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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Congratulations!

I watch the Blog Traffic and our web activity everyday. Not every third day or once a week, I watch it everyday!  As you can tell, our audience and fan base is coming in from all over the world and it shows.

Well today I am THRILLED to report to you, our Global Audience, that it finally happened!  You have hit this Blog (www.honeybeeg2.blogspot.com) for a grand total of 50,000 times!  That is so cool! 

I have used this prelude because I want to say "Thank You!" to all of you for every hit!  I also want to congratulate All of Us, Team HoneyBee G2, our customers, our fans and those that are discovering the HoneyBee G2 for the first time!  

It has taken so much effort to get this far and we would have nothing if it had not been for your support and your belief in the HoneyBee G2 Project.

From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of Team HoneyBee G2, Thank you so much!

Sincerely,



Tuesday, April 24, 2012

I Learned About Flying From That!



Good morning!

When I was in High School (1972-1976, I graduated May 23, 1976, 36 years ago) I used to read one article every month in the FLYING magazine. That one article was "I learned about flying from that".   It was filled with real life stories and experiences of pilots that learned in real life what could have been or was just theory up and until that point in their lives. Some lessons were simple, others were serious big mistakes that caused lots of reflection for the pilots that wrote the articles. 

With that prelude, for fifteen years I have been enjoying the "clear of clouds and clear of obstacles" clearances for rotor-craft.  I remember flying over some ground fog at a KIMO Gathering in Marshall, Michigan in the Summer of 2000 thinking that this was so cool to be "on- top" in a an Ultralight HoneyBee Gyro, a G1.  During the time that I was up on that flight, the fog burned off and I landed in absolutely perfect weather and conditions.  I have never forgot the pictures that are in my mind of the flight that morning.  

This last month in Florida I had another experience that I will never forget. Lindsay and I were heading out of Arcadia, FL and flying up to Wauchula, FL; this was part of  our normal routine.  The ground fog that morning was bad when we started the track off to breakfast and by the time we were at the airport, pre-flighted and ready to go the fog had lifted in Arcadia.  The wind had been blowing from the South West making it idea for clearing the fog along the intended flight path.  Once we got in the aircraft, got buckled in, started and warmed up the engine it was really clear for about as far as we could see.  When we took off and climbed to about 1,500' and got on our North and slightly West heading it looked like a perfect morning to be flying...with one exception. We were flying faster than the fog was moving...meaning that we were catching up with the fog. 

For those of you that have studied weather and in this case fog, you know that when the wind is blowing ground fog it tends to go into a "wave" appearance....looking like waves on the lake. "Usually", in between the waves one can "usually" see the ground and therefore see what is affectionately called home to us earthlings.  As Lindsay and I flew Northwest, we started seeing the waves of fog building up and ahead of us.  For the record, we were clearly "clear of clouds and clear of obstacles" and with the GARMIN 196 on board there was never a time when we did not know exactly where we were at.  When one is on top and above obstacles, it is extremely easy see what is in front of you, in this case it was clear as a bell and the little black line on the GARMIN 196 was leading us right to Wauchula.  Exercising CRM (Crew Resource Management) Lindsay and I came up with the ultimate plan, we would fly to Wauchula take a look down to see if the airport was clear of fog or if it was socked in. "If" it was socked in we were going back South until the weather cleared; clean and clear plan, pure and simple.

As the miles clicked down on the GARMIN the waves got higher and higher.  This proved to be no big deal because we had lots of gas on board and lots of options for Plan B's.  I remember saying to at one point to Lindsay, "we are five miles out".  All I could see was fog unless I looked straight down between the waves of fog. The miles went to four, then to three, then to two, then to one....still no airport in sight.  Then it happened....we were one half (1/2) mile from the airport and there it was! Believe it or not we could see the full runway!  Our timing was perfect!  We crossed mid-field, set up a corkscrew descent for Runway 18 and within about 45 seconds we were on the ground reminiscing on how great the flight was. I will never forget that flight! What a great experience!   

I learned about flying from that!


Tuesday, April 17, 2012

New HoneyBee G2 Ultralight Gyroplane Video At YouTube!

Paul Rogers In His New Ultralight HoneyBee G2!
Well, you guessed it....the video is up at YouTube.  This one has a little different feel than other ones that have been done....a little racier than before!

Here is the link to the new Ultralight HoneyBee G2 video at YouTube; just make sure you have the sound up!

Enjoy!



HoneyBee G2 Ultralight Awarded 2012 Bensen Days-Grand Champion!

Good Morning!  


I would like to personally Thank "Team HoneyBee G2" for all the effort that each one put into making the new HoneyBee G2 Ultralight Gyroplane!  When it was unveiled at the 2012 Bensen Days Show, comments were extremely positive! Thank you for all the encouraging words.

I would like to also thank Dr. Paul Rogers for his vision of how beautiful a fleet of "Neon Pink" Gyroplanes would be! He was right! 

In the six hours that I have flown it, everyone that has seen it has just loved the color.  No one misses me in the pattern at Hastings City Airport for sure.  

Shall We Build A Pink One For You?




Thursday, April 12, 2012

2012 Bensen Daze!

Good Morning! 


Welcome home to all of you from the Florida Shows! We enjoyed absolutely beautiful weather, had hours and hours of wonderful flying with so many of you!  Consistent with this, thank you to all of you for your support and encouragement for the G2 Project.  It is so encouraging to have your support and kind words for the spirit of this project.

For those of you that were at the Bensen Days show, you know how busy the ride schedule was in Wauchula.  I flew approximately 45 demonstration flights during a two day period; I continued some additional flights into the later hours in Arcadia.  For those that were on the list but did not get to fly with me, please accept my apology. Maybe at the next show? 

With all of that said, I can report to you that I am thrilled (read ABSOLUTELY GEEKED here!) by the performance of the HoneyBee G2 2PT with the 2.4L. The engine performed flawlessly hour after hour after hour.  The Florida heat was a test for the engine...but there was another area that I am thrilled about and that is the crosswind capabilities of the aircraft. One thing you can always count on at Wauchula during Bensen Days is crosswind. Did I mention to you that there are always crosswinds at Bensen Days? Sometimes they are from the East and sometimes they are from the West, either way, Wauchula will almost always keep you honest with your crosswind skills.  This year like every other year, there were crosswinds; 10 - 20 MPH, East and West.  I have often mentioned that I mastered my crosswind skills at Bensen Days in 1999.  They came in handy again this year too.


The next outings coming up are forward FreeBee Fridays. They should be starting at the end of April! Please watch for a post that will give more details on this events. 


Take care,