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Author Topic: Flying motorcycle  (Read 1837 times)

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Offline Hope

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Flying motorcycle
« on: July 26, 2008, 10:04:21 PM »
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fuzzybutt

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Re: Flying motorcycle
« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2008, 10:12:14 PM »
thats cool as hell makes me want to get out my tubing bender and welder
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Offline TwoTired

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Re: Flying motorcycle
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2008, 11:24:49 PM »
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Offline Ichiban 4

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Re: Flying motorcycle
« Reply #3 on: July 26, 2008, 11:27:22 PM »
Hey Hope..

Back in the 50's and 60's..there was this outfit in Raleigh, North Carolina by the name of "Benson Gyrocopter" that sold kits and assembled models of essentially the same thing as this guy in Texas supposedly "invented".  The only real difference was that the rotors didn't fold-up..and they didn't advertise them as being drivable on roads.

As a teenager back then..my folks wouldn't let me build anything that "flew" from a kit..and I certainly didn't have the money to buy anything pre-built.  But I remember getting all the plans, etc., to build one!  Seems to me also..that I saw the Benson Gyrocopters still advertised a few years back (maybe they're still making/selling them?).

Maybe some of the other older brothers (sisters too) here..remember these?  Anyway..thanks for the reminder.

Ichi
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Al Summers

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Offline seaweb11

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Re: Flying motorcycle
« Reply #4 on: July 26, 2008, 11:31:35 PM »
I can't see myself heading down to the store on that....on the road any way.
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Offline gerhed

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Re: Flying motorcycle
« Reply #5 on: July 27, 2008, 04:49:15 AM »
Quote from: Ichiban 4 on July 26, 2008, 11:27:22 PM
Hey Hope..

Back in the 50's and 60's..there was this outfit in Raleigh, North Carolina by the name of "Benson Gyrocopter" that sold kits and assembled models of essentially the same thing as this guy in Texas supposedly "invented".  The only real difference was that the rotors didn't fold-up..and they didn't advertise them as being drivable on roads.

As a teenager back then..my folks wouldn't let me build anything that "flew" from a kit..and I certainly didn't have the money to buy anything pre-built.  But I remember getting all the plans, etc., to build one!  Seems to me also..that I saw the Benson Gyrocopters still advertised a few years back (maybe they're still making/selling them?).

Maybe some of the other older brothers (sisters too) here..remember these?  Anyway..thanks for the reminder.

Ichi

Went through the Benson factory at the Raleigh-Durham airport in the early 60's.
As a Duke freshman, I felt that the world was my "gyrocopter".
There's a Benson hanging in the Air and Space in D.C.
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Rocking-M

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Re: Flying motorcycle
« Reply #6 on: July 27, 2008, 06:58:27 AM »
Quote from: Ichiban 4 on July 26, 2008, 11:27:22 PM
Hey Hope..

Back in the 50's and 60's..there was this outfit in Raleigh, North Carolina by the name of "Benson Gyrocopter" that sold kits and assembled models of essentially the same thing as this guy in Texas supposedly "invented".  The only real difference was that the rotors didn't fold-up..and they didn't advertise them as being drivable on roads.

As a teenager back then..my folks wouldn't let me build anything that "flew" from a kit..and I certainly didn't have the money to buy anything pre-built.  But I remember getting all the plans, etc., to build one!  Seems to me also..that I saw the Benson Gyrocopters still advertised a few years back (maybe they're still making/selling them?).

Maybe some of the other older brothers (sisters too) here..remember these?  Anyway..thanks for the reminder.

Ichi

Hey you grew up in Raleigh? Robert
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Offline BobbyR

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Re: Flying motorcycle
« Reply #7 on: July 27, 2008, 10:42:02 AM »
The Autogyro has been around since the 1920's and was developed in Spain I believe. It can do anything a chopper can do except hover since forward motion turns the rotors. When a chopper has an engine failure, you must go into autogyration which uses the same principles. The controls are essentially the same. We had a couple of old Air Force Bensons at the base and they were a blast to drive.   
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Re: Flying motorcycle
« Reply #8 on: July 27, 2008, 09:11:30 PM »


Have you all forgotten!
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Offline Ichiban 4

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Re: Flying motorcycle
« Reply #9 on: July 27, 2008, 10:50:31 PM »
Quote from: TwoTired on July 26, 2008, 11:24:49 PM
Looks to be  GyroCopter

Quote from: gerhed on July 27, 2008, 04:49:15 AM
Quote from: Ichiban 4 on July 26, 2008, 11:27:22 PM
Hey Hope..

Back in the 50's and 60's..there was this outfit in Raleigh, North Carolina by the name of "Benson Gyrocopter" that sold kits and assembled models of essentially the same thing as this guy in Texas supposedly "invented".  The only real difference was that the rotors didn't fold-up..and they didn't advertise them as being drivable on roads.

As a teenager back then..my folks wouldn't let me build anything that "flew" from a kit..and I certainly didn't have the money to buy anything pre-built.  But I remember getting all the plans, etc., to build one!  Seems to me also..that I saw the Benson Gyrocopters still advertised a few years back (maybe they're still making/selling them?).

Maybe some of the other older brothers (sisters too) here..remember these?  Anyway..thanks for the reminder.

Ichi

Went through the Benson factory at the Raleigh-Durham airport in the early 60's.
As a Duke freshman, I felt that the world was my "gyrocopter".
There's a Benson hanging in the Air and Space in D.C.

Quote from: BobbyR on July 27, 2008, 10:42:02 AM
The Autogyro has been around since the 1920's and was developed in Spain I believe. It can do anything a chopper can do except hover since forward motion turns the rotors. When a chopper has an engine failure, you must go into autogyration which uses the same principles. The controls are essentially the same. We had a couple of old Air Force Bensons at the base and they were a blast to drive.   
_________________________________________________________

So..Guys..do any of you know..is Benson still in business??

Ichi
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Al Summers

Present: '77 550K
Past: '73 CB450(twin), '72 CB175, '68 CB350, '58 Ariel Square 4 (1000cc), '58 Matchless Typhoon (650cc single), Whizzer Motorbikes '48 -'55 (Pacemaker & Sportsman)..Vespa, Lambretta scooters..etc.

Offline Ichiban 4

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Re: Flying motorcycle
« Reply #10 on: July 29, 2008, 12:52:41 AM »
Quote from: Weird Beard Canuck on July 28, 2008, 06:45:17 PM
They went out of business in 1987. Check out this site for more - http://bensenaircraft.org/default.aspx

Thanks Weird Beard..

That answers a lot of questions for me..also clarifies the rather foggy memories I had about Benson..even the original rush I had about building/flying myself (still would be fun..I feel).

Ichi
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Al Summers

Present: '77 550K
Past: '73 CB450(twin), '72 CB175, '68 CB350, '58 Ariel Square 4 (1000cc), '58 Matchless Typhoon (650cc single), Whizzer Motorbikes '48 -'55 (Pacemaker & Sportsman)..Vespa, Lambretta scooters..etc.

Offline Buber

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Re: Flying motorcycle
« Reply #11 on: July 29, 2008, 04:53:20 AM »
Bear in mind that they are MUCH more difficult to pilot properly than proper chopper, not mentioning a proper plane.
IF they are so much fun and cheap, why we don't see more of them??? Check for youserlves....
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