« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Flying motorcycle  (Read 1835 times)

0 Members and 4 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline Hope

  • How did I become an
  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,042
  • SOHC member since '01
Flying motorcycle
« on: July 26, 2008, 10:04:21 PM »
Logged

fuzzybutt

  • Guest
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
Logged

Offline TwoTired

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 21,802
Re: Flying motorcycle
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2008, 11:24:49 PM »
Logged
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline Ichiban 4

  • "Ichi"
  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 723
  • A "Boomer" still going strong.
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
Logged
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 seaweb11

  • 1st Mate &
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 6,258
  • Ride & Smile
    • Playground Directory
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.
Logged

Offline gerhed

  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,801
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.
Logged
Rides: 75 CB750F, 48 Indian Chief, 67 Triumph TR6, 63Honda CA95
          83 XL600R in CB360 Frame
          3-wheel electric tilting cycle

Rocking-M

  • Guest
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
Logged

Offline BobbyR

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 12,365
  • Proud Owner of the Babe Thread & Dirty Old Man
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.   
Logged
Dedicated to Sgt. Howard Bruckner 1950 - 1969. KIA LONG KHANH.

But we were boys, and boys will be boys, and so they will. To us, everything was dangerous, but what of that? Had we not been made to live forever?

eldar

  • Guest
Re: Flying motorcycle
« Reply #8 on: July 27, 2008, 09:11:30 PM »


Have you all forgotten!
Logged

Offline Ichiban 4

  • "Ichi"
  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 723
  • A "Boomer" still going strong.
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
Logged
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

  • "Ichi"
  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 723
  • A "Boomer" still going strong.
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
Logged
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

  • A bit of spanner spinner, but definitely not a
  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 397
  • #820 on old mailing list.... :)
    • Mountain Chalets in Polands
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....
Logged
Welcome to my mountains!
Mountain Chalets
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »