Two Texas Adventurers Fly Across The Country In An Open-Air Gyroplane

At the top of many bucket lists is a desire to ride a gnarly Harley across the country to experience the open-air ride. It appears that two Texas adventurers had a similar bucket list item, except they made their open air ride in a gyroplane. They got a better view of the countryside, but the Harley would’ve been faster.

EAA passed along the news that members John Craparo and Dayton Dabbs not only took the adventure, they have claimed four new speed records for speed over a recognized course in a gyroplane weighing less than 500 kg (1,102 pounds). While the words ‘speed’ and ‘gyroplane’ are not normally associated, they still set an impressive record.

Craparo, age 56, and Dabbs, age 30, copiloted and alternated as pilot in command of a Magni M-16 gyroplane for the 73-hour, 5,365-statute-mile flight. The record speeds, which were measured from initial takeoff to final landing, ‘including’ all rest periods, are as follows:

• Dallas to Los Angeles: average speed: 35 mph.
• Los Angeles to New York City: average speed: 40mph.
• New York City to Dallas: average speed: 24mph
• Eastbound Transcontinental Speed Record in a Gyroplane less than 500 kg, average speed: 40mph.
• For the purpose of claiming a record, the speeds were actually measured in kilometers-per-hour and the mile-per-hour numbers are rounded off.

“Aside from any record setting, we displayed the capability of this small aircraft as a safe, comfortable and economical touring vehicle for short and long distance travel,” Dabbs said.

The records are currently awaiting official recognition from the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), which complete audits of claims. The flight was sanctioned by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), and the pair also gratefully received assistance from the FAA and airport authorities.

Because the gyroplane had to take off and land “no further than 20 km (13 miles) from city center at a tower controlled airport” in order to be sanctioned by the NAA, Craparo and Dabbs were limited to airports with highly controlled, busy Class B airspace.

Local tower controllers also helped out with official timekeeping, acting as observers for the gyroplane’s takeoffs and landings.

(Image of Dayton Dabbs, left, and John Craparo, right, provided by EAA)

FMI: www.eaa.org