July Newsletter 2012

In this issue:

• Bringing Gyros to a New Audience
• 250 Hours in the Algarve
• Olympics Airspace
• Four's Company, Five's an Event
• Captain Captain Thomas!
• Update to Gyroplane Licencing Regulations

Hi

Welcome to the July 2012 Gyrocopter Experience Newsletter with gyroplane news, updates and information from around the UK and around the world.

Bringing Gyros to a new audience

The Gyrocopter Experience has participated in two major efforts in the last month to bring gyroplanes to a new audience.

In June Rotorsport UK displayed their eye-catching range of aircraft at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Steve Boxall from Salisbury was on the stand to help introduce the aircraft. ?From seven am to seven pm there was a constant stream of people going past the aircraft ? and the response was outstanding? said Steve.

Further North, Phil Harwood, Kati Hedger and Mike & Wendy Reece from York worked with Magni Gyro to display the M16 and M24 at the Great Yorkshire Show. The response of the crowd was ?Eee by gum, there?s some right good gyroplanes there lad!?. Unfortunately the 3-day event was cancelled after the first day due to excessive rainfall, but there was a huge amount of interest, so even the single day was worthwhile.

250 hours in the Algarve

The Gyrocopter Experience Algarve has now been running for 6 months and clocked up 250 hours of gyroplane instruction.

The key features of this new location have been the excellent facilities coupled with the fantastic climate. A steady stream of students from around the world have benefited from consistent weather which promotes rapid progress.

Kevin Robinson our Algarve instructor says ?it?s never an easy task to set up a new school, particularly in a different country, but all the effort has been worth it to provide an outstanding training location. In this year of inclement weather in the UK we haven?t lost a SINGLE day to the climate since we started?.

The benefit to students is obvious with good continuity in training. Rest assured Portugal is not without its challenges ? there can be powerful winds and with the nearest airfield 45 miles away it provides a challenging but rewarding experience on those all important cross-countries!?

The highlight of the year has been the first person gaining their licence in the sun and we are sure there will be many more to follow. To arrange your training please contact Kevin at kevin.robinson@gyrocopterexperience.com or book direct through the website.

Olympics Airspace

Much of the airspace in South East England will be affected by Olympic Flight Restrictions during July. If you are a pilot be sure to familiarise yourself with the rules regarding flight around London or you may be in for a big surprise! Full information can be found at http://olympics.airspacesafety.com/ , and if you don?t use one of the commercially available flight-planning tools then ?Skydemon Light? is a great (and free!) online offering http://www.skydemonlight.com/ . Fortunately all of the Gyrocopter Experience locations are unaffected by Olympic airspace restrictions, so our flying will continue throughout the games.

Four?s company. Five?s an event!

It?s not often you see big groups of gyros flying around the country, and it?s not just people on the ground who find it interesting. A gaggle of gyros from Old Sarum airfield were on their way to an air show near Hungerford; as they approached the event they called up on the radio to advise that their four-ship formation was arriving overhead.

?I can see five? said the voice on the radio ? and sure enough our man in the tower hadn?t made an early visit to the refreshment tent, a fifth gyro had pulled alongside!

After a spot of manic waving the gregarious gyronaut continued on his way and the rest of the machines joined the stream of historic aircraft joining the circuit at their destination.

Captain Captain Thomas!

Congratulations to Nigel Thomas, who gained his PPL(G) at Salsibury this month. Nigel is a retired tanker driver (that?s one of the big ships that delivers oil, not the road-borne variety) and his new Calidus is arriving soon. If he?s the Master of a ship and an aircraft commander does that mean we should call him Captain Captain Thomas? Or is our very own Master and Commander trying to give Russell Crowe a run for his money? I?m afraid that Debrett?s provides no help on this one!

Update to Gyroplane Licencing Regulations

The CAA in conjunction with the British Rotorcraft Association have published updated rules and regulations for gyroplane licencing in the UK. They came into effect on the 1st July 2012. A copy of them can be downloaded from the CAA website here.