Update On Two Place Tandem

Good morning! Earlier in the week, I referenced that I was going to update everyone with a post on the HoneyBee G2 Two Place Tandem on Thursday. I can not believe it is Thursday already! 

Since the Two-Place Tandem design began in the Fall of  2000, this platform has been targeted for a very broad  mission profile.  It was originally thought that it could and should be the training system for the original HoneyBee Gyro Ultralight of the late 1990's. When a Non-Profit/Non Governmental Organization (Mission X International, Inc.) became part of the discussion, the role of the aircraft was  expanded around a plethora of payload conditions that would really benefit from its moving mast; IE a huge CG range.  In some cases that meant that stretchers would be carried and on the return trip a mail pod would be returned. It was (and still is) thought that an agricultural role could be supported with the aircraft.  Eleven years later, all of these roles are coming to the forefront of mission profiles again. At the same time this same platform is being launched as the main training platform for Gyroplane Training Centers International, LLC.  More on this later.....

Because a Total Quality Management (TQM) approach has been taken to minimize costs in the supply chain, it has allowed the project to be competitive at key price points on a wide array of missions and yet it still provides a high value/quality product to the global GA consumer.  This strategy allows the HoneyBee G2 Platform to be modular "in spirit" and still be flexible to the needs of the marketplace, globally.  This is one great, flying machine....it is getting better all the time!

This is what I mean when I say "better".... The current and future batches of Two Place Tandems will include: 

1. The New Heavy-Duty Main Gear, engineered to Part 23 load standards, 6G's
2. 3/4" (19mm) Heavy-Duty Axles & Wheel Bearings
3. An overall reduction in frame weight of 78#'s 
4. A more aaerodynamic Mast on the Standard Frame
5. New, Lighter & More Comfortable Seats
6. New, Tip Rudders as Standard: See Point #10
7. Lighter, Instrument Pods/More Kevlar
8. Improved Surrounds (for those that saw this feature at the shows)
9. Better "Entry Aids" for getting into the seats
10. And last but not least (I saved the best for last) the 2.4L is now our "Standard Engine" on this frame. Because so many of you want some form of Enclosure: Nose Cone/Windscreen, Magni Style Tub/Windscreen, Nose Cone/Upper Portions/No Lower, Full Enclosure with Zip-On Doors and last, there are some that want the full enclosure with all the fast stuff purely for the speed.  Some want floats..... This engine can handle all of this and more!

For those that are in this production batch, you get all these goodies! (Happy Birthday!)

Having Fun For Sure!

Jim