Oshkosh 2022 Trip - Day 1 - Kallithea gyro travels from Los Angeles to Oshkosh

[@ROCROCROC1]

These videos are exceedingly well done. It looks and sounds easy enough but when you watch the stick, it vibrates the whole time. I think it was far more difficult than it looks. I would say supreme flying; one man in an ultra lite, about 4300 miles. Fabulous.

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching… and thank you for the kind words. The trip was exhausting, but also a lot of fun. I had the opportunity to see the country from an unique angle. Met many wonderful people. Enjoyed every minute of flying. I would loved to do the same trip with a bunch of friends - few gyros flying together.

[@Roman_Ossetrov]

​@@lagyroздравствуйте, мое восхищение вам и привет из Казахстана, скажите пожалуйста как называется ваш автожир и можно ли такой заказать к себе в Казахстан?

[@lagyro]

@@Roman_Ossetrov, thank you for watching... The gyroplane in the video is a Kallithea designed by Niki Rotor Aviation from Bulgaria. Google them, and you will be able to find their corporate website. They would be extremely happy to provide you with any information you seek... and they speak Russian as well... Good luck, and should you purchase a Kallithea, please let me know and send pictures.

[@Roman_Ossetrov]

​@@lagyroбольшое спасибо Вам, обязательно вам сообщу!

[@lagyro]

@@Roman_Ossetrov Thank you for watching...

[@stinger4583]

In future videos, could you please give some flight details every 5 minutes or so. ie...cruising altitude and air speed...etc. Maybe on one stop of your trip show the fueling procedure and preflight check...etc. What an adventure. Thank you.

[@lagyro]

All of these are things that get lost in the editing and the strive to make a video to appeal to wide audiences. If you follow my Facebook pages, there is usually some additional information. Additionally, i am always available for chats with someone interested in the finer details, or people planning similar trips.

[@TheOnBoardLife]

Nice video. Terrific narration. Strong content. Good job.

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching… and thank you for the kind words…

[@harryzero1566]

@@lagyro I enjoyed your flight too, it was satisfying to know that you weren't having your ears blasted by ICE powered rotar blades,

[@armmkm]

Excellent! Reminds me of my first few VFR cross-country flights. I recognize many of the landmarks on your flight. Good narration. Keep up the good work my fellow aviator friend.

[@lagyro]

Thank you for the kind words…

[@LB-pv7sd]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!! Thank you for taking the time to create this truly informative cross country gyrocopter video illustrating what would go into a trip like this.

[@lagyro]

Some of the fun is in the detailed planning. The better you plan, the easier it is once you hit the road…

[@berniemccann8935]

@@lagyro -- "Details" narrative wasn't planned !

[@billyvann8458]

Awesome views. I'm really enjoying this cross country flying.thanks for filming it.

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching… Making these videos allows me to relive the memories…

[@audi3318]

5:20 what are all those lights above the aircraft? Is it a reflection? With other shots I don’t see any lights on the controls that would give that reflection

[@lagyro]

I am flying over the freeway, and these are the headlights of the cars driving in the oposite direction.

[@sharkamov]

Thanks for inviting us onboard the Cavalon for this spectacular trip L.A. Gyroplane Aviation! . . . Watching with great interest from nippy 🇳🇴👍 *Safe Flights Always!* 👌

[@lagyro]

The weather during the trip was the opposite of nippy… it was blistering hot, but once in the air, it felt good. One small correction, my gyro is not a Cavalon, but a Kallithea - designed by Niki Rotor Aviation…

[@christopheschwartz7374]

3325 km de distance! Ce gyrocoptère est vraiment une excellente machine, ça vaut bien un voyage avec des paysages incroyable! Merci pour cette magnifique vidéo. Un abonné de France 🇨🇵 👍

[@lagyro]

Thank you for the kind words. GYroplanes are not usually designed for this kind of trips, but they are fully capable of doing them... and flying low an slow really shows you some fantastic views over the land...

[@cratecruncher6687]

Amazing video of an epic cross-country. With my first ride in a Hughes 500 in Hawaii I realized the best way to see remote scenery is from a heli or gyro. I understand following roads in such barren regions for rescue reasons but my thoughts would be constantly haunted by the remote chance of a midair with an aircraft doing the same thing in the opposite direction. I can't wait to watch the rest of the trip. Thanks for taking the extra effort to film and edit your adventure!😄

[@lagyro]

I never gave it a though about hitting someone else flying like me but in the opposite direction... Most airplanes fly much higher, and I do monitor my ADS-B traffic interface. That being said, Once I entered the green fields of Iowa, I stayed above 2,000 feet AGL because I was concerned for the numerous crop dusters flying all over the place.

[@TheRighteousBovines]

Remember...east is odd west is even odder 😉

[@ralphedelbach]

Interesting video but some technical info such as what is the "Flying speed" you mention at 55:20 when you do say the rotor is turning at 220 RPM? That would be nice to know...but that is just my opinion. Thanks for taking us along on your journey. Cheers!

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching, and I appreciate your feedback... Average speed during the trip was around 80-85 knots (~100 MPH). The rotor was spinning at ~440 RPM, which is above its normal of 410 RPM for the same load. Density altitude and flight altitude was taking its tall on the performance. Approach and takeoff speeds are around 55 knots (60-65 MPH). I tried to stay around 2,000 feet above the terrain.

