WRENS FALL FLY-IN
EAA 172, Augusta, Georgia, has invited the Carolina-Georgia Rotors & Wings Club to participate in its Fall Fly-in at the Wrens, Georgia, airport. It will take the place of former ROC fly-ins. Some might call it ROC if they wish but it is actually the EAA 172 Fall Fly-in.
This would take the place of the Rotors Over Carolina that the club has had in the past.
There will be many other types of aircraft at the fly-in and this gives a chance for our club to show off a different type of aircraft, rotorcraft, mainly gyroplanes.
For our club members who want power and water, there are only a few (6-7) power lines on the field. Anyone who wants water will have to both help with hoses and also carefully put away hoses before they leave.
The charge for the Wrens electricity/water on a first-come first-served basis is $30 for the event. Bring a generator if you have one since the power is limited.
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Go to Carolina-Georgia Rotors & Wings Club Web Site
Also, Check the PRA Event Calendar
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Newspaper Article
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Rotor rooters take to flight in Aiken
Section(s) Front Page
By JOHN MOORE
Staff writer
Gyroplanes and rotorcraft filled the skies Saturday over the Aiken Municipal Airport during The Georgia-Carolina Rotorcraft Club's Rotors over Carolina.
Rotorcraft enthusiasts from around the country came to fly in the event, and many spectators were introduced to the unique aircraft for the first time.
For Evan Pope, 11, of North Augusta, the event was a chance to fly for the very first time in a gyroplane.
Dan Leslie of Macon, Ga., was offering rides on his two-seat gyroplane to a number of people Saturday, and Evan waited in line with his father, Mike Pope.
Evan got to fly in Leslie's gyroplane over the airport and surrounding area, waving to his father on the ground every time he had a chance.
"For $45, I've made his whole weekend," Mike said. "I know he's loving this. This is his first time flying."
After the flight, Evan was excited about the experience.
"It was fun," Evan said. "I liked the turning and I saw a big golf course. I didn't want to let go of anything. I was scared when we got close to the ground."
Ron Dobbs came from Alabama for Rotors over Carolina with his RAF 2000 gyroplane.
While he has flown fixed-wing airplanes since 1981, he started flying gyroplanes about two and a half years ago.
"If I want to fly for pleasure, a gyroplane is the way to go," Dobbs said. "Gyroplanes are by far the most enjoyable. They are slow flying, and just a joy to fly. You just have to have the love of flying. It is like people who get horses in their blood, you get flying in your blood."
With no cockpit, Dobbs said the panoramic view from the sky is unbelievable.
Sonny Jeffers of Rosman, N.C., has wanted a gyroplane from the first time he saw an advertisement for a Benson Gyrocopter in Popular Mechanics when he was 16.
He has been flying gyroplanes now for about 10 years, and loves it.
"It's a lot of fun," Jeffers said. "With the open front, when you get up there nothing obstructs your vision and you can take the best pictures in the world. It is like a flying lawn chair."
Jeffers is currently rebuilding a gyroplane, and hopes to have it ready to fly before spring.
Jeffers said gyroplanes are also one of the safer types of aircraft.
"I think they have a much better safety factor to them personally," Jeffers said. "One of the safety factors is you don't need much space to land in case of an emergency."
Vince Inzinna drove to Aiken from New Jersey just to learn more about what it takes to fly a gyroplane.
"I have a gyroplane and I am in training. I just want to be immersed in this," Inzinna said. "It is an inexpensive and safe way to fly. This is the kind of flying I've always dreamed of."
More than 20 gyroplanes were part of the event Saturday.
While the weather kept some of the gyroplanes on the ground Friday, the weather Saturday was great for flying.