RotorX website is down

[Michael Daniel]

Eric,
lol...
Speaking of the R-22. When I got my rotary add-on, the flight school required us to take the two day Robinson course at the factory. They have quite an operation. Maybe Advance Tactics will purchase Rotorway at a fire sale price and start with a clean sheet of paper then copy Robinson's manufacturing process.

I used to own and fly a Helicycle. Great ship. Unfortunately, as a single place I got bored flying by myself.

[Eric Anderson]

I was planning to fly by myself anyway. So that would have been fine. I saw on the builder's thread that a helicycle was available in PA. I'd be interested except that I can't do mx on something I didn't build.

[john bell]

My understanding of this MOSAIC rule is that it might make our ships a light sport aircraft and so we could get a light sport repairman's cert for them. Am I misunderstanding this?

[Tim Morris]

Originally Posted by john bell

My understanding of this MOSAIC rule is that it might make our ships a light sport aircraft and so we could get a light sport repairman's cert for them. Am I misunderstanding this?

I dont believe so. NRPM reads: "The FAA proposes to amend part 61, subpart J, to allow sport pilots to operate certain simple-to-fly helicopters. Specifically, the FAA proposes to permit sport pilots to operate new helicopters certificated under the proposed § 21.190 that include the simplified flight control designation. First, the FAA is proposing a limitation in § 61.316(a)(9) that would limit the kinds of helicopters that sport pilots may operate to those helicopters that have been certificated with a simplified flight controls design and designation." Rotorways do not have simplified flight controls.

[homer bell]

RW controls are pretty simple, what does simplified controls really mean? Are they talking gyro copter?

[Eric Anderson]

Fly by wire, I believe. And only an experienced helicopter pilot would say that the controls are simple.

[Tim Morris]

I just tried re-reading the darn thing. The Simplified Flight controls restriction is for existing sport pilots to fly helicopters. Simplified flight controls mean controls that stabilize the aircraft to allow someone to fly it easily.


As far as the maintenance side, I don't read anything that would allow owner inspection of an aircraft they didn't build.


The MOSAIC is huge and not easy to read. I think it is one of those regulations we will find out whats in it once it is published!

[john bell]

Yeah it’s a government document so no way it could be simple to read! I’m no expert but I thought there were some LSA maintenance tickets one could obtain which would allow maintenance work on light sport aircraft. I’m no expert, but I remember seeing a course out there for that. I’m sure it doesn’t allow much though. I need to check it for the details.

[john bell]

I don't have facebook, so is anybody from RotorX still making silly claims that they are trying to get investors blah blah blah, or have they finally stopped making that ridiculous claim? Just asking out of curiosity. LOL...
Thanks,
John

[Eric Anderson]

The claims were coming at about twice a month until July. There have been none since.

[homer bell]

Factory content has been sold at auction. Robin and some investors now own everything and have been selling stuff that was there.
Unfortunately you guys will have to face facts that what ever you have is all you’re going to get. You can either buy the rest of what you need or sell what you have. People including Robin are making some parts and I understand they intend to make more stuff eventually. Right now they have to get everything out of the building soon. I just hauled a group 1-2-3?? What ever it was , to a new owner in Carolina from Denver. Other kits have been sold to other people too I know, bought some of those parts myself.

Older ships and kits are selling very well right now, Joe’s building engines and several people including myself ,are offering parts for maintenance. I have pitch pins, E-bearings, belts , blades and at least one complete rotor system, and tailrotor. Oh and I have th belts myself. Even if it costs you another $50k to finish your ship it’s still cheaper than a Safari and it’s a better machine.
Dry your tears and ask around for what you need. I would forget the tail drive shaft and go with belts . It’s cheaper and lighter, worked good. Won’t need all those expensive gearboxes and driveshaft junk.
Life is passing you by, get moving.

[Eric Anderson]

Speaking for myself, I am totally, happily done with it. No one needs to tell me to move on! There is no way I would pay Robin or David for parts from that building when there is a good chance that another RotorX customer has paid already for the same part. But that’s me. Others will finish and the dream will keep flying. I still love the machine that I fantasized about when browsing the Flying Magazine ads in the eighties. It’s an attractive design that deserves to live on. As for mine I do think I did a decent job as far as I got with it. If I ever need room in the hangar I’ll give it away. But for now it is stuffed into a corner leaving plenty of room for the next project.

[john bell]

Same here Eric. I've been dreaming about buying this kit since I was 14. Now that it's over, Im moving on too. Mine is sitting taking up room in the barn and I need to just get rid of it. I can use the space for other things. I don't have the money to just write out another check to someone so I'm done too.
To all you other folks out there who have nothing for all that money...Godspeed on your future plans. Safe flying.

[homer bell]

Well, you guys aren’t totally out, you’re still reading stuff here. If anyone wants to sell what they have, I’ll list it on my site for sale. If you’re ready to almost give it away, talk to me , I might buy it.
I just purchased a complete 162F kit from about 2006. It has everything you would need to get a flying ship going with what you have. Wouldn’t be a true Talon, but would be a good machine.

[Eric Anderson]

Thanks Homer. You—your whole family in fact—have been a force in keeping this helicopter going during hard times. I’ve been constantly impressed with your generosity of time, guidance and actual physical aid serving this community. I joke about giving mine away. I doubt I’ll ever do that unless I need to clear out the hangar fast. For the time being though, the thought of owning or flying a Rotorway has lost any appeal. I want to try something else. Someday though I might circle back. I am still on the forum and the Facebook page because for three years this was the biggest thing in my life outside family. 12 hours in the hangar seemed like 3–at least on good days. Cutting ties with the community just feels wrong even when cutting ties with the machine seems obvious. (If that makes sense.)