Accessories or Gyrocopter Neccessities? / Regalpony / Canada / Flying as it should be


		Important Accessories for Gyroplane Flight Observations by J. Ednie 2009 Do Gyrocopters need a horn? Do Gyroplanes need windshield wipers? Do Autogyros need lighting systems? Emergency Balloons?
Sound a Warning Show a Flashing Amber Light		It hasn't been a priority design feature or accessory, but a horn on a gyrocopter is something that should be a standard feature. There have been several cases where a gyroplane engine failure has resulted in the pilot being forced to land the gyrocopter on a busy highway. It's not a natural occurrence. A specific horn warning sound is necessary to make those on the ground aware that a gyroplane is over head and about to land near them. But a horn is only part of the safety system. Lighting is also important.		If you were driving on a highway and there was a gyroplane sitting in your lane up a head, would you recognize that it might be stopped and not able to get out of your path? Most likely you wouldn't expect it and be unprepared to stop. That's where a flashing amber light would do the job for the pilot. A bright flashing amber light would signal to the road vehicles that there was something unusual on the road ahead and you would be prepared to slow down to avoid it.

		Many enclosed autogyros with windscreens are not equipped with windshield wipers. This is mostly because they avoid flying on rainy days or avoid areas where rain is a possibility. However there will be times when a gyroplane is caught in an unexpected down pour. Even if it's only while travelling on the ground, windshield wipers are a benefit for visibility.		An emergency balloon is a good item to carry in an autogyro. Any gyrocopter that makes an emergency landing in a wilderness area, might not be found for days. An orange balloon on a two hundred foot leash might make it easier to locate a downed gyroplane in an outback area. Emergency use of flare guns are good kit to have, but they don't last very long. A small orange balloon would indicate the position for hours.


		gyroplane = gyrocopter = autogyro


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