Partial Kits, Parts & Pieces Question

Good morning!

On a somewhat regular basis I get emails from HBG2 fans that want information on partial kits, our engines, our parts and pieces either for sale to build a G2 at home or for use on other scratch built Gyroplanes. 

I know that this is how the industry has done business over my 16 years of flying, building, kitting, redesigning, re-manufacturing, test flying and loving the Gyroplane.  This is however a basket case for liability in the event of an "accident" that might involve a piece that came out of a manufacturing concern....IE: a commercial Gyroplane manufacturer, herein after CGM.  

Without explaining all the ugly legal ramifications, you can simply thank the US legal system. It simply does not offer fair or balanced Tort Law in the United States toward CGM's and aircraft manufacturers in general. 

Having said that, HBG2 does not sell anything but complete kits because of this litigious environment that we live in. In the long run, a program that includes a properly engineered, a properly tested and a properly supervised build is by far the best way to have a great overall Gyroplane experience. 

Hope that answers the questions!

Take care,

Jim

HoneyBee G2 Ultralight Update

Good morning!

Many people have expressed continued interest in the HoneyBee G2 Ultralight, it is a great machine. I have personally loved the Part 103 Ultralight HoneyBee's and since 1997 have flown 100's of hours in them.

The current status for our 103 is this... HBG2 has invested hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to design and build these 103 machines. Like any gyro, the 103 machines also MUST have certain items on them to safely fly. The statistics prove this no matter what the "popular opinion has been. HBG2 has worked with Jim Stephenson of the ASC for the last 9 months attempting to acquire a Letter Of Relief from the FAA for the weight of four key safety items.  Unfortunately this effort by us has been totally denied by the FAA.  

For the record...what HBG2/ASC has tried to do would have helped all of the Gyroplane Manufacturers in the US, including our competitors. Do you think that HBG2/ASC is  committed to helping the US Gyroplane market? We are. The bottom line is that a “legal” Part 103 Ultralight Gyro (of any brand) due to the Part 103 requirements will not make the 254# weight limit if it includes these KEY SAFETY ITEMS:

1. An Adequate Pre-rotator of any type

• Without a pre-rotator, the pilot must hand spin the blades while standing on the seat; the statistics clearly demonstrate that this is a no-no, especially with the engine running out of a necessity to immediately start taxiing. 
• The little recoil types will work on some blades if you have enough upper body or arm strength to use them. I know, we designed one of these units in 2000.  

2. An appropriately sized horizontal stab for pitch dampening

• I know there are those that say you don't need an appropriately sized horizontal stab but the statistics say otherwise.

3. An electric start

• Granted the younger guys can use a recoil start and get by just fine
• The older audience typically does not have the strength to pull a recoil for a 50 - 65 HP engine.
• The only engines that will fit into the Part 103 parameters is the MZ Line, specifically the 202 which has an electric start but offers no provision for a recoil. When I talked to Compact Radial Engines, the engine was not simply adapted to a recoil. If that has changed then I stand corrected. 
•  The 201 does not make enough thrust to safely fly a 103 machine; tested at HBG2.
• ROTAX has dropped the 447 and 503 engines leaving
• Our Letter Of Relief Submission included the use of small Four-Stroke engines due to the retreat of engine manufacturers from the smaller displacement engines. 

4. Rotor Brake

• If you don't have a Rotor Brake, sooner or later, you are going to damage your blades and or a rudder or a car or even worse...a person. 
• Locking and controlling a part of the aircraft that can kill people is of UTMOST importance to anyone concerned about safety. It only makes sense looking at the statistics; they show that spinning blades have killed people and cut down the tops of trees. 

The statistics scream these items are more than required to safely fly a Gyroplane or any size and of any brand. HBG2 has done everything it can at its own expense (with lots of support by our fan base) to make a "Legal Part 103 Machine"....not a fat one, and frankly it has been a total waste of our time and resources.  

Currently, the FAA, has denied the best efforts of the ASC/HBG2 to make the Part 103 Gyroplane (for everybody) safer by  our statistical efforts.  Because of that, all of us need to move onto a Sport Pilot Category Gyroplane and forget about it until the FAA changes its position of safety items for the Part 103 Gyroplane. 

Some will say "I told you so" or "I knew it was a waste of time" and frankly, that is the easy way out.  Is it possible to make a "Legal" Part 103 Gyroplane"? Yes, but the exotic materials that have to be used will make the Ultralight Gyroplane so expensive that no one can afford one. 

