Finding a local rental/instructor for Sport Pilot Autogyro?

MarkH

MarkH

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MarkH
I really want to learn to fly a gyrocopter, and I am looking for someone to teach me near DC/MD/VA.

Is there any sites/forums that track gyrocopter instructors?

Does anyone have a suggestion for a local instructor near DC?
 
Get in touch with the flight school at Bay Bridge Airport, W29. They have a Sport Pilot school and I recall seeing a couple of gyrocopters flying there the last time I flew in. Granted, that was years ago - but ya never know.

 
MarkH said:
I really want to learn to fly a gyrocopter, and I am looking for someone to teach me near DC/MD/VA.

Is there any sites/forums that track gyrocopter instructors?

Does anyone have a suggestion for a local instructor near DC?
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I sincerely wish you the best of luck, I’ve been trying to find gyrocopter training in the upper Midwest region for years to no joy. If they are out there I don’t think they advertise. (I’ve come to assume it is like falconry or gas ballooning, you need to find somebody that does it and hopefully they like you to break into getting a license (or go to Europe).
 
MarkH said:
I really want to learn to fly a gyrocopter, and I am looking for someone to teach me near DC/MD/VA.

Is there any sites/forums that track gyrocopter instructors?

Does anyone have a suggestion for a local instructor near DC?
Click to expand...
Gyrocopter instructors are rare, but before you start you had better identify a designated flight examiner for Gyro because there are probably less than 10 in the US.
 
Quite honestly from my years of looking, about the only way I’ve found to get licensed in gyro or gas ballon’s without knowing somebody “in it” is by taking an extended vacation in Europe. Plan on spending a month and a half during the summer there to get enough weather windows to train to the number of hours you will need to be proficient.
 
Clip4 said:
Gyrocopter instructors are rare, but before you start you had better identify a designated flight examiner for Gyro because there are probably less than 10 in the US.
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And that might actually be a place to start…call the examiners and find out who sends them applicants.
 
MarkH said:
I really want to learn to fly a gyrocopter, and I am looking for someone to teach me near DC/MD/VA.

Is there any sites/forums that track gyrocopter instructors?

Does anyone have a suggestion for a local instructor near DC?
Click to expand...

It's a long way from the DC area, but there is a gyro school at KCNO (Chino) in SoCal. They seem fairly busy when I've been to Chino.

adventureairla.com

Adventure Air

adventureairla.com adventureairla.com
 
The details in my head are fuzzy, but the previous owner of my airplane traveled south to maybe Missouri or Kansas for a private gyrocopter checkride. I have no idea how he learned to fly the contraption (maybe solo under Part 103?) but he said the examiner either provided or made arrangements to secure a tandem gyrocopter at his location and the checkride was the first time the applicant had flown it. Sporty!

Edit: No idea how he met the training requirements of 61.109(d,) guy already had a private certificate in the same category (rotorcraft - helicopter.)
 
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MarkH said:
I really want to learn to fly a gyrocopter, and I am looking for someone to teach me near DC/MD/VA.

Is there any sites/forums that track gyrocopter instructors?

Does anyone have a suggestion for a local instructor near DC?
Click to expand...
Did you find any gyrocopter instructors in the DC area?
 
I still haven't managed to find anything I can rent solo (or a club I can join) once I complete training.
 
Did you check the rotary forum? It's very difficult to find a gyro to solo in the US. Your best bet is the SP add-on after getting your fixed-wing if you're looking for training. If you want to rent one to fly around after getting your SP add-on, it's nearly impossible due to insurance issues. You can either buy one, or fly dual as the 'flying pilot' (vs. PIC, since insurance might not cover you as the PIC in case of a crash).
 
There are only a few gyro instructors in the entire country. I doubt anybody anywhere is renting them.
 
MonkeyClaw said:
Did you check the rotary forum? It's very difficult to find a gyro to solo in the US. Your best bet is the SP add-on after getting your fixed-wing if you're looking for training. If you want to rent one to fly around after getting your SP add-on, it's nearly impossible due to insurance issues. You can either buy one, or fly dual as the 'flying pilot' (vs. PIC, since insurance might not cover you as the PIC in case of a crash).
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That's how I found the Gyro dealer in Annapolis that connected me to the CFI they use.

I already have a PPL and a couple hundred hours fix wing, so I am looking at a no-DPE SP add-on
 
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