Fun With Strings By Peter M. Bowers, EAA 977 13826 Des Moines Way, Seattle 9, Wash. Photos by the author

THOUGHT the accompanying photos would be of interest to EAA members. They were taken during the course of test flights made to work out the best pilotstatic mast angle for my "Fly Baby" homebuilt, and show the differences in angle of air flow over the wing at various speeds. Photo No. 1 shows normal flow when cruis-

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ing at just under 100 mph. Photo No. 2 shows how things

flatten out at top speed at 112 mph, while No. 3 was snapped just before the stall at an indicated 47 mph. The setup was made by taping a dozen strings to a stick of wood and then taping the wood to the pitot mast,

since it was supposed to be just a one-shot setup. Getting pictures was a bit of a chore since the ship is a singleseater with no trim tabs and working that camera is a two-handed job. Trying to hold a steady airspeed with one's knees around the stick is interesting especially right at the stall. Lighting was a problem, too, as it was a stormy day and I was dodging rain showers. Although intended as a temporary rig, I left it on for several weeks, mainly because of the curiosity it aroused and to give other pilots a chance to fly with it. It got to be real fun running the strings up and down and yawing the ship to make the two top ones on the lower half jump from one side of the pitot mast to the other. This was so educational that I think I'll tuft one

Climbing at 80 mph

High speed 112 mph

MY "LITTLE BUG" . . .

(Continued from preceding page) so I can be seen easily in the air. With my 360 deg. visibility I don't worry about seeing other planes in the air, but I want to make sure that they can see me. Now, after flying the "Little Bug" for over four years, and after logging 150 air hours, I can testify to the high level of airworthiness of the gyrocopter, its forgiveness of pilot's mistakes and general ease of operation. Believe me, it is all the designer, Igor Bensen, said it was and more. I didn't follow all his instructions to the letter, but I was able to learn through errors without running into severe mishaps.

wing panel. However, this time I'll put the camera on a fixed mount so I can still fly with one hand instead of with my knees.

Just before the stall about 47 mph

This article would not be complete without paying tribute to the men of the FAA of the Flight Standards District Office No. 3-5 located at Willow Run Airport,

Ypsilanti, Mich. I have contacted them on many occasions over a period of four years and they have given me much of their valuable time. In some cases they have gone out of their way beyond the call of duty to help me out with my problems. It has been a pleasure dealing with them, especially with Inspectors E. B. Schaeffer and Joseph Macha. Their dedication to the progress of aviation has been inspiring to me, and I hope that all FAA people can be equally helpful to other gyrocopter builders throughout the country. • SPORT AVIATION

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