[@mark675]

I couldnt do long distance in one of these with the stick wobbling the whole time would drive me nuts! 😔

[@lagyro]

Don't knock it, till you try it... ;) The vibrations look much worse than they realy are...

[@mark675]

@lagyro I have flown one but only for an hour, loved every minute of it but the vibrations were rather annoying after a while 😄 Enjoyed the video though thankyou, especially the night shots 😎

[@js7127]

Funny that you have to use the long runway when I'm sure you could land in the parking lot, LOL!! Also is amazing your craft stays together with the amount of vibration I saw and you are not totally numb after two or three hours flying.

[@lagyro]

On the landing... it is not a good idea to go against what everyone expects from you, so landing on the runway is the way to go on unfamiliar airports. On one of my local airports, the tower allows landing on the taxiway, and they even encourage it... About the vibration... there are always vibrations, but what you see on the screen is not even close to the actual feeling when flying. You are looking through the lense of a camera that vibrates on its own, and its image stabilization is introducing another layer of distorsion for the viewers.

[@dhooter]

Holy shit. That contraption sounded like a damn lawn mower engaging the blades lol. Brave soul right there

[@lagyro]

Haha, you are not far from the truth, the prerotator’s belts do screech in the beginning.

[@terryevans1976]

Really nice to see what it takes for a long cross country in a modern gyro.

[@lagyro]

It is a fun adventure, but it does require proper prior planning...

[@tedthompson2163]

Thank you! It was like seeing my impossible bucket list, realized. So good.

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching… Nothing is impossible, sometimes we just need a little luck… 😉

[@jamesburrell8574]

I would have loved to hear more about the actual construction and outfitting (including supplies) of your aircraft. Elevation, ambient temperature, cabin temperature, altitude callouts, speed, direction, refueling, maintenance, 35:57 rest periods, how kind did you sleep and where, how long you were flying between stops, ground communications along the way, etc., how you were feeling, etc.? are all things I would I be interested in hearing. You did so much planning and I would like to hear what those plans entailed. Any mechanical issues? Biological issues? Would you do anything different?

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching... You are correct to be curious about all of these supplemental issues a cross country pilot would plan for and deal with. These videos were created with the idea of a wider audience, so I woudl need to create other type of videos, diving into the "invisible" stuff. I will take a note of your, and similar, commenst and try to put together a more technical video(s) in the near future. Thank you, again, for your interest in the subject... it gives me great insentive to invest the time in these videos.

[@Meg99993]

Thank you for the great video of this cross country flight. You have put a lot of work in the preparations, filming and editing, it’s like I came along with you on this flight. 👍🏼 I am looking forward to day 2 of your journey. Greetings from a tiny village in the Netherlands. (Ps. I have flown a lot in a Dynamic WT9, but would love to experience flying in a gyro plane.)

[@lagyro]

Thank you for the kind words... If you ever find yourself in Los Angeles, please give me a call... But you do not have to come to America to experience a gyro flight. Please do not hesitate to get a demo flight from a local gyro pilot oir instructor. You must get your "gyro grin"... ;)

[@USNVA11]

That’s a long haul from LA to Oshkosh at ~ 80-90 knots ! Thanks for posting your flight !

[@lagyro]

You are correct about the long haul... and it can get a bit too much from time to time. But the upside is seeing the country from few feet off the ground almost like nothing else, and that makes it worth the effort... in moderation of course... ;)

[@USNVA11]

@@lagyro - I flew my Grumman Tiger from SE Virginia to Waukesha for AirVenture in 2019. Made a stop for fuel in central Ohio. I was more than ready to get out of that cockpit when we stopped at that FBO in Ohio ! Much respect for your fortitude.

[@lagyro]

@@USNVA11 I hear you... this is one of the reasons why I plan the legs for about 1:45 to 2:00 hours...

[@robh8890]

Great video and thanks for sharing experience.

[@supermanlxvi]

Love your travels! Can you say something about your camera setup, how it tracks, etc... Thanks

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching... Your praise makes it all worthwhile... My "main" camera is an Insta360 OneX, a 360 camera, that captures the world around it. In post production I select where the "lense" faces and the zoom level. This makes the video appear like there was a human operator moving the camera. I also use footage from other cameras as they are available during flight. I shoudl probably do a video of how I manage the raw footage. IF you follow my Facebook page, theer is a post from couple fo years ago descussing the camera mounts, etc. Contact me via my email ([e-mail]) if you would like more detailed information.

[@supermanlxvi]

@@lagyro Fantastic! while doing housework I have your adventures running and often time the scenery is so distracting I actually stop what I am doing and sit and watch! Thank you my friend!

[@lagyro]

@@supermanlxvi Thank you for the kind words... I don't want to sound weird, but the views are really spectacular - even sumple things like green fields, and houses look better from the air. I wish my camera had a better color capture... and I also wish everybody would have the opportunity to take a flight in a small aircraft. Once I got involved in aviation, I realized that the industry is doing a lowsy job advertising what it could offer to the general public. And, Yes, you have to drive to airport, and maybe get unlucky with cancellations due t o bad weather, but once you get the chance to fly... Oh, boy, you are hooked...

[@adolfozabransky]

This trip is wanderfoul. Thank you.

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching, and thank you for the kind words. The trip really was fantastic, a modern day adventure. Did you see the clips from the other days?

