Ken Wallis Autogyro Pioneer Dies At 97 49
First time accepted submitter gb7djk writes "Wing Commander Ken Wallis the developer and promoter of small autogyros died peacefully today 4th September, aged 97, at his home in Norfolk. Ken is mainly remembered for 'Little Nellie', the tooled up autogyro that took on some helicopters in the James Bond film You Only Live Twice. He made the breakthrough discovery of the offset rotor head that made autogyros stable as well as many other aviation inventions. More info here and a video of him flying one of his creations (at the age of 95)."
Oblig (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Redd Foxx
o'care (Score:1)
And this was before safety (Score:3)
Re:And this was before safety (Score:5, Funny)
I bet the real story is that he died peacefully in his sleep -- behind the stick of his autogyro, as it crashed into his house at 80kph.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:And this was before safety (Score:4, Interesting)
Yeager, Chuck
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Yeager [wikipedia.org]
On October 14, 2012 on the 65th anniversary of breaking the sound barrier, Yeager did it again in a McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, out of Nellis Air Force Base at the age of 89
he's old and bold. how many 89 year olds break Mach? and he was a test pilot for 30 years after he retired officially.
"The Right Stuff" is right.
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
I've got a great-great-grandfather who founded a pharmaceutical company. And there are stories of how he would brew up the growth media for the pathogens to make his vaccines at home on the kitchen stove. Fast forward to the present and I've been spending the last few months trying to sort through all kinds of bureacracy and regulations to get some exome sequencing for a newphew with a genetic condition. One one hand, even just the fact that I can send a DNA saliva sample halfway around the world overnight
mod up previous; not so much in Asia (Score:1)
Re:And this was before safety (Score:4, Funny)
No helmet, no goggles - just undiluted awesome. He's like a character out of a Miyazaki film.
More autogyros being used (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
... and in Bob Kane's original Batman comics, first printed in Detective Comics #31 in 1939, Batman did not use a "batplate" or a "batcopter". He used a "batgyro" [wikipedia.org]. The first "batarang" was introduced in the same panel.
Re:Autogyros (Score:5, Insightful)
Yeah - because all of the new tech just sprang into existence via parthenogenesis, right? None of it has its roots in old school tech, after all. Then again, I can see where you wouldn't be impressed with a heavier-than-air flying machine that can transport a person significant distances at reasonably high speeds, or the kind of man who could invent one. I think, however, you will be in something of a minority around here.
Luddite.
Re: (Score:3)
Arrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5qhOsCUNX0 [youtube.com]
Calidus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AptB9l-ajSA [youtube.com]
Cavalon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS2ibF-eWTo [youtube.com]
Magni M24: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlaumLGZk50#t=1m30 [youtube.com]
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
I can't find it, but I once saw a graph showing efficiency for autogyros, planes, and helicopters. Planes are tremendously more efficient than autogyros for distance. I can't remember exactly how helicopters faired--based on speed, distance, etc--but in any event autogyros can't hover so they're not replacements for helicopters.
Basically, autogyros don't really fit into modern commercial needs. All the super sophisticated models are hybrids, but that makes them complex, and thus their utility is debatable.
T
Re: (Score:2)
but in any event autogyros can't hover so they're not replacements for helicopters.
While it can't hover like a helicopter you can get it to fly really slowly into a really strong headwind (as with all other planes). It's almost like as if you're hovering.
RE: Autogyros (Score:2)
While the grammar and spelling are correct, this is not much of a comment.
It is old-school UID but not that impressive. While it is sad that you are lame, learning this bit of information does not warrant a slashdot post. I am sorry to say this, but ho hum.
Re: (Score:2)
I'll get them started: they're simpler/cheaper and are arguably more reliable than helicopters in case of mechanical failure. Any lingering safety concerns are largely a result of pilots used to other craft not understanding the handling characteristics of autogyros. The only major disadvantages vs. helicopters are they can't hover (though they can fly much slower than airplanes) and they can't
Yummm... (Score:2)
A great man... (Score:5, Interesting)
...without which we would not have the Bruce Spence character in The Road Warrior!
Re: (Score:2)
I'm certain they're the same guy. Too much of a coincidence for a pilot to be the same actor in consecutive movies. And, your chronology doesn't work since the order is reversed.
That's what's wrong with /. these days... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
The Internet is get awfully pedestrian nowadays.
No it isn't.
Good Memories (Score:5, Informative)
Ummmm....gyro (Score:1)
Little Nellie! (Score:3)
Tanaka: I have much curiosity, Bond-san. What is Little Nellie?
OO7: Oh, she's a wonderful girl. Very small, quite fast. Can do anything. Just your type.
Tanaka: A toy helicopter?
Q: No, it's certainly not a toy! You'll see. We've made one or two improvements since you used her last. I'll give you the drill.
Tanaka: This can only be for children! Don't use it, Bond-san. Take my helicopter instead!
Q: Right. Now pay attention, OO7. Two machine guns, fixed.
OO7: Synchronized to what?
Q: 100 yards. We're using incendiaraies and high explosives. Two rocket launchers, forward-firing on either side.
OO7: Fine.
Q: Now, these fire heat-seeking air-to-air missiles. 60 a minute.
OO7: Good.
Q: Flame guns. Two of 'em. Firing astern.
OO7: What range?
Q: 80 yards. Two smoke ejectors next door to them. Aerial mines. Now remember, use them only when directly above target. That's about the lot, I think. You know the rest, don't you?
OO7: Yes.
Q: Cine camera.
OO7: Tanaka, listen in on 410 megacycles.
Tanaka: Good luck, Bond-san.
OO7: I'll contact you when I get over the island.
Tanaka: Okay.
Aki: Be careful, Bond-san!
Discovered? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Pioneers... (Score:1)
This was the pioneer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_de_la_Cierva
Rip, Ken. Gyrocopters are awesome! (Score:2)