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Air 2 My encounter with a gyrocopter

Just wondering how fast those things can go? Also, if they’re going fast and low, wouldn’t pelicans and seagulls be a hazard?
Gyros are pretty slow comparatively to other aircraft - like 80MPH slow, cruise speed is between 45 and 70 mph. Factor in a headwind and you might be doing half that - basically dragging a spinning rotor disk thru the air just like a big kite or parachute. From an aerodynamic point of view they are pretty much a train wreck.

But like anything else you put a big enough pusher prop/Engine on it and anything is possible, Top Speed for a Gyro is 129 MPH from a google.
 
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Birds definitely have to be a hazard!

I just found this on a build a gyrocopter website.

"Because a gyroplane can maneuver and land in a small area, and because it enjoys a wide range of safe airspeeds from 10 mph to 100-plus mph (the legal ultralight top speed limit is 55 knots or 63 mph). In addition, gyroplanes are the most maneuverable of all aircraft, and they have the power-to-weight ratio of an F-16."

DOn;t know how true this is but I bet you could make one real fast! Dude was definitely doing over 63mph! ;)
They aren’t the most maneuverable as they are unable to ascend vertically. The passive rotor is the only source of lift and the rotor plane must have a forward vector for level flight. It cannot hover. It can be a tractor or pusher system for the forward thrust. McCullogh was the name of the manufacturer I believe.
 
Congratulations on showing very good initiatives to maintain safety as soon as you realised that there was something potentially coming fast into the airspace where you were operating your drone. From what I saw, I consider the gyro pilot to be flying too low, too fast and too near to an area where people may be (and were) standing. Your drone was not far from you and getting it alongside was quick thinking - and it worked successfully. ??? (Nice composure to get some good footage, as well!)
 
It may just be my training and flight experience (nothing implied to OP) but for me I would have instantly clicked to sports mode and punched up and away both in a combined effort would have cleared the other aircraft much faster than a descent by speed ratings of your aircraft being the lowest in descent. I would have been a good three to four times cleared than what you managed.

If these aircraft are routinely cruising at that altitude and that speed then punching up and away (No matter what direction your facing quick 180 Yaw, both sticks full up) seems to make more sense to me than your controlled steered descent toward yourself for it's safety. The FAA merely says: Always avoid manned aircraft, it doesn't stipulate down. YMMV and IMHO, and you would know best given situation.

Maybe something you would want to practice if this is a common thing on some flights in the future, perhaps a friend or spotter could just give you a verbal alert such as: "low aircraft inbound" to replicate your first hearing these things zipping around. That way your can get a feel for the switch position in memory and then just pump the sticks straight up if need be?

On a similar situation, you might just want to take the loss and set up for a CSC dump in the drink...would be much better than a mid air under some conditions. In your shown situation that aircraft had very little, if any cockpit. It would be a one in a million, but could you imagine that thing smacking him in the face given his speed? That would have been a death for sure.
Ascend to avoid a manned aircraft?? That's backwards my friend. The UAS should descend even if they have to CSC and ditch the UAS. The MANNED aircraft is most likely to ascend to avoid the UAS.
 
They aren’t the most maneuverable as they are unable to ascend vertically. The passive rotor is the only source of lift and the rotor plane must have a forward vector for level flight. It cannot hover. It can be a tractor or pusher system for the forward thrust. McCullogh was the name of the manufacturer I believe.


You have the best answer on the topic today. Well done.
 
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Ascend to avoid a manned aircraft?? That's backwards my friend. The UAS should descend even if they have to CSC and ditch the UAS. The MANNED aircraft is most likely to ascend to avoid the UAS.

It does seem likely a manned aircraft would pull up to go over a threat. I could also picture them making a radical turn though. This experience has taught me I need bright strobes so they will have a better chance of doing just that if something like this happens again!
 
Good thing you had sight of the drone. Situational awareness is so important.

MOST small sport aircraft around here do not have ADS-B, do don't count on it to know if they're around.
 
I was practicing using spotlight when I heard something coming really fast. I could not spot it for the life of me. When I finally saw how low and close it was coming I brought my drone to the level of my head just next to me off the dock! I figured it needed to hit me to get my beloved MA2!

I also briefly thought I was going to chase it but it was doing like 100mph...lol

Was that in Islamorada?
 
Congratulations on showing very good initiatives to maintain safety as soon as you realised that there was something potentially coming fast into the airspace where you were operating your drone. From what I saw, I consider the gyro pilot to be flying too low, too fast and too near to an area where people may be (and were) standing. Your drone was not far from you and getting it alongside was quick thinking - and it worked successfully. ??? (Nice composure to get some good footage, as well!)

Thank you. It really was a good bit of luck it lined up so well in the video. It is a shame I didn't capture the sound that went with it.

Gyrodude was definitely pushing the top speed allowed. It would not surprise me if a seaplane landed right there at this point so I consider everything from 0' on up to be potentially occupied by some sort of manned aircraft with the right of way. Next time I will be ready with sport mode ;)
 
Yup. Good eye! I have now flown the same route he took and have pretty good video to post of it. I can see why every single craft that can fly takes the same path. It is beautiful.
I flew my Air 2 a couple of times from Bud N' Mary's Marina... water there looks incredible from above!
 
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Great Video. Also, as already been said, VLOS is very important.
 
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I was practicing using spotlight when I heard something coming really fast. I could not spot it for the life of me. When I finally saw how low and close it was coming I brought my drone to the level of my head just next to me off the dock! I figured it needed to hit me to get my beloved MA2!

I also briefly thought I was going to chase it but it was doing like 100mph...lol

Holy cow.
 
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You say that's a typical thing? 100 mph, low flying gryo's with no positional data... and they're worried about US?!?!?!? lol.

I got into it with the manned pilots in a different forum. I was complaining about manned aircraft, they were, of course, complaining about drones.

We all know the rules. They have everything from 0 feet to Low Earth Orbit. We have under 400. Yet they still want to play in our airspace too, and complain that we're there at all.

Their general attitude was, "If you don't like my driving, stay off the sidewalk."

If I could make one recommendation to the FAA, it would be a hard deck of 1000 for manned aircraft except for takeoffs and landings. 400 for us (and our bubble over structures), plus 500 buffer, plus another 100.

Let them get a waiver to fly lower.
 
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I was practicing using spotlight when I heard something coming really fast. I could not spot it for the life of me. When I finally saw how low and close it was coming I brought my drone to the level of my head just next to me off the dock! I figured it needed to hit me to get my beloved MA2!

I also briefly thought I was going to chase it but it was doing like 100mph...lol


"I was practicing using spotlight"

What is spotlight?
 
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"I was practicing using spotlight"

What is spotlight?
Only one of the most awesome modes ever!

It's for video, and your frame rate must be 30 fps or lower.

Then you can select an object and move around slowly until the camera locks on it.

Then just fly! The object will stay in the frame exactly where you locked it no matter the position of the drone.

I practiced this a few times in this video:

Watch via YouTube
 
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