[@tommylewis8457]

I feel like you could scale up the cooling system used in a liquid cooled computer. Mount a heat sink on the exterior of the gryo and it shouldn't produce much drag. Just cycle coolant to the heat sink with a small pump letting the exterior airflow pull heat off the heat sink. Could be used to cool you off or your camera gear. It wouldn't be ice cold but it could still make a big difference on those hotter days.

[@lagyro]

Interesting suggestion... The reason why I was surprised by the overheating of the cameras is because my previous trips were not that long, and the camera was not really exposed to that much sunlight. Once I discovered the problem, I managed to keep some shade on top of the heat sensitive devices. In general, flying gyroplanes is syninimous with "simlicity" so anything that is over complicated is not going to fly (no pun intended).

[@tommylewis8457]

@@lagyro oh I get it lol. Thanks for the video again. I plan to watch some more soon. I always wondered how it would fair flying one of these cross country and this gave me a lot of insight into long trips in one. Most the videos I come across are short trips

[@lagyro]

@@tommylewis8457 I recommend to everyone who can do it to embark on such adventure... prety much the last frontier... It does not have to be across the whole country, but overnight trips are very exciting as well.

[@weirdshibainu]

Until one has spent time in the Great Basin, it's difficult to appreciate it's scale and beauty. Thanks for the low altitude perspective. Another fantastic flight would be to travel the entire length of highway 395. Mountains on the one side, the Great Basin on the other. 395 is literally the dividing line between the two and runs from San Diego to Canada.

[@lagyro]

Looking at maps, charts, Google Earth even, give you just a limited appreciation for goegraphical features, but once you fly over the terrain, you realize the difference in scale... sometimes it looks bigger, and sometimes it looks smaller than anticipated...

[@lutomson3496]

Guess you havent studied tectonic plates and geography the assumption that the 395 divides the US and Canada in any stretch of the imagination is fantastical imagination at best..but make that your reality that you chose

[@derekdowns6275]

@@lutomson3496 You might want to re-read the OP's post.

[@Mr.Thermistor7228]

@@lutomson3496 lmaoo how horrible of a person are you for you to come up with a response to the original comment like that? get a grip, jesus man wtf

[@cratecruncher6687]

I traveled 395 south from Mono Lake to 136 east into Death Valley. Aside from a speeding ticket in Bishop, it was a fun little adventure on my meandering way from San Francisco to Dallas. The U.S. is a big beautiful place if you know how to look.

[@siisii4308]

Thank you for video... Nice journey... Sorry for sweating inside the cabin

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching and leaving a comment... Yes, it was quite hot while taxiing on the ground, but the air vents did work very well once in the air. I would say that the overall feeling from the flight is exhilarating, and the small stuff like the heat is not remembered for long...

[@nickeyhicks9288]

Great video!!! How I wish I'd taken this up to enjoy other than work all the time to know nothing but work.

[@lagyro]

Work hard, play hard... I heard that somewhere... Not sure if it works exactly as it sounds... ;)

[@davidduganne5939]

Nice video--enjoyed seeing that part of the country from your gyro. You made good progress in a day of flying!

[@lagyro]

Thank you for the kind words… Even with the unexpected stop, the overall progress was great. Long cross country flights require good planning, precise execution… and a lot of luck…

[@Chebva]

That must feel amazing to be up there by yourself like that. You are like a hi-tech eagle!

[@lagyro]

I have to admit, flying a gyro over magnificent views feels like being on a magic carpet…

[@gyromax5581]

I would have liked to have been there . Good publicity for the gyro Greetings from Bavaria 🚁

[@lagyro]

Greetings from California… Oshkosh is something a pilot should experience once in a while just to recharge the batteries… You are 100% correct about the publicity, the gyro was a guest of honor everywhere i went.

[@JREone]

What a cool video I'm amazed at these gyro copters, thanks for sharing these videos I'm hooked and subscribed.

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching... I am currently processing the return trip to Los Angeles, so by the time yuo watch the rest of the videos, the new batch would be ready and available...;)

[@drbobsnightmare2521]

South Utah has a town called Hurricane. It is aptly named. Safe flying

[@lagyro]

I was planning to land there as a fuel stop, but at the last moment chose St George. Beautiful area at the doorsteps of Zion National Park...

[@drbobsnightmare2521]

@@lagyro it's a nice little town, it can get pretty windy. The locals think it's mild and call it normal. Keep your weather radio on.

[@inspirationandaviation938]

Thank you so much for sharing us this excellent cross-country trip.

[@lagyro]

Sharing the trip allows me to fly it twice…

[@davecasler]

Why is the stick vibrating so much?

[@lagyro]

“…vibrating too much” is relevant… all gyros have vibrations and the battle is to keep them to a minimum. In this case you have to keep in mind that you are looking through the eyes of a camera that is vibrating and trying to apply stabilization algorithms to the video footage. I am not saying there is no room for improvement, but it all has to be assessed in person.

[@paulotesa]

I live in Criciuma, in the south of Brazil and I am also passionate about aviation. I've already been to Lakeland 2019. Your adventure is very interesting. Congratulations. Francisco

[@lagyro]

One never knows what an adventure such as this would bring, and that is probably the allure of the long cross country flight… maybe we’ll see you at Bensen Days one of these years…

[@paulotesa]

@@lagyro It would be a pleasure to meet you and hear your stories.

[@MalachiMarvin]

Thank you for this video. It was fun to watch. It would have been interesting to know how much fuel you used.

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching... The total HOBBS time was 8.2 hours, and the fuel consumption per hour was close to 5.6 US gallons, so total fuel burn should have been somewhere in the vicinity of 46 US gallons...

