"TF-EAA" Bensen B-8M Gyrocopter

"TF-EAA" Bensen B-8M Gyrocopter

Árgerð/Year of mfr.:
 1964 (?)
Raðnúmer/Constr. number:
  
Þvermál þyrils/rotor diameter:
6,10 m .
Lengd/Length:
3,45 m
Hámarksþungi/Max. weight:
227 kg.
Hreyfill/Engine:
72 ha. McCulloch tvígengisvél
Hámarkshraði/Max speed:
 80 km./klst
Sætafjöld/Number of seats:
1
Eigandi/Owner:
Flugsafn Íslands

Sigurður Þorkelsson flugradíómaður hjá Flugmálastjórn keypti þennan “gýrókopta” til landsins um 1964-65, en flaug honum aldrei. Húnn Snædal keypti vélina árið 1971 og endurbætti. Hann flaug henni samtals 65 klst og 50 mín. í 208 flugum. Síðast flaug “TF-EAA” 25. maí árið 1975 en í því flugi datt hreyfillinn af og hafnaði í sjó. Vitað er um a.m.k. tvo aðra Bensen Gyrocopter á Íslandi, en ekki er vitað um núverandi ástand þeirra.

The first owner of this gyrocopter was Sigurður Þorkelsson, a radio technician with the Icelandic C.A.A. He bought it in 1964-65, but never flew it. Húnn Snædal bought the aircraft in 1971 and immediately set forth in making certain modifications including bringing it up to the B-8M configuration. He flew the machine for a total of 65 hrs. 50 min. in 208 flights. On its last flight, on 25th May, 1975, the engine came loose and dropped into the sea. There are known to be at least two other Bensen Gyrocopters in Iceland, however, their condition is unknown.