With that said, HBG2 is eliminating the HoneyBee G2 Ultralight from all future product lines until further notice. For those that wish to purchase a 103 Gyroplane, you need to weight it before you fly it. The fines for violations of the Part 103 requirements far out weigh the cost to get a Sport Pilot License.  

HBG2 is totally committed to building the Safest Gyroplanes In The World, that means they will only be sold with all of the "key safety items"!  For your own sake, please don't fly  a Gyroplane of any kind without them.  The statistics tell the story and it is a sad one.

Sorry for this kind of news...

Jim

AvMap 600 Panel

Good morning! 

Over the last three years HBG2 has designed several custom panels for our Deluxe Instrument Pod. Note that this Pod will be  standard on all models beginning with the 2014 Product Line. One of the panels that we have done is the one pictured here. It has an AvMap 600, an ICOM A210, MGL Electronic Compass & Artificial Horizon (neat little package!) and a Garmin GTX 327 Transponder.  The EIS provides the other key information.  This panel feels "well rounded" and so far has been a joy to fly. I would be the first one to admit though that the AvMap 600 should be programmed before departure due to its screen size. With that said, following the little line and reading ground speed is doable once you get used to it. 

As we begin to wrap up some of the details for the 2014 Panel options, we are looking for suggestions. We know we are going to the Garmin SL-40 as our standard COM Radio because we can get local support from so many places.  When it comes to the GPS, we are open to suggestions. One customer has suggested the IFlyGPS which is impressive and affordable for sure.  Have any suggestions? Please email your suggestions to info@honeybeeg2.com.

Have a great day!

Jim

Two More Upgrades!

Good Morning!

It has been a marvelous weekend of flying in West Michigan!  On top of that, Hastings City Airport/9D9 has to be the best airport in the world to fly!  The key to a great airport is a great Aiport Manager and Mark Noteboom is one of the best! Thanks Mark for keeping it fun and friendly!

Over the last five hours of flying, I have been enjoying two upgrades that Engineering came up with. The first one is the latest in a series of Pitch and Roll Trim devices; this one is by far the best I have flown in a Gyroplane, ours included.  Once I got it set, the 2PT is virtually a hands free experience, even after I rotate on takeoff; all I have to do is guide it and adjust for P-Factor in climb with the rudder pedals. It is great! Thank you Jeremy!

The second update was a change in the chassis wiring circuits that allow the pre-rotation batteries to only be charged when the engine is running and having that circuit "totally" unplugged  when the engine switch is turned off.  Helps with bringing aircraft online again, up here when the Spring flying starts again. 

That's it for today!

Take care,

Jim

Even More Deluxe!

Good morning!

Since the very early days of the HoneyBee G2 Project, there has been a desire to have a beautiful instrument pod. We did not want one that came from a wholesaler somewhere or was on every other Gyroplane.  With that serving as the prime motivator, that effort created what is today our Deluxe Instrument Pod. Many people have commented on how good it looks on the G2. I agree....it looks great on all of our aircraft. 

In the spirit of building a better G2 in everything we do, we collectively agreed that though it looked great, it was difficult to manage what was behind the panel. 

With that in mind, we came up with a new "access panel" (shown above) that is an absolute HOME RUN to make this part of the G2 even better.  The new "access panel" will be held in place with 1/4 turn fasteners and will allow for easy access to all the wiring that used to be hard to get to.  

Isn't this what you have come to expect? 
Committed to building Great Gyroplanes!

Folding Mast Update

Good morning! Three weeks until Spring!

Last Spring our crew loaded up the HoneyBee G2, 2PT  and  Ultralight, in our 32' trailer and headed for Florida.  Some of us drove with the equipment, the majority flew. Without retelling the entire story, that was a long trip. It was that experience that caused us to seriously begin the process of designing a folding mast system on our 2PT. 

Since then, all of the engineering has been completed and the first example (shown here) is ready to bolt onto the aircraft.  For those that want the "Folding Mast Option", it can always be added to an existing frame in a matter of a couple hours. Also, this option allows a 2PT to fit into an 8' opening which is great for garages or lower trailers.  

We will have an update and more details on this option as we get warmer weather and begin flying again. 

Have a great day!

New Tail Material!

Good morning!  Happy 2013! It is hard to believe that we are already 11 days into the New Year! 