[@WELLINGTONASSIS-mz5bu]

BRAVO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@stevecam724]

Love the vibration in the stick, bet that got old quickly.

[@lagyro]

I can understand how that might be the visual appearance while watchig the video, but keep in mind that you are looking through the lens of a camera vibrating on its mount while trying to implement image stabilization to the captured footage. That, in general, distorts the perception of the vibration of objects that are close to the camera vs those further away. That is not to say there are no vibrations in the stick, but those are much less than what appears on screen...

[@thomasrudder9639]

I’m amazed at how you have so much knowledge of the things you pass over.

[@lagyro]

Thank you for the kind words... I always liked georgraphy, so this knowledge comes naturally to me. I also prepared for this trip months in advance with detailed study of almost every inch of the route on Google Earth, and other charts with more precise elevation numbers.

[@kenrolt8072]

The control stick vibrates a lot. Damping it might make it easier on the hand(s). I don't know if anyone else commented on this, so my apology in advance if someone already did. Great & unusual video so thank you for posting it.

[@lagyro]

Yes, many peopla comment on the stick's vibrations... I guess the reasoin for that is because the stick is a natural focal point on screen. Keep in mind you are looking through the lens of a camera that vibrates on ots mount while trying to apply image stabilization on the captures video... things get a bit distorted, so the shake look a but worse than it really is...

[@dwightbrown4647]

thank you for letting me tag along it was amazing!

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching… sharing the trip allows me to relive it twice…

[@woof3598]

looks like a fun machine, just found this, well have to check more of your videos

[@lagyro]

Few years ago I discovered gyros on KZbin myself… 😉

[@stavrostheodoropoulos8617]

I loved your video as well as the nerrating. I just became very interested on Gyros

[@lagyro]

I, myself, discovered gyros on KZbin before actually getting involved in flying them...

[@GenericWhiteMan00]

I live in the high desert, you're not wrong about anything you said.

[@tonsjet09]

the pilot is very extraordinary, super steady and very cool to be able to see the view from the air huh...

[@lagyro]

Thank you for the kind words…

[@peredavi]

IFR gives you plenty of road landing opportunities. I fly my C206 near highways in some mountain areas. Roads are lightly traveled in remote areas of Nevada, Utah, Wyoming….

[@lagyro]

Absolutely…if you never need it, you just have the company of the truckers on the road… but if you need it, boy, there is do much less walking…

[@manofsan]

*I would like to see comparison between Kallithea and Calidus* *(I would also like to see them flying together)*

[@lagyro]

I have couple of friends who fly Calidus gyros, so we can probably do comparison videos, then go fly together. I also have a friend who sold his Calidus and bought a Kallithea. His reasoning was that the Kallithea has much better visibility from the cockpit, has the option for a 915 engine, and the seating arrangement is much more comfortable…

[@scottcates]

Excellent flying and video.

[@lagyro]

Thank you for the kind words…

[@ewanbaxter9199]

This is great, thanks for posting

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching...

[@ronaldhorley9186]

What a cool way to fly cross country. Enjoying the videos

[@lagyro]

Flying on a magic carpet above beautiful landscapes…

[@TheUnFairAdvantageCrypto]

gripping that shakey controller for four days would be exhausting

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching... I cannot recall landing at the end of the day thinking how much my hand hurts... the actual vibrations are not even close to what the video "shows".

[@meaningfulquran]

Great content my friend! I found it to be more interesting than a Netflix series. Every moment was enjoyable, would love to see more. Thanks a lot for your efforts!

[@lagyro]

Thank you for the kind words… I am planning to publish the return trip as well - another 4 days going home to Los Angeles…stand by for some exciting footage…

[@meaningfulquran]

@@lagyro Wow! will be waiting for it. All the best.

[@martinholloway7694]

This video started my interest into gyroplanes. Thanks for taking the time to make this amazing footage. It’s awesome.

[@lagyro]

Gyros are fantastic machines, and with proper handling can be so much fun you have to pinch yourself… I would recommend visiting some gyro flying events like Bensen Days in Wauchula, Florida, or the PRA Convention at Mentone, Indiana… Also, it might be fun for you to take an introductory flight with a gyro flight instructor.

[@blakjedi]

@@lagyro I literally have the same sentiment as @martinholloway7694. I couldn't find a gyro instructor near my home in Maryland but I am currently on a visit to LA and will contact the good folks at LA Gyro for an introductory flight. Thank you for taking me on this journey with you. Im watching the entire thing again for the 2nd time.

[@lagyro]

@@blakjedi you’re always welcome to visit L. A. , but have you tried looking at Frederick Airport? I think there was a gyro instructor there. Also, you may consider visiting Bensen Days in Florida at the end of March. There you can hook up with almost any gyro instructor in the country in one place…

[@blakjedi]

I will be in LA this week and have requested a 60/90 min introductory flight through your website. Looking forward!

[@lagyro]

@@blakjedi oh, that was you… awesome… I sent a reply…

[@vincentparlante6274]

I guess a little ac would have made the trip a bit more comfortable huh? The flight looked great though. Grazie for sharing. 🥸

[@lagyro]

True… AC would have kept things cooler, but to be honest, while in the air, the cockpit was very comfortable.

[@robertbaker3620]

I was very relieved to see you break out the aviator sunglasses

[@lagyro]

Haha… these are invaluable …

[@clarencehopkins7832]

Excellent stuff bro

[@recifebra3]

Great stuff man!! thanks for taking us along!

