy a decent mike and keep on making informative videos!

[@Flintlock1776]

Nice video. Well done.

[@ActionSportsMaui]

The Instructor instruments and controls in teh back seat seem to have everything except the flight/brake selector, I wonder why they didnt do that as well.

[@RoadRunnerLaser]

The doubling of baggage weight to be included as "pilot mass" also applies to the pre-2017 MTO Sport.

[@alancotton7766]

Very interesting and informative thank you 👍

[@virginiahansen320]

Great review! Keep 'em coming! I'd love to see reviews of the Calidus and Cavalon next! The Orion and the Xenon/Tercel would also be great!

[@gyrocopterflyingclub6148]

Thanks for the kind comments. Mani M24 Orion review coming up in an hours time and the Calidus and Cavalon by the weeks end. Sound a little flakey at the moment but I have an external mic. on order and I'll make a whole bunch of new reviews with some additional thoughts once that comes!

[@virginiahansen320]

@@gyrocopterflyingclub6148 Perfect! I don't mind the audio, but I know it bothers others here. Thanks for the reply!

[@GyroSportFlying]

Thank you for the informative videos. keep up the good work.

[@____j____a____c____k6466]

Do you need a license to fly this? Also how much does it cost?

[@gyrocopterflyingclub6148]

You do need a license - which one depends on your country of intended use. Cost depends on motor / spec but from around circa Euro80k.

[@RoadRunnerLaser]

From what I've been told, the colour-coordinated cylinder-head caps on the 2017 model are an optional extra. If you don't pay for the option, you get the regular coloured caps (green = 912, red = 914, blue = 915). ... and you keep referring to the 2010 model of MTO Sport, yet everything you said of it applies to our MTO Sport which was manufactured in 2009. The instructor pack in ours also has mag switches (covered by protective caps) which are sited on the left of the passenger/instructor along with the throttle and the trim and PTO switches. I don't like the electronic ASI and altimeter in the 2017 - I just see them as an expensive gimmick. I would rather have the steam gauges. There are things I like about the 2017 and things I don't like about it. I don't think I would be likely to "upgrade" from our MTO Sport. It's a fair bit heavier and the 912 leaves it a little underpowered. Also, if you trailer it - Be careful of the little fin at the bottom of the keel. It will possibly need to be removed (we had to remove it when we trailered one a couple of weeks ago). The airscoop underneath to direct air to the oil radiator seems a little unnecessary for the UK as MTOs tend to run cool anyway. One real niggle with the whole package is that the master switch, the nose compartment, and the fuel filler cap all take different keys. Even my 2004 Suzuki car uses the same key all-round (glovebox, fuel filler, doors, and tailgate). Because the nose compartment is fully enclosed, you can no longer reach through from the footwell to grab your Mr. Funnel. I'm not sure if that's really a good thing or a bad thing.

[@gyrocopterflyingclub6148]

Hey thanks for the comments. The point about the cam covers and the colour is that now you can specify your own colours it therefore means you can't simply look at an aircraft on the apron and assume that (for example) because it has red cam covers its a 914 powered aircraft etc. 2010 Sport is Auto-Gyro's term for the aircraft you have and I refer to as the 2010 model... (www.auto-gyro.com/en/Gyroplane/AutoGyro-Models/MTOsport-2010/) Yes agree the ASI/Alt I think its form over function and something likely to snag On the keys.....I'll tell you something very interesting..... your sport ignition key, try it in any other Auto Gyro and see what happens. Hence the different ones for the lockers!!! Seriously.

[@RoadRunnerLaser]

Gyrocopter flying club - Yep. I know the MTO Sport keys are "universal". Not that it would take much effort to hot-wire one, anyway. I didn't realise that the official name was the "2010". I just thought that they called that model the "Sport" rather than the MTO3. Cheers for that... but yeah... they were making them prior to 2010.

[@gyrocopterflyingclub6148]

@@RoadRunnerLaser yes its an odd thing the years / model ref. Haha I think flying one becomes the bigger challenge, would make for an interesting piece of CCTV footage!

[@RoadRunnerLaser]

Gyrocopter flying club - Yup... but stranger things have happened - Remember the case of the baggage handler who stole a Dash 8 Q400?

[@robertaseidziunas6118]

Where was this video made? Turweston Aerodrome?

[@gyrocopterflyingclub6148]

Hi yes at Turweston

[@robertaseidziunas6118]

I was inside that hangar in September of 2017. On that day, I flew a Cessna 180 that was being kept in that hangar. I saw a gyroplane in the air and on the ground that day, dark in colour, as I recall -- dark green, perhaps. The owner of the Cessna recently inquired with the LAA about my bringing an MTOsport-2017 from abroad to the UK.

[@pirateracer69]

Sorry, I was interested but the video shakes so much, i find it unwatchable.

[@gilbertfranklin1537]

Audio so poor that I only made it half way thru... sad 🤨

[@gyrocopterflyingclub6148]

yes my apologies please see the buying guide webinar film for more details.

[@robertrainford301]

Gyro : 10, Mic : 1, Face would make vid more personable.

[@gyrocopterflyingclub6148]

Yes agree I'll update my format in coming films

[@andreweaves7975]

video not post-worthy...horrible audio