This course was designed with the initial gyroplane pilot in mind.  It will take the student that has never been introduced to aviation, and provide all of the knowledge for them to be able to pass the FAA knowledge exam for gyroplane sport pilots.  Additionally, this program will provide essential information that will help the student throughout their flight training and their practical exam.

Course Curriculum

  • 1

    Course Outline

  • 2

    (OPTIONAL) Lesson Slides for Printing

    • Lesson 1 Slides - Basic Aerodynamics

    • Lesson 2 - Aircraft Systems

    • Lesson 3 - Flight Manuals & Other Documents

    • Lesson 4 - Aircraft Performance

    • Lesson 5 - Weather

    • Lesson 6 - Weather Services

    • Lesson 7 - Airport Operations & Airspace

    • Lesson 8 - Enroute Flight

    • Lesson 9 - Aeromedical Factors

    • Lesson 10 - Aeronautical Decision Making
  • 3

    (OPTIONAL) Reading Materials

    • Lesson 1 - Rotorcraft Flying Handbook CH 15 & 16 - Aerodynamics

    • Lesson 1 - PHoAK Chapter 5 - Aerodynamics

    • Lesson 2 - Rotorcraft Flying Handbook CH 17 & 18 - Systems

    • Lesson 2 - PHoAK ch8 - Flight Instruments

    • Lesson 2 - PHoAK ch7 - Aircraft Systems

    • Lesson 3 - PHoAK ch9 - Flight Manuals & Documents

    • Lesson 3 - Rotorcraft Flying Handbook CH 19 & 20 - Flight Manual & Performance

    • Lesson 4 - PHoAK ch11 - Performance

    • Lesson 4 - PHoAK ch10 - Weight & Balance

    • Lesson 5 - PHoAK ch12 - Weather Theory

    • Lesson 6 - PHoAK ch13 - Weather Services

    • Lesson 7 - PHoAK ch15 - Airspace

    • Lesson 7 - PHoAK ch14 - Airport Operations

    • Lesosn 8 - PHoAK ch16 - Navigation

    • Lesson 9 - PHoAK ch 17 - Aeromedical Factors

    • Lesson 10 - PHoAK ch2 - ADM
  • 4

    Lesson 1 - Gyroplane Aerodynamics

    • Lesson 1, Part 1 - Gyroplane History & Basic Information

      FREE PREVIEW

    • Lesson 1, Part 2 - Aerodynmamics Definitions

    • Lesson 1, Part 3 - 3 Axes & 4 Forces of Flight

    • Lesson 1, Part 4 - Forces of Flight: Lift

    • Lesson 1, Part 5 - Forces of Flight: Weight

    • Lesson1, Part 6 - Forces of Flight: Thrust

    • Lesson1, Part 7 - Forces of Flight: Drag

    • Lesson 1, Part 8 - Dissymmetry of Lift

    • Lesson 1, Part 9 - Autorotative Airflow

    • Lesson 1, Part 9 Addendum - Blade Flap

    • Lesson1, Part 10 - Wake Turbulence

    • Lesson 1, Part 11 - Gyroplane Stability

    • Lesson 1, Part 12 - Ground Effect & Gyroscopic Precession

    • Lesson 1 - Gyroplane Aerodynamics Quiz
  • 5

    Lesson 2 - Gyroplane Systems

    • Lesson 2, Part 1 - Propulsion Systems

    • Lesson 2, Part 2 - Fuel Systems

    • Lesson 2, Part 3 - Turbochargers & Superchargers

    • Lesson 2, Part 4 - Oil & Cooling Systems

    • Lesson 2, Part 5 - Electrical Systems

    • Lesson 2, Part 6 - Aircraft Instruments

    • Lesson 2, Part 7 - Rotor Systems & Prerotators

    • Lesson 2, Part 8 - Ground Handling Systems

    • Lesson 2 - Gyroplane Systems Quiz
  • 6

    Lesson 3 - Gyroplane Flight Manual

    • Lesson 3, Part 1- Required Documents

    • Lesson 3, Part 2 - Flight Manuals

    • Lesson 3, Part 3 - Maintenance & Maintenance Reporting

    • Lesson 3, Part 4 - Maintenance Reporting

    • Lesson 3, Part 5- A.D.s and S.B.s

    • Lesson 3, Part 6 - Inop Instruments & Ferry Permits

    • Lesson 3 - Gyroplane Flight Manual Quiz
  • 7

    Lesson 4 - Gyroplane Performance

    • Lesson 4, Part 1- Aircraft Performance

    • Lesson 4, Part 2- Density Altitude

    • Lesson 4, Part 3- Pressure Altitude Calculation

    • Lesson 4, Part 4 - Takeoff Performance

    • Lesson 4, Part 5- Cruise Performance

    • Lesson 4, Part 6- Landing Performance

    • Lesson 4, Part 7- The Power Curve

    • Lesson 4, Part 8- Height / Velocity Diagram

    • Lesson 4, Part 9- V Speeds

    • Lesson 4, Part 10- Weight & Balance

    • Lesson 4, Part 11 - Samples

    • Lesson 4 - Gyroplane Performance Quiz
  • 8

    Lesson 5 - Weather

    • Lesson 5 - Weather and Weather Systems

    • Lesson 5 - Weather Quiz
  • 9

    Lesson 6 - Weather Services

    • Lesson 6 - Weather Services

    • Lesson 6 - Weather Services Quiz
  • 10

    Lesson 7 - Airport Operations & Airspace

    • Lesson 7 - Airport Operations & Airspace

    • Lesson 7 - Airport Operations & Airspace Quiz
  • 11

    Lesson 8 - Enroute Flight

    • Lesson 8 - Enroute Flight

    • Lesson 8 - Enroute Flight Quiz
  • 12

    Lesson 9 - Aeromedical Factors

    • Lesson 9 - Aeromedical Factors

    • Lesson 9 - Aeromedical Factors Quiz
  • 13

    Lesson 10 - Aeronautical Decision Making

    • Lesson 10 - Aeronautical Decision Making

    • Lesson 10 - Aernautical Decision Making Quiz
  • 14

    Lesson 11 - Accident Reporting & The Practical Test Standards

    • Lesson 11 - Accident Reporting and The Practical Test Standards

    • Lesson 11 - Accident Reporting and the Practical Tests Standards

    • Lesson 11 - Accident Reporting and The Practical Test Standards Quiz
  • 15

    Final Exam

    • Sport Pilot Ground School Final Exam

About the instructor

Flight Instructor & Designated Pilot Examiner

Dayton Dabbs

With twenty years of flying experience and over two thousand hours of flight time in multiple different types of airplanes, helicopters, and gyroplanes, Dayton has developed a unique skill set that allows him to be able to relate to pilots from many different segments of aviation, while still enjoying teaching those that have never been introduced to the world of flying.  Dayton is a Commercial Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor as well as a Designated Pilot Examiner.  He currently holds the world record for flying a gyroplane (less than five hundred kilograms) coast to coast, and he has experience in flying gyroplanes in countries all over the world.  Even with this experience, one of the most fulfilling parts of his job is to see the smile on the faces of new pilots after their first solo and receiving their pilot certificate.      

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