[@lagyro]

Sharing the trip makes me relive it multiple times… lots of fun…

[@MikeFlyItAll]

awesome thanks for sharing your experience...

[@lagyro]

Stand by for the other days of this fantastic journey...

[@MikeFlyItAll]

@@lagyro looking forward to it for sure

[@ewanbaxter9199]

I F R = "I Follow Roads", I like that. Sounds better than "Instrument Flight Regulations" which would let you fly at night. It is like I am sat in the cockpit behind you.

[@lagyro]

A friend of mine was amazed how familiar he was with the cockpit when he sat in it for the first... just because he has seen many of the videos...

[@JamieFlyBoy]

Are you able to trim the gyro to fly hands off?

[@lagyro]

You could trim it close enough for lighter touch on the controls, maybe even a few seconds of hands free, but I would never be comfortable with releasing the stick for autopilotlike flying. There are too many factors influencing the flight at lower altitudes. In my experience flying gyros, I have never felt that I need hands free operations. Also, hands free "capabiliy" usually comes with heavy stick, so the question is: is featherlight stick better even if you always have to be in control, or very heavy stick is better as long as I can trim it to relieve the constant control. I, personally, like to be in control, so light stick would be my preference. My AR-1 gyro has a very light stick, the Kallithea is a bit heavier.

[@MrSkunkwork]

You do a good job of narrating the experience of the trip - the scenery, etc… Normally, videos like these tend to have little narration, or narration that is irrelevant to the content. Good job on the vid and beautiful gyro!

[@lagyro]

Thank you for the knd words... The goals is to take the viewer on the journey with me...

[@manofsan]

@@lagyro - at some moments I noticed your control stick was shaking significantly. Is it turbulence which causes a lot of feedback?

[@lagyro]

@@manofsan at high airspeeds the dissimetry of lift in the rotor causes more vibrations. There were moments when i was very close to the top allowed speed. All that being said, you should keep in mind that you are looking through the lens of a camera that is vibrating itself and trying to apply image stabilization to the video. All of this creates the wrong illusion of exactly what in the cockpit is shaking and how much…

[@tommylewis8457]

Love this video.

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching!!

[@Stooch]

awesome aircraft we all appreciate the effort in the video as well

[@lagyro]

Video editing is time consuming… one of the reasons why my computer hard drive gets fuller and fuller with unprocessed video footage…

[@mikemaxwell2591]

I'd think a bit of static tint would be nice on the window when needed to block some sunlight, just an idea. You could move it where needed or set aside. Thanks for sharing.

[@lagyro]

The overhead shade works great and the “glass” does have a slight tint.

[@mikemaxwell2591]

@@lagyro Yes, I observed that. Was just thinking of that extra layer to add comfort blocking more rays. Thanks, and be well.

[@lagyro]

I will have to experiment with this foil you are suggesting.

[@mikemaxwell2591]

@@lagyro Same material they sell for automobiles, held in place because of the static to block the sun rays from small children and can be moved about. Good luck.

[@floofycatz]

Thank you for an excellent and informative video :)

[@lagyro]

When i share the trip, i get to relive it twice…

[@MichaelPolymhxanos]

Καλλιθέα, όνομα και πράγμα. Καλό τάξιδο.

[@drreed917]

I've always been interested in gyros. But don't think I could take the stick shake for that long of a time.

[@lagyro]

Stick shake is something rotorcraft inherently do... There are ways to reduce it, but not eliminate it. I cannot say that I ever landed with the thought that the stick shake spoiled the fun of flying a gyro...

[@erichboese7209]

Was the very first thought that went through my mind as well. Not only does his hand shake but can see it go all the way up the pilots arm into his shoulders. Probably wouldn’t bother me too much flying local but a long cross country trip would be grueling (just my opinion as a fellow fixed wing pilot).

[@lagyro]

@@erichboese7209 I understand how vibrations may look excessive on the video, but I don't remember landing and being glad to rest my arm and shoulder. My grip on the stick is very light in flight, so that dampens the vibratiosn significatly. Maybe I was just too excited to be flying in a gyro... 😉

[@erichboese7209]

@@lagyro it’s all good! Just about anything that gets you up in the air is A-OK in my book! 😉

[@MyTube4Utoo]

Very enjoyable. Thank you.

[@lagyro]

Thank you for the kind words… and thank you for watching…

[@simonevans8979]

Some balancing of the rotor blades needed..?

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching… I cannot disagree with you off hand, but you should also keep in mind that a video like this is not a very good source to judge the state of the rotor balance. There are many visual factors involved in the creation of the video.

[@harryzero1566]

Can you take advantage of up lifting thermal air currents?

[@lagyro]

Although you can feel the effects of thermals, gyros do not take advantage of them the way sail planes do.

[@harryzero1566]

@@lagyro thanks

[@Skidawger100]

What kind of nerve damage to the arms from constant vibration ?

[@lagyro]

I noticed that after a long flight I have hard time scratching my butt because my hand is numb... ;) Just kidding... Videos taken by action cams are not the best way to judge vibrations of any kind.

[@dailyrider2975]

Very cool video. If you take distance flown 624 miles or so and time engine was running 8.2 hour (includes ground time of course) you get around 70-75mph overall. Probably around 14 mpg? But well worth it for the view and experience.