Topic for this morning...Over the life of the HoneyBee G2 Project, our Team (& customers) has always been thrilled with the quality and appearance of our tail surfaces. Honestly, our quality rivals anything coming out of a Part 23 Operation. They are a work of art for sure.  

After four years of producing these quality, labor intensive tails, our engineering efforts has now taken a different approach with our tail surfaces.  This change means that the tails are now made from "Honey Comb" sheet.  It is lighter, stronger, quicker to build and requires 400 less rivets! Ultimately, they absolutely provide a great solution, better durability, better hinging system (more on this later) and one more way to build an even better G2 Gyroplane line.  

Just an FYI...For those that are in the current production batch of airframes...Happy Birthday! You are also getting this upgrade. Not all bad eh?  

2013 is going to be a phenomenal year!

Stay tuned!

Wayne & Deb Meade Join The G2 Fans!

Good Morning!

For those that have been following the HBG2 Project for awhile you know that we are located in Michigan and that it is cold this time of year. In spite of the cold, shorter days and rain/snow once in awhile, we do manage to go flying too, once in awhile. 

Last week, I had the honor of giving rides to two close friends of ours, Wayne & Deb Meade.  Deb and I we were up having fun doing the roller coaster ride routine and looking for deer. We did manage to see a few here and there, unfortunately that includes more dead ones than those running around that are alive and well.  

For Wayne and I, we looked for deer from the start of the flight to the end...in fact right up to the point where it was dark and we needed to get on the ground. Wayne and I saw a few more deer but it seems like we  needed to get down in the swamps more to find them. Without snow, this time of year it can be hard to see them against the open woods and leaves on the ground.  Both Wayne and I have hunt for years and appreciate the struggle the Whitetails have gone through this year. Like Baseball, there is always next year for the deer to make a comeback!  In this area, there is a lot to comeback for sure!

When it was all said and done, I had a blast flying and sharing my love for the HoneyBee G2 Tandem.  I just love going into the woods and swamps to find deer.  They are a beautiful, precious commodity these days for sure. 

For those that are thinking about coming up and going for a ride with me, please be sure to call early to schedule the event. There is a lot going on and our Team will do the best we can do to introduce you to our love for the Gyroplane!

Have a great day!

70,000+ & Counting!

Good morning to all 70,000+ of you!  

It is 10:52AM on November 27, 2012. Beyond the date and time, 2012 is a year that will go down in the history books of HoneyBee G2 as the year of many "firsts".  One of those firsts is that the blog is being well visited (Thank you again for all 70,000+ visits!) and that people from all over the world are enjoying it.  

Another first for us is our association with, staffing of and joint development of our flight training system in Gyroplane Training Centers International, LLC.  I love the people who are part of this and can not wait to be part of this company.  This project is as big as anything we have done to date and is of incredible value to our global efforts. 

It has begun with the right  people, the right equipment and the right long-term/vision in our approach.  We are building the foundation and I am pleased with where this is going. More on this later! 

I say all of this to say, Thank You for your friendship, your support and the encouraging words.  2013 is going to be an even better year!

Take care,

When Dreams Come True!

As our flying season begins to suffer from the cold weather and shorter days, the available time slots for giving rides  get harder and harder to make work.  For instance, this morning we are big time fogged in, a condition that is a bit rare in November for sure.  Because the weather does not cooperate all the time, it is hard to get everyone a ride that wants a ride. This Fall, I have been wanting to some how fit in a friend of mine's father. As it so happens, this afternoon is going to work. I will have the distinct privilege of taking a real  gentleman flying; that spot is being filled by Ed Schrock.  Ed is 79 years old and a long time friend of my brother Mike. Ed is a great guy that has a positive influence on everyone he comes in contact with.  

For some background, Ed is a fixed wing pilot from way back. He used to own a Cessna 150 and in that airplane introduced all of his kids to aviation.  The ironic thing is that, like so many of you, Ed has always wanted to fly a Gyroplane. Well today, that dream comes true in nothing less than a G2 2PT.  

Who says that dreams don't come true!

Have a Great Thanksgiving!

Take care,

Cold Weather Flying Today & The Next 30 Days!

Last Winter, there were about a dozen brave souls that went flying with me in what we called the 2012 Winter Flyers Hall Of Fame, see Post by same name. Well, Winter is coming again and even though the Full Enclosure is the one project that has taken longer than we could have ever dreamed it would take, it is two things for sure.....Gorgeous and Right!  Flying in cold weather is fun, but still cold.  Nobody wants this option more than I do.

