Discovery Flight FAQs
What should I know about flying in an open-cockpit gyroplane?
A few things are important to know. Flying open-cockpit is rather like being on a motorbike, but in the sky. You’re not in a car with the windows shut but out in the open. Plus you’re up at a thousand feet or more so it’s a bit different from what you are probably used to!
-
There’s a lot of wind. We will be doing between 70 and 100 mph through the air. There’s a windshield but if you stick your head over the side, you’re in the full wind.
-
Partly due to the wind, it always feels much cooler up in the sky than on the ground. Always dress for the wind, and assume it’s going to be 10-15 degrees cooler than it is on the ground. The general rule except in the middle of summer is to dress as though you’re going skiing.
Is it scary?
Initially the open-cockpit experience can feel a little overwhelming. However, after a short period of time, most people love it and are excited by the unique perspective it offers. Flights can be cut short at any point if the participant decides they would rather be on the ground. (In all my years of flying gyroplanes, this has happened precisely once.)
Can I take photos during the flight?
Phones/Cameras. People often want to know if they can take photos. The answer is yes, but only if the camera/phone involved has a secure strap. Because the propellor is behind us and it will suck anything dropped into it. Not only will that destroy the phone, but also the propellor. And then we become a glider - not recommended for a first flight!
Can I bring my significant other or a friend to get a Discovery Flight in the gyroplane too?
Yes, this is highly encouraged. If you are considering buying a gyro or getting trained in one, bring a friend, spouse or significant other along - once they see how amazing these machines are; you both will fall in love with the experience!
I’ve heard helicopters are complex to fly and require constant attention with both hands and feet involved. Are gyroplanes like that?
No. A gyroplane can fly pretty-much hands-off. The principles involved and the physical controls are simpler, primarily because the rotor is “fixed” in its pitch angle. A gyroplane’s rotor is in constant autorotation - an amazing safety feature. This means that if a gyroplane loses engine power, this is really a non-event; the rotor keeps spinning without a pilot needing to intervene. In a helicopter, the pilot would have mere seconds to adjust the collective to enable autorotation.
​​
Does a Discovery flight commit me to doing flight training?
No, it’s a standalone thing - you’re only signing up for the Discovery flight itself. However, if you choose to continue on to our training program, your discovery flight time will count towards your initial training hours. Note that the times mentioned here are the times in the gyro itself and do not include ground preparation, safety briefings etc. Allow an extra 30 mins+ for this.
Flight Training FAQs
As a non-pilot, what do I need to get a gyroplane license?
See the section for New Pilots.
What’s a sport pilot rating? Is it a real pilot’s license?
Yes it is. A sport pilot license is something the FAA came up with in 2004 to make it easier to get a license. Compared with a full private pilot’s license, there are some restrictions to do with what you can do with it, the kinds of aircraft you can fly, where you can go and so on.
What’s the practical difference between a sport pilot and private pilot rating for gyros?
In the world of gyroplanes, the only practical difference is that a private pilot may fly at night. Night flight is considered as the time between one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise. If you wish to fly at night, a private pilot rating is a must. Most gyro pilots, however, start with a sport rating and add the private rating later.
Can all Magni models be flown with either a sport or private pilot rating?
Yes, all models qualify for a pilot with either a sport pilot or private pilot rating.
What is the typical time to get my license?
This all depends on where you are starting from. Since safety and proficiency are non-negotiable, all we can commit to is that we will continue your training until you are safe and proficient. It is nearly impossible to put a number on this. Everyone wants to do it “as fast and cheaply as possible” and that’s the goal, but speed should never be prioritized over safety. To give some (very) rough guidelines, for initial pilot training, if you have 0 hours and are starting out as a brand new student pilot, as shown above you will need 20 flying hours minimum to become a sport pilot and 40 flying hours to become a private pilot. However, as a rule of thumb, it’s best to budget 50% more hours than the minimum to set your own expectations clearly. Most students end up closer to this than the bare minimum.
For pilots transitioning over from airplane, helicopter, glider, or weight-shift aircraft, you will usually need between 15-25 hours.
Why do you offer instruction in two hour blocks? If I only get a short flight from the two hour total, am I being short-changed?
​
Students vary. They vary in experience, in ability and in how they absorb new information. The two hour block system is designed to provide a practical way for adjust the syllabus to the needs of the student. Most students will task-saturate after more than one hour of flying, especially early on. Early on is where more ground training, pre- and post-flight briefing is necessary. So it's to give the student the best experience at all stages of the training. As we go through the syllabus, the percentage of time allocated between ground time and flying time will likely change. But booking it in two hour slots allows student and instructor a predictable schedule throughout.
​
What if I want to do my training in a short time? Do you do training packages?
Yes we do. And this is a very good idea if you want to do the training with maximum efficiency. Please contact us for more details.
​
Can a gyroplane stall like an airplane?
No. The physics of the rotor’s airfoil design and teetering rotorhead is such that the rotor will auto-rotate and speed up or slow down to generate the lift required. You can be at zero forward airspeed, and the rotor will simply continue to rotate. You will descend vertically, but you won’t be stalling. This is one of the key factors that makes them inherently safer than an airplane.
Can I train in my own gyroplane?
Yes! If you own (or want to purchase) a Magni M24, M16 or M26 gyroplane, you can be trained in your own gyro, and we encourage it. There’s nothing like the motivation of having your own aircraft and wanting to take it places!
I am a rated airplane or helicopter pilot - how similar is a gyroplane to either of these?
Gyroplanes share enough similarities with both a helicopter and an airplane that much of the skillset you have mastered is transferrable. The gyro-specific aspects, we will train you to master. Magni gyros are designed to be inherently safe and easy to fly. While they are fun and versatile, thorough training is required to help you operate one as such.