[@lagyro]

My fuel consumption was 5.5 gallons per hour when the engine was being pushed above and beyond normal use. The Rotax engine is a fantastic piece of machinery that makes the light sport aircraft viable...

[@johndewey6358]

I am so glad nothing broke in that 116F heat. do you carry any spare parts? I wish you had an A/C option.

[@lagyro]

The Kallithea perfiormed flowlessly in the scorching heat... Once in the air, all was fine. The airflow through the cabin was su8fficient to keep me comfortable. Living in the South West of teh United States, you woudl experience similar temperatures during the summer quite often.

[@harryzero1566]

What ceiling height can you achieve and/or is it restricted? Also by virtue of the nature gyro copters can you extend the range by cutting back on fuel consumption? also if the fuselage and cockpit were topped with solar panels to maximise regeneration of battery storage, would there be enough forward momentum to cut combustion engine in favour of electric motors.

[@lagyro]

The only restriction for altitude is the airspace you might be flying through, and the capability of your engine. I am not convinced solar panels can produce enough energy to sustain gyro flight.

[@harryzero1566]

@@lagyro I was think more of sustaining the height gained by existing kinetic energy generated by the rear/push power from the ICE. On board batteries should gain some extra range from regeneration. I've watched battery powered fixed wing planes taking off from a standing start and wondered why they didn't use a winch or a towing vehicle. It seem odd to me that light aircraft don't make best use of energy stored in batteries and the gyrocopter seems particularly suited as it only requires forward motion to stay aloft, also there is an abundance of free gravity to assist in reducing drain on the current of stored electrical energy.

[@lagyro]

Batteries are expensive, heavy, and not reliable... and, to be honest, when I go flying I am only interested in having good, safe fun...

[@fiveinitaly]

Awesome video friend 👍👍👍👍👍

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching… and thank you for the kind words!!!

[@fremountstsongsrich2453]

Thank you for the vid! Is there any way you could add a vent system so you don't get so hot flying over the desert?

[@lagyro]

There are vents in the side windows, and these vents are quite effective once in the air. When I taxi on the ground, I try to keep the door open, and that helps. The problem is for few minutes right before takeoff, I need both hands on the controls, so I have to lock the door in advance, and slowly enter the runway... or wait for landing traffic. This is when it gets a bit uncomfortable... I am trying to figure out a system to blow some air on me for few minutes before the vented air starts cooling the cabin. Also, you have to keep in mind that this is a very small aircraft, so there is no room for an elaborate AC system. For local flying, just remove the doors and enjoy as an open cockpit machine.

[@dwightmcqueen5771]

I love that

[@williambryce8527]

Glad I found this channel! What a fun adventure! Well done, and great production despite the China cameras giving you issues.

[@lagyro]

Cameras overheating is a real bummer…

[@turbofan450]

Wow. Is that level of vibration in the controls normal? Seems like it would get irritating very fast

[@lagyro]

Gyros and vibrations go hand in hand… some are normal, some are excessive… There is a significant difference between gyros and fixed wings in that regard.

[@PHILDRU911]

Looks like a little 1 to 1 lateral vibration in the airframe . It's due to an unbalance in the rotor system. It is a little tiring, I bet, to fly any length of time with that condition. Wouldn't take much to work that out. The issue with leaving that condition in besides fatigue is the fatigue on the airframe.

[@lagyro]

I am not disagreeing with you in general... But even a perfectly balanced rotor only stays in balance at specific airspeeds, usually mid-range speeds around 55-75 knots. For most of the trip I was at 85+ KIAS so the vibrations were a bit above normal...

[@Dave-co1cv]

This looks like a very enjoyable trip, and I wouldn't mind buying a gyrocopter myself. There are only two things keeping me from doing so: No air conditioning and the thought of crashing.

[@lagyro]

I hear you... AC would be a good addition to any emclosed aircraft... or you can remove the doors and fly it open cockpit... About crashing - any aircraft is potentially exposed to that problem, why do you say gyros scare you more than others?

[@Dave-co1cv]

@L.A. Gyroplane Aviation When I watch an extreme professional such as yourself, operating the aircraft, you make it look easy and definitely enjoyable. The same goes with Tucker Gott and his paramotor. Both of you managed to learn and master the skill without being killed along the way. HOWEVER, when I watch crash compilation videos with both types of aircraft, in almost every case, the crash was due to rookie pilot error. That is the part that bothers me. They pull up too steep, and the rotor touches the ground and obliterates the aircraft. They are in flight, pull up too steep and then tip the nose down. The pilot is suddenly upside down and is toast. The paramotor pilot pulls the rope incorrectly, and a wing collapses. In both aircraft, they take off and then immediately make an error that causes them to whip around like a lacrosse ball and slam into the ground. Watching professionals like you make me want to buy one, but watching rookies crash makes me say I better keep my feet on the ground. It is disappointing nonetheless.

[@lagyro]

@@Dave-co1cv I appreciate calling me a "professional" and I would be very happy if it was possible to just fly and not have another job.. ;) When it comes to training, it is important for all types of flying. Airplanes are not any safer than gyros, but they also require more training because traditionally a Private Pilot level was the lowest level you can achieve. It took me 75 training hours to get my fixed wing pilot license, and I see some gyro pilot trainees who are ready to give up after less than 5 hours of gyro training, or think they are good pilots after 10-20 hours of training. Gyros, or any aircraft, are very safe and controllable if you respect them and do your due diligence to train and keep your skills fresh. As you said, rookie mistakes cost a lot of money... and even on my level, there are maneuvers that I would not even considering doing, yet I still enjoy flying...