This afternoon, I am taking two friends (a  couple from Hastings) with me to fly.  It is 50+ degree weather here and we will have fun for sure; the deer are starting to show up again! 

For those that are coming over the next 30 days, please bring your warm clothes and plan on coffee afterwards.  One thing for sure, the enclosure will drastically broaden the use of the G2's for us in all kinds of weather, not to mention Brazil.  No one is looking forward to this happening more than me... 

Come on enclosure!

Greetings from Brazil!

Greetings from Brazil!

There is nothing in the world like flying to the South side of the globe to fly HoneyBee G2's with friends. That is precisely what Jeremy and I are up to this week. We boarded a plane in Grand Rapids with our tickets, bags, and laptops and arrived 26 hours later where we were met by our friends Sebastian and Paulo.

Because Jeremy and I were able to get some sleep on the plane, we went right to the "real airport" in Goiania to see Sebastian's Flight Operations, HoneyBee G2's, meet a few friends and finally have dinner at "Copa Cabana", one of the nicest restaurants in downtown Goiania. A good night's rest later and Jeremy and I were off to the airport for a good time with friends.

Having flown at Escolinha Airport (Portuguese means "Little School") with Ebson (CFI) in the hills of Goiania has been an eye opener. I am not a stranger to flying in international airspace but here at Escolinha I have seen how great CFI's (like Ebson and others) who truly LOVE aviation and the ones they teach make all the difference in the world; at least in this part of the Brazilian aviation world. When this goes on, it breaths life into an airport and this airport is more than alive. There is a plethora of aircraft flying everyday. These guys exhibit flying in harmony and they are doing it at a field that is being extended, getting a new taxiway and sustaining an active (and I mean active!) flight training program every where you look on the field. There are more commercial operations at "Little School" than I ever remember seeing at a field this size. Aviation is booming at "Little School" and HoneyBee G2 is thrilled to simply be here and in some small way just be a part of it. I am especially looking forward to flying many, many HoneyBee G2 from this "Little-Busy-School". It is especially sweet when you get to work with people that have withstood the test of time; those associated with the challenges of doing international business together. When it is all said and done and the dust settles, the best part is you are still with your friends.

Selfishly speaking I desire this kind of fire and passion for aviation to spread across the US again. With this kind of spirit, everyone wins...and if everybody wins, nobody looses.

Make a flying friend today...even if he is on the other side of the Earth!

Take care,

Single Place-Deluxe Update: 10-19-2012

Greetings from 9D9!

No flying at 9D9 today or the last couple of days for that matter. It has been so "Fall like", with cold and rainy days since the 5,200' flight earlier in the week. 

When we get days like these, when the CNC machines are busy doing what they have to do, when the powder-coater is busy doing their part, we finally have some time to get back on the aircraft that are underway on the floor, namely the 2013 SP-Deluxe that you have been reading about. 

The one pictured here is showing the Floors, the Upper Surrounds, the Drag & Trailing Links and Interim Control Rod Arms. This aircraft is becoming exactly what we hoped it would be  within this segment of the G2 Line for 2013. 

One change we have been kicking around over coffee is whether or not to use the ROTAX 503DCDI or to put a ROTAX 582 DCDI on it. The 503 will do the job, but there is nothing like more power when it comes to flying a Gyroplane. It is nice to have the power and not need it vs. to have to use all of it...all the time. Reserve is nice. It is also easier on fuel, easier on the engine and better when the heavier pilots fly this  aircraft. 

We don't have to decide about the engine for awhile; I will keep everyone in the loop on that decision.  For now, there is lots of discussion on the aircraft....getting there is more than half the fun for sure.

Next week we will be in Brazil! I will be blogging from there!

Vejo você mais tarde do Brasil!

Hastings At 5,200'!

Hastings At 5,200'

Yesterday, the 16th, was an absolutely beautiful day in West Michigan! Clear as a bell, mid-50's and a South wind at 6 MPH. 

My flying for the day began on a flight with Jerry from Elk Grove, CA while his delightful wife Ruth took pictures from the ground of two older guys flying by in a Yellow 2PT.  An hour or so later Hugh, pilot extraordinaire, from Jenison, MI and I went out and ran the G2 2PT through its paces. Hugh flew most of the time, I just got to set back and enjoy the view and someone else enjoying the G2.  An hour later, we were on our way back to Hastings doing the landings of several types. We had a great time for sure...no surprise!

