1954 Giro by Black Hawk Models

Cool! That looked like so much fun! It's a lot faster than I thought it would be. It looked a little squirrely. Is it really, or was it a wind thing? It sure doesn't glide much when the engine stops. I'm glad to see your videos. I've wanted to see how they fly since first seeing them on the Blackhawk website. Thanks for posting them.

The timing of this post is perfect. The one I ordered should get here in the mail on Monday or Tuesday. You didn't happen to take any build photos did you? Any tips or tricks you could pass on?

The Glad Mark

batjac wrote:Cool!  That looked like so much fun!  It's a lot faster than I thought it would be.  It looked a little squirrely.  Is it really, or was it a wind thing?  It sure doesn't glide much when the engine stops.  I'm glad to see your videos.  I've wanted to see how they fly since first seeing them on the Blackhawk website.  Thanks for posting them.

The timing of this post is perfect.  The one I ordered should get here in the mail on Monday or Tuesday.  You didn't happen to take any build photos did you?  Any tips or tricks you could pass on?

The Glad Mark

It's not squirrley at all. That is me making all the jerking movements. Hard to film and fly at same time. I only dumped it over on the rotor head once and it was on film. The only thing I changed on it was the rotor head assembly. I busted the blades twice so I made a new holder thing out of steel. I got the idea from a 1/2a heli kit. I've dropped it and dumped it and the steel works perfect and bends rather than break. I've got at least 60 flights on it so far and every time people look and ask questions.

Well that was right on time as wee were having some discussing as Mark had said he had one coming , I was wondering how one would fly ,have never seen one in action . Good to see your out and fling having fun , Thanks for sharing . Eric

Wicked cool Brenda! Just what I needed; 1st thing on a Sunday morning to get my brain-wheels turning! I'm very curious about the design of the rotor assy. and mount.

I have some questions....

1. What is the diameter of the rotor assembly?
2. Are the rotor-blade's pitch('s) set at a predetermined angle via the hub design?
3. Does Blackhawk recommend setting a specific angle of attack.. or is this angle already built-in to the rotor-head mount?

Auto-Gyros have always fascinated me.. and I'd been wanting to see this Blackhawk model fly! Thanks for posting!

roddie wrote:Wicked cool Brenda! Just what I needed; 1st thing on a Sunday morning to get my brain-wheels turning! I'm very curious about the design of the rotor assy. and mount.

I have some questions....

1. What is the diameter of the rotor assembly?
2. Are the rotor-blade's pitch('s) set at a predetermined angle via the hub design?
3. Does Blackhawk recommend setting a specific angle of attack.. or is this angle already built-in to the rotor-head mount?

Auto-Gyros have always fascinated me.. and I'd been wanting to see this Blackhawk model fly! Thanks for posting!

1) Not a clue.

2/3) Yes the angel of attack is set at like 10deg I think. Not sure the exact degree to be honest. Shaft hole is per-drilled so all you have to do is insert stick. Blades are set at a few deg as well when assembling it. I broke my blades off twice, once from a fall off table and once from my hand going through it trying to start motor. That is why I changed over to steel.

Also it should be noted that the plane can fly with rotor off. It is really a low wing buzzy sort of plane and the rotor doesn't really do much other than slow the entire craft down. Just try to do a loop and you will see rotor in full action. Soon as you pull up for a hard loop the rotor will act like a parachute and almost stop the plane. That is why no one has ever done a loop in one.

Brenda wrote:

roddie wrote:Wicked cool Brenda! Just what I needed; 1st thing on a Sunday morning to get my brain-wheels turning! I'm very curious about the design of the rotor assy. and mount.

I have some questions....

1. What is the diameter of the rotor assembly?
2. Are the rotor-blade's pitch('s) set at a predetermined angle via the hub design?
3. Does Blackhawk recommend setting a specific angle of attack.. or is this angle already built-in to the rotor-head mount?

Auto-Gyros have always fascinated me.. and I'd been wanting to see this Blackhawk model fly! Thanks for posting!

1) Not a clue.

2/3) Yes the angel of attack is set at like 10deg I think. Not sure the exact degree to be honest. Shaft hole is per-drilled so all you have to do is insert stick. Blades are set at a few deg as well when assembling it. I broke my blades off twice, once from a fall off table and once from my hand going through it trying to start motor. That is why I changed over to steel.

Also it should be noted that the plane can fly with rotor off. It is really a low wing buzzy sort of plane and the rotor doesn't really do much other than slow the entire craft down. Just try to do a loop and you will see rotor in full action. Soon as you pull up for a hard loop the rotor will act like a parachute and almost stop the plane. That is why no one has ever done a loop in one.

Very interesting! I wonder if the rotor-head's AOT was adjustable, might make a difference? I assume that the rotor-blades are flat? What type of bushing (bearing?) is used to support the rotor-head? Does the bushing receive any type of lubrication to reduce friction induced on it by lift? Am I making you crazy with all these questions?

roddie wrote:

Brenda wrote:

roddie wrote:Wicked cool Brenda! Just what I needed; 1st thing on a Sunday morning to get my brain-wheels turning! I'm very curious about the design of the rotor assy. and mount.

I have some questions....

1. What is the diameter of the rotor assembly?
2. Are the rotor-blade's pitch('s) set at a predetermined angle via the hub design?
3. Does Blackhawk recommend setting a specific angle of attack.. or is this angle already built-in to the rotor-head mount?

Auto-Gyros have always fascinated me.. and I'd been wanting to see this Blackhawk model fly! Thanks for posting!

1) Not a clue.

2/3) Yes the angel of attack is set at like 10deg I think. Not sure the exact degree to be honest. Shaft hole is per-drilled so all you have to do is insert stick. Blades are set at a few deg as well when assembling it. I broke my blades off twice, once from a fall off table and once from my hand going through it trying to start motor. That is why I changed over to steel.

Also it should be noted that the plane can fly with rotor off. It is really a low wing buzzy sort of plane and the rotor doesn't really do much other than slow the entire craft down. Just try to do a loop and you will see rotor in full action. Soon as you pull up for a hard loop the rotor will act like a parachute and almost stop the plane. That is why no one has ever done a loop in one.

Very interesting! I wonder if the rotor-head's AOT was adjustable, might make a difference? I assume that the rotor-blades are flat? What type of bushing (bearing?) is used to support the rotor-head? Does the bushing receive any type of lubrication to reduce friction induced on it by lift? Am I making you crazy with all these questions?

Blades are flat as a board. Bushing is brass housed in light ply held in place with a wood screw. You know I have not pulled rotor off in the past 20 or so fights, I never lubed it at all. All of a sudden I am wondering if that wood screw hasn't started to mill down the brass. I will check it later. Or I will forget later. One or the other

Maybe installing a greased flat-washer under the screw-head (or phenolic one) might help. I'm willing to bet that you'll see a noticeable increase in airspeed if you can reduce the friction in that area. Please let us know how it turns out!

roddie wrote:Maybe installing a greased flat-washer under the screw-head (or phenolic one) might help. I'm willing to bet that you'll see a noticeable increase in airspeed if you can reduce the friction in that area. Please let us know how it turns out!

Wait you want it to go FASTER?! I get dizzy as it is LOL