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Physical Address:
Rotary Air Force South Africa
233B Diedericks Road, GA Hanger 4
Upington International Airport
Upington, 8801
Republic of South Africa
 

Postal Address:
PO Box 2071
Upington
8800
South Africa

Gyro Flight Instruction - South Africa

Rotary Air Force South Africa 

" A 2 place gyro plane"

Upington Microlight & RAF 2000 Training Center

FAX:
SA Fax: +27 54 331 3534
Int Fax: +27 54 332 3628
Telephone:
Switchboard: +27 54 331 3534
Mobile: +27 83 282 8792
Eben Mocke Sr., CFI Flight Training, Research & Development
info@rafsa.co.za
Eben Mocke Jr., Technical & Electrical
eben@rafsa.co.za
Yolande Combrinck , Marketing Manager
yolande@rafsa.co.za
  Instant messenger:
  Skype:  yolande.combrinck
  MSN: ycombrinck@webmail.co.za
Michael-John Mocke, Machine Shop, Maintenance & Repair
mikey@rafsa.co.za
Estelle Pretorius, Client Part orders & sales
estelle@rafsa.co.za
Leonelle van Wyk,  - Accounts Creditors & Stock Controller
 parts@rafsa.co.za
Ansa Mocke, Accounts Debtors & Training School
info@rafsa.co.za 

The strength of the vortex is governed by the weight, speed, and shape of the wing of the generating aircraft. The vortex characteristics of any given aircraft can also be changed by extension of flaps or other wing configuring devices. However, as the basic factor is weight, the vortex strength increases proportionately with increase in aircraft operating weight.

Peak vortex tangential speeds up to almost 300 feet per second have been recorded. The greatest vortex strength occurs when the generating aircraft is heavy-clean  and slow.

I you operate your gyro in an area frequented by heavier aircraft , airplanes or helicopters, you should read this article.

(Above, left to right)
Eben Mocke Jr & Guy Wilson

NEWS LETTER 2010 & Information about the ANNUAL Year-End SHUTDOWN  Download newsletter here.  This letter contains a lot of information covering December 2010 through May 2011.

Training is important no matter what you call your flying machine. 

You might call it any of these names: Autogiro, Autogire, Autogir, Autogyre, Autogyro, Autożyro, αυτόγυρο, Autožīrs, автожир, Auto-Gyro, Auto-Giro, Ciroplan, Gyro, Drehflügler, Drehflügelflugzeug, Gyrocopter, Gyrokopter, Girocopter, Girokopter, Gyrocoptère, Girocoptère, Girocóptero, Gyroplane, Gyroplan, Giroplan, Gyroplán, Giroplane, Gyroplány, Gyroplano, Giroplano, Mølleplan, Otojiro, OTOJİR, Tragschrauber, Vírník, Vírníky, Windmillplane, Windmolenvliegtuig, Windmühlenflugzeug, Wiatrakowce, Wiatrakowiec, Xuanyiji or Żyroplan. But certainly, you will call it a fun  and hard-working machine, provided you have the proper training.

RAF 2000 Has A New Logo!

by Jim West

I cannot begin to tell you how many people still think that there no longer is an RAF factory and support system. So, I would like to unveil, for those that still haven't figured out what happened, the new RAF logo and ad cover page which is pictured at the left.  We have placed it here to let readers know that RAF is not gone.  It has, from a customer's viewpoint, only moved.  It has, from a customer's viewpoint, gotten closer or further from where they live. It is now owned by guys that fly for fun and fly for excitement and fly with students and assemble beautiful RAF machines and will be at Airventure in the USA this summer, the summer of 2008.  They have for many years run the Upington Microlight & RAF 2000 Training Center; the new company is called Rotary Air Force South Africa.  They have a significant history in the aviation business and these guys are serious about gyroplanes.

Give them a call or send them an email.  Their ad is below.

RAF2000 Gyroplane - Upington South Africa

By Guy Wilson

I can’t think of any company in the world that has sold more gyroplanes than RAF2000 based in Canada so it was a sad day when they closed their doors a while back, after 30 years of producing an aircraft that in my opinion is in a class of its own.

RAF2000 owners around the world were concerned about the future of their aircraft and of course where would they get parts and the backup they have enjoyed for years?  So it was good news when Eben Mocke Snr. decided to buy the company, which is now based in Upington South Africa.   (Continued)

What is at trip to this training ground like? Binky took a trip to visit them and get some lessons. Check out his report.

Paul Patterson CFI-SPG

Paul is a Sport Pilot - Gyroplane Certified Flight Instructor 

He is a Vietnam-era helicopter pilot and is now enjoying his RAF, an enjoyment that he loves to share. He will train you in your gyro or in his RAF2000. 

Gyroplane Aviators' Code of Conduct

The following paragraph and downloadable "Gyroplane Aviators' Code of Conduct" are here for members to review. 

Special considerations for RAF Pilots Members are in the August 2006 publication.

Gyroplane Pilots, download your copy of the  "Gyroplane Aviators' Code of Conduct" that has been adapted from the "Light Sport Aviator's Model Code of Conduct" (LSAMCC) developed by Michael Baum of CA. The LSAMCC was released at Oshkosh but did not receive much press. But various organizations such as COPA and other countries have adapted the code as part of their pilot education programs. I ask that Jim West post it on the RAF Pilots Association web site and encourage the readers to review and adapt it as part of their preflight activities it would go along way in promoting aviation safety in the gyroplane community.