BOIS DE LA PIERRE 98

The Bois de la Pierre is a small village found south of Toulouse (France). And has been, for many years, probably the largest european autogyro fly-in, as well as the headquarters of the only official autogyro patrol.

We did not report about it until now, because autogyros were not included in the ultralight category, but identified as experimental. The new French regulations, to be published at last before the end of this year, now allow gyrocopters to join the ultralight class, after a number of years of waiting (see: autogyros 1997, Blois).

Let's remember that a gyro is an aircraft whose wing is replaced by a rotor that freely rotates with the only force of relative wind, on the contrary to helicopters, whose rotor is powered by an engine. Autogyros may not hence stay fully unmoving in the air, but needs very little space to take-off and land.

Its main advantages are a maneuverability far superior to all other ultralights, an exceptional visibility in all directions, easiness of handling and a good security, the auto-rotating landing being easily possible... on only a few square meters.

The former regulation did not allow for an industry to start (except in Italy and USA), and the amateur building of such aircraft is definitely not everyone's possibility. From now on, pilots will be able to buy their gyro, in kit or ready-to-fly, as well as get a serious training with well known professionals.

This will ensure a maximal security, as well as ensuring R&D improvements for this new ultralight class. ULM Europe, during its summer travels, had of course to try gyros. On our opinion, this kind of aircraft is perfect for leisure flights, visiting monuments, low altitude photography, and is less difficult to handle than modern multiaxis ultralights. Its fantastic maneurevability allow to go where other ultralights cannot fly.

During our numerous travels in Europe, we've often heard pople affirm: "Autogyro, that's dangerous !". Just like any other aircraft, autogyros have a flight enveloppe that you need to know and follow to fly with full security. This is exactly the purpose of a serious training - whatever the aircraft class is, training which is now as well available for the gyros. Security ? Autogyros are the one and only kind of ultralights that can dead-stick land within 10 meters. Trying to do that with any other ultralight would be suicidal. And the thousands of autogyros that fly worldwide are the best proof of that. During the next few years, they will rapidly improve, and we will probably rapidly see front-engine gyros come on the market - at their beginning, they did have a tractor configuration.

This year, because of this awaited change in the French regulations, the Bois de la Pierre fly-in brought us some news, which we present in the following pages.

CONTINUED: THE GYROS

CONTINUED: THE PATROL

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