Autogyros

Model Airplane News, Jan 2005 by Bell, Rick

AN RC PIONEER'S NEW PASSION FOR WINGLESS FLIGHT

ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN AROUND RC for a while will recognize Hal "Pappy" deBolt and his familiar corncob pipe. Pappy set many records flying free-flight models in the '3Os and '4Os and with control-line speed and stunt models in the '5Os before he was bitten by the RC bug. Hal is a master of innovation and a fierce competitor. When he got into RC, he was a part of the leading edge of advancements, and he designed many planes-from trainers to high-performance pattern ships-as kits under the Live Wire brand. Today, those highly prized and collectible kits are regarded as among the best designs ever produced for RC planes.

Retired for many years, Hal has been concentrating on RC autogyros for some time. He continues to lead the field with designs and innovations that make flying autogyros easy and fun. His latest efforts have led to an introductory method for modelers who want to try their hands at this fascinating aspect of rotary-wing flight. All you need to do is find a suitable airplane and build the GyroPlane Pylon Assembly. This very simple, rotary-wing add-on pylon can turn almost any model into an autogyro. A .40 to .50 model is recommended, and minor kit bashing is necessary on the host model to make it suitable for rotary-wing operation. For rotor clearance, the vertical fin must be shortened and a sub fin added to the bottom of the fuselage to recover the lost fin area. Also, 5 degrees of engine downthrust must be added. The neat thing about the GyroPlane Pylon is that you get a 3-in-1 model: a standard airplane, an autogyro trainer (a plane with a wing attached) and a true autogyro (no wing).

For this project, Hal used an old Midwest Star Duster low-wing sport model. Constructing the pylon is very simple; take the "Click Trip" to our website and download a full-size drawing and instructions for it. Also check out the link modelairplanenews.com/click_trips/jan03/rotary wings.asp for a complete rotor-blade construction article. After you've built and attached the pylon, make sure that you follow Hal's complete flight-trimming guide that's also available on the website.

Rotary flight offers many new challenges to the RC pilot, and the autogyro is a great way to get involved in this type of flying without the expense and steep learning curve of a full-blown RC helicopter. Hal deBolt's GyroPlane Pylon is unique because you can transition to rotary flight step by step with a model that you are comfortable flying and with minimal cost. Be warned, though: after you start, you'll be hooked. Try one and see!