[@Dave-co1cv]

@L.A. Gyroplane Aviation My definition of "professional" doesn't necessarily mean a paid profession, but simply that the individual is at a "professional" level in a particular field. In your case, I watched you take off and land several times over, and it was textbook perfect. This makes you a "professional" gyro-pilot in my book. This doesn't mean you aren't human and infallible, but you know exactly how to fly one without making the mistakes that killed so many, or at least destroyed their gyrocopter.

[@lagyro]

@@Dave-co1cv in any case, thank you for the kind words. You bring a very interesting point... Many people go to do demo flights with an experienced gyro pilots, dealer, representatve of a brand. Everything during the flight is perfect, takeoff is effortless, landing is smooth, price looks affordable. So these people love everything about the gyro, and want one. Of course the pilot would never admit of the hours it takes to become profecient. People purchase the gyro, then decide to go cheap on training, or training is not readily available, then they get busy and do not fly the gyro for a month or so, then when they go to fly it, they are lacking the muscle memory and what they kinda remembered from their training has evaporated... then bad things can potentially happen. Now, that is not something unique to the gyros, but they are so sexy and look so accessible, which makes them a bit more visible when things go wrong... I have an open offer to every rusty gyro pilot in the area to invite me for a flight when they need some assistance to get back in the saddle...

[@eduardocobian3238]

Do you have an ultralight or PPL license?

[@lagyro]

I do have a Private Pilot Certificate, but a Sport pilot would have been able to do the trip as well.

[@miltonmatthews2138]

It's bad news when flying parallel to the highway, the cars and trucks are passing you! You've got balls flying that contraption that far though - give you that!!!

[@lagyro]

Well, during most of the trip I was zooming at 85-90 knots, a decent speed for a gyroplane. If a car wants to drive faster than that, my hat is off to them... Also, similar contaption (two of them) has done a trip around the world, crossing oceans and high mountains. As proud as I am of my trip to Oshkosh and back, really it is not an Earthshattering achievement... ;)

[@yacahumax1431]

do all gyros vibrate? Do they have auto-pilot?

[@lagyro]

All rotorcraft vibrate... some less, some more... Keep in mind that the video you see is not the best judge of the level of vibrations because of the nature of the camera making the recording. When it comes to autopilot, some very high end gyroplanes come with autopilot, but in my opinion it is not necessary… I just love flying the thing, so I don’t need assistance… 😉

[@JohnDLeo-rg8tc]

I'm stunned by the non-footage of the Hoover dam and Lake Mead!

[@lagyro]

It was very upsetting to me to discover my cameras dead from overheating. But i got some good footage on my return trip.

[@Doc_R]

Nice tour. Why are you following the road and night flying straight from stop to stop? Why are you checking your blood oxygen?

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching... Following roads is an old gyro "tradition" from the days when engines were not as reliable as today, but also becauseI am unfamiliar with the terrain, so for my personal peace of mind I stick to what I feel most confortable with. In general, every pilot has a plan of some kind for emergency landing in case of engine out, so my plan involves flying closer to major highways so I don;t have to walk far in case of an emergency landing. I would not recommend night flying over unfamiliar terrain to anyone, besides after 12 hour day of hard flying I just need a break. Blood oxygen level is important to you as a pilot since it affects your functions if it gets too low. I live close t the ocean, so on the first day of staying at high altitudes, and being a solo pilot I have only myself to rely on. That is why I make sure to keep an eye on my physical condition. Also, years ago I had a very lo blood oxygen level after a 4 hour long flight in a Cessna at 10,000 feet. Once my body adapted to higher altitudes, I did not botter checking...

[@CiceroneRay]

I'd be interested to know what your AGL altitude is at various times--or generally. I have a little experience flying gyros and expect to have my certification in the coming year. Then I'll be interested in doing some cross country trips. Generally I expect most gyro trips to be at low altitude, same as what you appear to be doing.

[@lagyro]

I recommend aropund 2,000 feet of AGL altitude, in general...but the local conditions may suggest something different. Sometimes I would climb very high if I know there is better wind situation, and sometimes I would stay close to teh ground for the same reason. 2,000 feet allows you to avoid most ground based obstacles, plus crop dusters...

[@nak4651]

Great video....thanks for posting! That being said, whenever that engine and rotor make that ungodly loud run-up sound, my tinnitus would be so much worse for wear if I ran that baby to Oshkosh. lol Also, running through Barstow/Baker in the middle of July would be a beast. Kudos to you for making such a trip. p.s. also, my Insta360 heats up quite a bit when in continuous use...guess that's natural for the camera.

[@lagyro]

- The screeching of the pre-rotator belts is really crazy, until all goes in sync and then it sounds like a turbine engine... You never have to worry about this sound in flight, it just lasts for few seconds. - The desert gets a bit toasty during the summer months, but what is more annoying is the persistent afternoon thunderstorms in that area - VERY ANNOYING... - The camera does get very hot during continuos usage. When I fly the open cockpit machine, the wind cools it down somewhat, but in the enclosed cockpit, things are not so easy. In general, as long as it is away from direct sunlight, it runs fine even when hot, but as I left Boulder City, it just died and I missd on some fantastic scenery through the Valley of Fire...

[@nak4651]

@@lagyro Thanks again for the video. You're the absolute Boss for making this trip and allowing us to be along for the ride!

