Rotorway

[Zishelix]

For my 100th post here I decided to post the photo of a nice looking little bird my friend obtained several years ago.



The registration 9A-HJG applied in the meantime!

[Savoia]

Ciao Elipix! I've seen photos of the Mini 500 and M80 but that's about all. My knowledge and exposure to piston helicopters is very limited. I've got about 15 hours on a Hughes 300 .. and that's it.

I cannot find anything about the 'HX50' except a link to a website I no longer visit. Do you have any further info?

I wanted to share with you that I'm not surprised that we've seen a rise in the number of autogyros. For years and years and years I wondered when we were ever going to see anything beyond Ken Wallis' single (occasionally dual) open-cockpit 'bullets' - and then finally they came. I believe autogyros offer an appealing alternative (between fixed-wing and rotary) but at a substantially reduced cost to standard rotary. I believe the key to the future of autogyros (besides continuing technological improvements) is the development of uncontrolled 'gyro strips' ie. mini airstrips which need not take up much space but which would offer a network of easy-to-access destinations for gyro flyers.

XB, thank you for your feedback.

Do you agree with the observations in the video above about the difference between supercharged and turbocharged, and .. if turbocharged is so much better, then why do people bother with supercharged?

Also, what potential do you see in the future for piston-engine helicopters?

[Helipixman]

I agree with your points, particularly not building if you can get something at a reasonable price. The forerunner, the Exec was quite popular in the UK for a while but not too many are airworthy at present. There have been others, remember the Revolution Mini 500, Masquito M80.

Although not going to be a homebuild, the one to watch in the future is the Hill HX50 who's development team say it will be a game changer and knock Robinson into touch !

[xbdt]

Talon std injection engine runs at 4250 rpm, turbo version spins at 3900 rpm and has a dramatic noise decrease.
R22 engine spins at 2650 rpm I think it was. (@ 104% RRPM)

[Savoia]

I think there are several reasons. Firstly, there is clearly a smaller market for those wanting to build their own aircraft compared with those who simply wish to 'buy and fly'. Secondly, you can buy a fairly good condition R22 (AFAIK) for around $50k less than the kit price for a Talon. Thirdly (and I am prepared to accept that this is merely my own opinion) the Talon makes an awful racket (as least externally). If you fly an R22 and a Talon side-by-side and then plonk someone in a field ten miles downwind, then fly both aircraft towards that position, you'll hear the Talon long before you hear the R22. I don't know what the standard operating RPM on a Talon is, but the ones I've heard sound like the motor is positively screeching! Then there is the matter of spares, maintenance and overhaul support. I don't know enough about the Rotorway to comment on this, but it may be a consideration. Lastly (and there are bound to be other reasons) I'm not sure what the Talon used market is like, but this may be another consideration in that someone may not want to buy a type which has a very slow used market.

What surprised me in the piston market is how long it took for a viable R22 rival to appear!

[Helipixman]

Not really sure why, the Rotorway Talon has not been too successful in the UK. Only two here. The first G-TALN was registered to the Dealers at Southern Helicopters in Essex a wonderful place run by the Bull brothers.

The second was an import from Belgium ex OO-152 and is now G-OHST owned by Ivan Bedford. I have seen G-TALN but no sightings of G-OHST as yet.

[Savoia]

Arthur Gemperle Demonstrates the Effectiveness of the Turbocharged Rotorway

[Savoia]

The same Syton (I-7896) breaking the E-1a category (turbine) altitude record in 2015:

[Savoia]

Well done on completing these builds. I am sure they were put together with perfection!

The noise reduction will be most welcome I am sure.

See here for standard vs. muffler exhaust start noise levels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y270qR-BS9M

[Savoia]

Grazie XB! One day I will get round to meeting the guys from Alpi and learn a little more about their use of the Solar turbine!

[xbdt]

I built 3 Rotorway kits in total. My first build was an Exec162F registered as F-PXDT, then another Exec162F for a friend registered as F-POSH and my last one was a A600 Talon registered as OO-153. All still airworthy and flying today.

The Rotorway Talon A600 has now a very nice option, namely the turbo. It is reported to be a completely different aircraft (has about 170hp now), with lots of power and the engine noise is also gone as it passes through the turbo and the engine rpm went down from 4250 rpm to 3900 rpm.

[xbdt]

This is not a Rotorway exec, but a turbine Syton AH 130.

[Savoia]

Rotorway I-7896 in Italia

[Savoia]

Arthur Gemperle Turbocharged Rotorway Load Test

[Savoia]

Ah yes the Rotorway!

The thing which puts me off them is the noise.

Someone was flying one around Italy some years back and you could hear the thing screeching away for about 10 mins before it came into view. It sounded like the engine was constantly running at max rpm .. and boy .. what a racket it made!

Anyway .. its probably a fine little helicopter otherwise.

Here's one with a 'groovy' colour scheme:


Rotorway Exec RW152 N418JD as seen at Oshkosh in Wisconsin on 30th July 2008 (Photo: Ron Baak)

This aircraft belonging to the American comedian Jeff Dunham.