Since Hugh was my last flight of the day it made sense to grab a quick lunch with him and then get back to the office to finish up some office work there.  Here was the problem...there was lots of gas (and gas does go bad if not used right away!) in the 2PT, it was a beautiful day (more rare this time of year) and there was no good reason not to go back to the airport and just fly.

I did a quick pre-flight, buckled in and off I taxied. With a South wind at 6 MPH I could either use Runway 12 and manage the cross-wind from my right...or do a max pre-rotate to  175 RPM's and take-off from the North-South Taxi way that leads to Runways 12-30. Either way, it is all paved and the aircraft stays clean. If I do a taxiway departure I save myself 5-7 minutes of taxi time not to mention the tires and hassle of going to the West side of the airport for a departure to the South. Since the airport was quiet I exercised the benefits of being a rotorcraft.  

When the tachometer hit 175, I turned onto the taxiway, eased to full power and 150' later I was off and climbing at 700 - 900' FPM to somewhere South of the airport.  I really did not have a plan as to where I was going; I just knew that I wanted to climb. The 2.34 Drive does a great job of that for sure.....all the way to 5,200' in six minutes without really having to work at it.  What a beautiful view from a mile up in the air; makes me want to go flying right now.

It is so much fun to fly an aircraft that has an ultimate, Minimum Forward Speed of 25, will loiter for hours at 35 and when you spool it up will fly at 85 MPH....as an open frame. I can not wait until the enclosure is done, fitted, painted and screaming along at....well, very, very fast speeds. 

Got to love it! 

...All 5,200' of it!

Flying At 9D9 Today!

Today I had  the distinct privilege of taking two friends flying.   Jeff was the first. This was Jeff's first ride in a Gyroplane.  Jeff brought his camera and took aerial pictures of his house and his beautifully manicured yard while we did a side-wards descent to it.  We flew all over Barry County and enjoyed the beautiful Fall color here in West Michigan. What a blast. Jeff, one question for you....I forgot to ask you what color you want your G2 to be? 

The second passenger was our Jeremy (University Of Michigan guy) and my adopted Son in the Gyro World!  Jeremy has been flying with me since early Spring this year.  Because it has been such a busy year,  he and I simply have not had much time to fly together.  Due to the re-schedule of another passenger today, Jeremy and I got to go up together and work on some good solid, Practical Test Standard procedures. Jeremy did a great job on Turn Around A Point, emergency field selection and initial procedures to get there and  finally acrostics; HOT-GLUMPSR & HAT-Te-MeR for those that have ridden with me before.  We got right up to the "Cake" of Class C airspace for Kent County Airport too.  We worked on trim conditions and setting the aircraft up for a nose or tail heavy condition and how to read the telltale of airspeed and what to do to correct it. 

The best part about my job is seeing people flying what I love and have committed so much of my life to.  It is great to fly!

I love flying Gyroplanes...

...especially with my Friends,

Imprint™ Control System Integration!

Good Evening!

The first entries in my logbook in 1981 were in a beautiful, 1946 Cessna 120 out of a little strip on the Ohio River in Ona, WV; home of Chuck Yeager. Donny Chapman was a CFI extraordinaire for sure. He also went by the name "Okie Skidmore" so you kind of get the feeling that Donny was just a good old boy. He was kind enough to get me started on my journey to become a Private Pilot. What a gift that was Donny! Thank you!

His Cessna 120 (tail dragger) had a control wheel. A couple of hours later I went onto fly a tired old Cessna 150 (tricycle gear) with Ricky Jones out of Robert Newlon Field along the Ohio River just outside of Huntington, WV; it had a control yoke and was very different from the 120. Four or five hours later I was in a Cessna 182 with more knobs and gauges than I had ever seen.  Then my internship was done in WV and I was off to Michigan again where I would eventually settle down and begin flying a tired old Cessna 152 out of Hastings, MI. It was a piece of junk too. It has more gauges than the 120, less power than the 182 and the nose gear shimmied so bad that you had to do soft field take offs every time or you would shake the nose wheel off the airplane. Two attorneys eventually crashed it to put it out of its misery. Later on I would finish my Private Pilot License in one of two 172's that I flew out of Lowell City Airport in Lowell, MI. Both of these aircraft were at the extreme of equipment and power and feel and on and on it goes. 

