Pilot Testing: Skywheels Rotor Blade Performance

In this episode of the Gyroplane Flying podcast, host Joe Covelli discusses the revival of the Skywheel rotor blades with test pilot Greg Bradley. They explore the history of the Skywheels, the testing of newly manufactured blades, their performance characteristics, and the importance of flight instruction in the gyroplane community. The conversation highlights the advancements in gyroplane technology and the excitement surrounding the future of gyroplane flying.

Takeaways

The Skywheel rotor blades have been refreshed and are back on the market.

Testing of the new Skywheels showed improved performance compared to the originals.

The manufacturing process for the new blades closely follows the original methods.

High-inertia blades are beneficial for new pilots, providing a forgiving flying experience.

Greg Bradley has extensive experience flying gyroplanes and testing the new blades.

The importance of keeping rotor blades clean for optimal performance was emphasized.

There is a growing need for more flight instructors in the gyroplane community.

The podcast encourages interaction and questions from the audience.

Future plans include the release of new gyroplane kits and continued support for pilots.

The conversation reflects a strong community spirit within the gyroplane flying world.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Gyroplane Flying Podcast

01:14 Reviving the Skywheel Rotor Blades

04:01 Testing the New Skywheel Blades

10:00 Performance Characteristics of Skywheel Blades

17:54 Cross Country Flight Experience

24:05 The Importance of Flight Instruction

28:50 Conclusion and Future Outlook