[@lagyro]

Thank you for the kind words... stand by fo rthe return journey footage... ;)

[@stokestack]

Good job. Do you have any stats on typical speed and fuel burn? I'm curious as to how economical these gyros are.

[@lagyro]

I was movind at average of 80 knots of airspeed, and was burning 5.5 gallons of fuel... give or take...

[@stokestack]

@@lagyro Thanks for the info! That's about 16.7 MPG. Not great, but there's the fun factor...

[@grabir01]

With your control bouncing all the time, is your rotor out of balance?

[@lagyro]

I cannot argue the rotor is perfectly balanced, but a video taken by a camera that vibrates itself is not a good indicator.

[@DanHilton-hv7lp]

What’s your take off and landing speed?

[@lagyro]

55 knots (60 MPH, 108 km/h) is the speed gyros are suppose to maintain when they climb out after take off, and when they are on final approach for landing.

[@jeffburnham6611]

Beautiful scenery, but your crazy as a loon for taking a gyro on such a long trip through those elevation changes. At least your course kept you away from the more challenging routes, but I was thinking the same thing: "What the heck does he do in an emergency"?

[@lagyro]

Most of the route was fairly safe, with decent emergency landing spots. Here and there i had few sketchy places, but before i got too deep in trouble, i assessed all aspects of the flight and concluded it was ok to proceed.

[@patrickmurphy3759]

I live in Boulder City. Cool video

[@lagyro]

There are some fantastic landscapes in the vicinity... And the Valley of Fire is outlandish...

[@dh-jv8nq]

I am curious regarding the heat during flight. Why didn’t you fly higher for cooler temperatures?

[@lagyro]

During the flight I did not have heat issues. The vents were enough to cool me down sufficiently. The problem was during preparations for takeoff - door is closed, sun is beating down on you, the air itself was hot. That lasted around 5 minutes, then things were back to normal once the air started rushing through the vents. About flying higher... I was already quite high for gyro standards - elevation was approaching 4,000 to 7,500 feet and I was tryiung to be around 2,000 feet AGL, so you can imagine there was not much of a margin to climb. I have to mention that tne machine performed flowlesly at all altitudes that I climbed to, so maybe part of my staying low was a state of mind rather than a technical limitation.

[@dh-jv8nq]

@@lagyro Thanks. I am used to flying fixed wing and I will fly much higher in order to cool down the cockpit. Now in my gyro, it is an open cockpit, so I have plenty of air. Great videos!

[@lagyro]

@@dh-jv8nq my first gyro was (still is) an American Ranger AR-1, and I flew it from Florida to California 5 years ago... I love open cockpit flying...

[@joelhicks7144]

Have you published your planning sheets that you have on your kneeboard anywhere. I love seeing different ways that people plan. I have learned many great tips by looking at peoples planning documents.

[@lagyro]

Contact me at [e-mail] to see what i can share…

[@darinfisher989]

I live in St George Utah. It was nice from the airport used to be right in the center of town on top of the Mesa. Do you have to use airport I was driving on the 15 freeway 70s and helicopter landed at the Sambo's restaurant in the parking lot

[@lagyro]

Yes, I like to use airports... it is legal that way, and safer... ;) ...and in the US we have plenty of airports to choose from.

[@patsimpkins6477]

What was your average crushing speed and fuel consumption. Great video.

[@lagyro]

Cruising speed is between 80-90 knots, and burns around 5.5 gallons per hour.

[@duncanfisher2986]

Two questions: Why do you wait 'til lining up on the runway to start the rotor, and in autogyro crosscountries do you file an ordinary VFR flight plan?

[@lagyro]

Thank you for watching. Here ar emy responses to your questions: 1. There are two schools of thought in the gyro community when it comes to prerotating. One insists on lining up and then prerotation, the other swears by entering the runway with a spinning rotor. I use both techniques depending on the gyro's capabiliies. This gyro uses a pedal to activate the prerotator, so I must be stationary before I remove my foot from the rudder pedal in order to push the prerotation pedal. 2. Filing a VFR flight plan is always a good idea, especially if you do not have a "ground team" to keep tabs on you while flying. The problem is that we fly a bit too low for the radar to keep an eye on us, and the system is not yet relying on ADS-B as much as one would expect. After few times when ATC stopped following me and asked me to pretty much buzz off, I stopped asking for flight following over open country, but I still try to listen to their frequencies. Ofcourse crossing controlled airspace is the same as with any other aircraft.

[@arnoldjohnson3317]

I enjoyed that trip.

[@lagyro]

Please watch the videos from the other days in the journey… that was really an epic trip… I would recommend to anyone to do something similar if they can…

[@arnoldjohnson3317]

@@lagyro I did watch them. I thought gyroplanes had shorter take offs. Even in high altitudes. I learned a lot, didn’t know about pre-wind, all very interesting.

[@lagyro]

The short takeoff is somewhat possible in species circumstances, but usually that is being advertised by sales reps…

[@shable1436]

Have you ever flew in other countries?

[@lagyro]

I have only flown in the United States and in Bulgaria, while I was getting some transition training from the Kallithea designer himself...

[@BjFoley]

It sure took a lot of Runway to become airborne

[@lagyro]

Gyroplanes should not be considered a Short-Takeoff aircraft in general, and when you add a significant density altitude component, it is not difficult to expect a long ground roll. Can gyroscopes take off from a short field? Yes, under special conditions - weather, weight, wind, pilot skills, runway surface, etc.