So what is my point? How we survive flying (and getting our Sport or Private Pilot License) in such different and sometimes junky old airplanes at the average FBO is beyond reason. It is a tribute to our tenacity for sure!  This is precisely the reason for  the G2 Imprint™ Control System! That's right, every Single Place-Standard and above will have the critical controls in the same place allowing you, the customer/student/etc. the simplicity of being "Imprint™" by habits that transfer directly to your single or two place HoneyBee G2. 

Expanding on this more....Train in a G2 2PT and then transition to your Single Place-Standard/Deluxe/HP or 2PT with identical controls!  This will result in better transitions, safer-confidence building experiences and overall, a life-time start on the best possible Gyroplane experience in the world. Seriously.....

If we always do, what we have always done, we will always get what we have always got....

Fall Flying In Michigan

When I looked at the weather at 6:50AM it was 38 Degrees. Later in the morning it will be in the Mid-40's and by the afternoon low to mid 50's.  Heatwave coming for sure!  Let's give it a couple of hours to "warm up" a bit.

I have always enjoyed flying in the cooler  weather.  Aircraft of all types fly better in the cooler air, the same is true for Gyroplanes. Blades work better, engines run cooler and the Fall color can be breathtaking at times.  There has been one very obvious difference flying this Fall over last Fall however. Last year on an average flight, I would see between 40 -50 deer on every flight. "Buck sightings" were common place...spikes, 4's, 6's, 8's and once in awhile, a Monster Buck.  That my friends has changed here in Michigan. Our deer population has really taken a beating due to EHD. It is sad to loose deer this way. 

For those coming to fly with me over the next couple of weeks however, please remember to bring your cameras and warm clothing. If we don't see deer, we will go take pictures of some of the beautiful fall colors exploding here in West Michigan!

Pure Michigan!

2013 HoneyBee G2 Models

2013 HoneyBee G2 Models

HoneyBee G2, LLC is thrilled to announce the 2013 HoneyBee G2 "General Aviation" Branded Line of Gyroplanes.  Our staff has worked hard to create a unique approach to many new features and improvements.  Those aircraft are…

HoneyBee G2 Ultralight: The HoneyBee G2 Ultralight will continue to be available for 2013 Model Year in the same arrangement as the award winning 2012 Bensen Days Grand Champion. One note however, the G2 Ultralights are being made in limited quantities only. Call early to reserve yours! Standard HoneyBee Yellow is our standard color, for 2013 Bright White is available at no extra cost. 

HoneyBee G2 Single Place-Standard: Formerly known as the G2 MicroLight, the Single Place-Standard has the features of our larger frames buts offers the pilot a great, light Gyroplane experience. This aircraft comes Standard with:

• Imprint™ Control System Integration, more on this later!
• MZ 202/60HP engine, up-gradable to a ROTAX 582
• 14 Gallons Fuel Capacity
• Deluxe Instrument Pod for DVFR to IFR Instrument Panels
• Square Tube Keel & Tail Boom to handle upgrades later
• Ultralight 24v Pre-rotator with a 120VAC Wall Charging System
• Improved Hydraulic Rotor Brake System with “Park Feature”
• Heavy-Duty Tail Surfaces like the larger frames
• Alloy Wheels/Standard Size Tires/Hydraulic Brakes with “Park Feature”
• 25/26’ Blades depending on customer needs
• Standard HoneyBee Yellow is our standard color, for 2013 Bright White is available at no extra cost.

HoneyBee G2 Single Place-Deluxe: This model is totally new this year and comes with all the features of the Single-Place Standard Airframe but also includes:

• Imprint™ Control System Integration, more on this later!
• MZ 202/60HP engine, up-gradable to a ROTAX 582
• 14 Gallons Fuel Capacity
• Surrounds/Floor/Arm Rests for ease of entry and comfort in-flight
• Deluxe Instrument Pod for DVFR to IFR Instrument Panels
• The same Ultralight 24v Pre-rotator but with its own “on-board” 24V Charging System.
• Improved Hydraulic Rotor Brake System with “Park Feature”
• Alloy Wheels/Standard Size Tires/Hydraulic Brakes with “Park Feature”
• Standard HoneyBee Yellow is our standard color, for 2013 Bright White is available at no extra cost.

