We are continuing to build ultralight gyro-copters along with the models available on this site. OFA will be launching our website very soon..

Risks and challenges

The main challenge is operating within the FAR rules that are listed below; of which this aircraft complies with.

FAR PART 103;

103.1 Applicability.

This part prescribes rules governing the operation of ultra light vehicles in the United States. For the purposes of this part, an ultra light vehicle is a vehicle that:

(a) * Is used or intended to be used for manned operation in the air by a single occupant;

(b) * Is used or intended to be used for recreation or sport purposes only;

(c) * Does not have any U.S. or foreign airworthiness certificate; and

(d) If unpowered, weighs less than 155 pounds; or

(e) If powered:

(1) * Weighs less than 254 pounds empty weight, excluding floats and safety devices which are intended for deployment in a potentially catastrophic situation;

(2) * Has a fuel capacity not exceeding 5 U.S. gallons;

(3) * Is not capable of more than 55 knots calibrated airspeed at full power in level flight; and

(4) * Has a power-off stall speed which does not exceed 24 knots calibrated airspeed.

( * ) OFA-02UL / OFA-03UL Passing

103.7 Certification and registration.

(a) Notwithstanding any other section pertaining to certification of aircraft or their parts or equipment, ultralight vehicles and their component parts and equipment are not required to meet the airworthiness certification standards specified for aircraft or to have certificates of airworthiness.

(b) Notwithstanding any other section pertaining to airman certification, operators of ultralight vehicles are not required to meet any aeronautical knowledge, age, or experience requirements to operate those vehicles or to have airman or medical certificates.

(c) Notwithstanding any other section pertaining to registration and marking of aircraft, ultralight vehicles are not required to be registered or to bear markings of any type.

Another challenge is shipping. I would like to be able to deliver each completed frame or completed gyro-copter, to better explain the construction and principles of gyro flight. We are located in central Indiana with easy access to the interstate system, but with that said the west coast and southern U.S. are some distance away. Making delivery time and fuel consuming. Working with local shipping companies that are partnered with major shipping companies it may be possible to ship at a somewhat reasonable cost. The aircraft would be have to be broke down for shipping. Delivery in the states is my preferred option.

As you can see there are inherent risks with operating these aircraft. However an ultra-light gyro-copter has the best safety records when compared to winged ultra-light aircraft. A gyro-copter has the ability to power off auto-rotate. Which gives the pilot time to find a open area and make a soft landing. If you are considering this as an item you will back, I strongly encourage you to do your own research on these aircraft and the area you will be operating in.

The gyrocopter shown has a Rotax 503