On Thu, 21 Aug 2003 10:42:44 -0500, "Gig Giacona"
wrote:

Is the Helicycle legit or is it another Mini-500. I was looking at the web
site and can't find a think about building methods or cost. At list DF said
how much the Mini cost.


I don't want to endorse it yet, but BJ Schram is the inventor of the
Scorpion and the Exec series helicopters. They have all lacked a lot
when compared to a certified helicopter like the Robinsons, in my
humble opinion and I would not get in any of them and fly higher than
I would want to fall.

But...B.J. Schram is a serious guy who is a real engineer and who does
real things. He's been working on this damn thing for a decade or
more. If any experimental is going to work right and be the safest
out there, my money's on the helicycle.

I have some concerns about the Solar turbine exploding and that there
may not be enough protection around the turbine vanes to protect the
pilot. It also burns a lot of fuel, so you have to carry much more to
make it work right. But, if it has the power and the safety, then
maybe it will work. Also, Solar, themselves will probably do what
they can to help B.J. in making it more reliable and more safe.

It's too early to tell. Helicopters are so complicated that I'm
reluctant to even speculate on this project. I thought the Mini-500
was a great ship the first time I saw it (and didn't know **** about
the mechanics of helicopters or time-life components). That
helicopter proved out to be an abysmal failure, killing many people.
Schram's might do the same thing. It might be easy to fly and fun,
but it might be something that wears out quickly as parts get out of
tolerance in only a few hours. I worry about it since the certified
helicopters require hundreds of millions of dollars to experiment with
and get approved.

In the end, personally speaking...my life is not worth 1 second in an
experimental helicopter. I will never fly in one or test fly one
again, no matter who approves it.

I even worry all the time in the Robinsons. They are just so complex
and so much can go wrong, if you survive a few thousand hours, you've
done real well.

I think, if you screw with any of them long enough (from jet rangers,
to MD-500's and especially experimentals), you'll get bit.


BWB