Single Place-High Performance: This airframe just keeps getting better and better all the time. The SP-HP as it has been known, offers all of the features of the Single Place-Deluxe but also includes:

• Imprint™ Control System Integration, more on this later!
• Heavy-Duty Landing Gear similar to the Two-Place Tandem
• 14 Gallons Fuel Capacity
• New Rotor Blade Options
• Twin Bearing Rotor Head for heavier payloads
• The all new 36V Heavy-Duty Pre-rotator and own On-Board Charging System
• Re-designed Heavy-Duty Landing Gear allows for better trailering
• Improved Hydraulic Rotor Brake System with “Park Feature”
• Deluxe Instrument Pod for DVFR to IFR Instrument Panels
• Alloy Wheels/Standard Size Tires/Hydraulic Brakes with “Park Feature”
• A totally redesigned-Heavy-Duty Engine Mount
• All NEW, 138 HP-1.4L Engine Platform
• Last but not least, this airframe is enclosure ready
• Standard HoneyBee Yellow is our standard color, for 2013 Bright White is available at no extra cost.

Two Place Tandem: Like the SP-HP, this airframe just keeps getting better and better all the time.  Our Staff has put so much effort into perfecting this airframe.  This airframe has the most new additions of our entire line. For those that are new to this part of our line, all the features and improvements are listed here:

• Imprint™ Control System Integration, more on this later!
• Our Trademark Moving Mast Feature offers the broadest possible CG options for virtually all passenger needs.
• Re-designed Heavy-Duty Landing Gear allows for easier trailering
• Two Place Tandem Seating
• All NEW Folding Mast Option
• New Rotor Blade Options
• Improved Twin Bearing Rotor Head for Heavier Payloads
• Improved Hydraulic Rotor Brake System with “Park Feature”
• Deluxe Instrument Pod for DVFR to IFR Instrument Panels
• Surrounds/Floor/Arm-Rests
• The all new 36V Heavy-Duty Pre-rotator and On-Board Charging System
• 14 Gallons Fuel Capacity
• Alloy Wheels/Standard Size Tires/Hydraulic Brakes with “Park Feature”
• Improved Heavy-Duty Engine Mount
• 210 HP-2.4L Engine Platform
• Last but not least, this airframe is enclosure ready
• Standard HoneyBee Yellow is our standard color, for 2013 Bright White is available at no extra cost.

We will have new pictures and additional information soon! 

Happy New Year!

Jim Fields

President/CEO

HoneyBee G2, LLC

Committed To Building The Safest Gyroplanes In The World™

New Roll Mount/Balanced Pressures

For those that have been tracking with the HoneyBee G2 Project, you have read our  commitment to Total  Quality Management, or TQM....making little improvements ALL THE TIME everywhere we can.  Some times this is for assembly, some times it is a material change, sometimes it is a cosmetic change and sometimes it is not a change, it is an addition. No matter how you look at it, we are always improving what we do in the G2.  The areas we improve come from our flying experience, customer feedback and the brain trust of our engineering staff. When we work on something until we get it right, it makes all the difference in the world; sometimes this is the first try...sometimes it takes more. When it is right, it is right.  If these improvements need to get to customers (no matter where they are at in the world) then we pack them up and ship them out. Jeremy and I are going to Brazil on the 20th of October and are shipping parts there for this very reason.  The original parts worked just fine, but there are a couple of little tweaks that we want to have on their aircraft.  That same thing goes  for all the domestic frames. We believe in and are committed to the G2 experience.....always something new coming and always improving. Always.....

The picture above shows the lower Control Stick Tubes. Jeremy came up with a way to keep the "Pitch Forces" the same while decreasing the "Roll Forces".  With a Right Rotation Prop and normal Rotor Blade rotation, the left force is always heavier than the right stick force. The solution is to harmonize Pitch & Roll pressures and "engineered stick return forces"....leading to complete, hands-off flying!  Piece of cake! Great job Jeremy!

Keeping up the great work together!

Yesterday Was A Blast!

As the company grows, my time on the floor with the guys and in the air with customers gets less and less.  Conversely, the time I need to fill the role as President & CEO grows and grows. 

Well yesterday was different! I got to fly with customers (140 - 262#'s) from Southern, IL in the G2-2PT, fly with Jimmie "O" (me in the G2-2PT & Jimmie in his G1)  and at the end of the day, Louanne (my beloved wife) and I got to go up for an hour of just taking in the splendor of Fall color in Michigan!   Yesterday was a blast! 

For those that are contemplating a trip to Hastings this Fall, please let Don Vander Wall know early when you are coming.  The aircraft are busy and so are we; the earlier you schedule your trip to 9D9, the better we can serve your needs. 

Have a Colorful Day!