Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to what you wonder about before you fly
What drives the rotor?
The rotor is driven by the airflow during flight. In other words, the rotor has no connection to the engine while in the air. At the moment of take-off a so-called "prerotator" spins the rotor up to approximately 200 rpm. This significantly shortens the take-off run.
In what weather can you fly?
All flying with ultralight gyroplanes takes place under VMC (Visual Meteorological Conditions), during daylight hours, which means you must have at least 5 km visibility and a cloud base of at least 1,000 ft. Flying is conducted under VFR (Visual Flight Rules). In practice, the only things that stop an gyroplane from flying are poor visibility and low clouds.
What is the range of an gyroplane?
Our gyroplanes have tanks holding 64 litres of usable fuel. That means we can fly for approximately 4 hours at a cruise speed of 140 km/h.
How many hours does it take to get a certificate?
Basic training for a UL-gyro certificate includes a minimum of 25 flight hours of which at least 5 hours must be solo. A type conversion for pilots with previous flight experience on other classes consists of a minimum of 10 flight hours. Helicopter pilots convert to gyro at the instructor's discretion.
Who handles maintenance?
According to the Civil Aviation Regulations you are permitted to carry out maintenance on your own UL machine. Maintenance on Skånska Gyrokopterklubben's aircraft is handled by experienced technicians. There are defined programmes specifying exactly what inspections are required and when.
How long a take-off and landing run is needed?
Many parameters affect the length of the take-off run: wind strength and direction, aircraft load, air pressure and temperature, engine power, rotor type, prerotator, pilot skill, and surface condition… Anywhere from one to 300 metres.
Can an gyroplane take off and land vertically?
No, not unless specially equipped. However, in wind speeds above 10 m/s it can land nearly vertically and take off in under 10 metres.
How high can you fly?
It depends on several factors: engine power, load, air pressure, air temperature, etc. 3–4,000 m is achievable. In practice you typically fly at considerably lower altitudes, usually between 150 m and 500 m above the ground.
What happens if the engine stops?
An gyroplane has a glide ratio of approximately 1:4. This means that if you are flying at 1,000 m altitude and the engine fails, you have 4 km of gliding distance in which to find a safe landing site.
Can an gyroplane stall?
No. The gyroplane can reduce speed to zero and then begins to descend at approximately 5–8 m/s depending on the load. The sink begins at speeds below 35 km/h. Recovery is very simple and quick: allow the nose to drop slightly and carefully apply throttle again.
What are the maximum, minimum and cruise speeds?
Maximum speed depends on the rotor size and certain other characteristics. Our aircraft are equipped with rotors that allow speeds up to 185 km/h (VNE). Minimum speed while maintaining altitude is approximately 35 km/h. Below that the gyroplane will descend. A comfortable cruise speed is 100–140 km/h. Faster rotors are available for which both maximum and minimum speeds increase somewhat.
Can an gyroplane be insured?
Yes. Our gyroplanes and pilot, passenger and third parties are fully insured for flying throughout Europe.
Is it difficult to fly an gyroplane?
No, it is easier to fly an gyroplane than a fixed-wing aircraft because it is not sensitive to turbulence or crosswind during take-offs and landings. The start procedure and ground handling of the rotor do require a little more multitasking from the pilot. It is also very important that the pilot understands gyroplane principles and does not initiate abnormal flight attitudes. That is why the minimum flight time during UL-Gyro training is five hours longer than for fixed-wing.
Is it safe to fly an gyroplane?
When flown correctly, gyroplanes are among the safest aircraft you can fly. The reason for this is that gyroplanes are easy to fly and that the landing run in the event of an engine failure is very short. Accidents can however result from human factors. The training methods and technology used today, combined with the high safety awareness at our school, make flying very safe.
How much does an gyroplane cost?
The simple technical solution means the price of an gyroplane is only a fraction of a helicopter. The total cost depends on the equipment you choose. From approximately €50,000 for a modern two-seat gyroplane with basic equipment to less than €10,000 for a kit-built single-seater.
What does it cost to fly per hour?
From 450 SEK per flight hour with the "large flying package" (50% discount). Without a flying package, member pricing for flying a club-owned gyroplane or aeroplane typically ranges from 900 to 1,500 SEK per flight hour depending on the aircraft and how much it is flown. This includes everything: fuel cost, maintenance, insurance, depreciation for wear of parts, loan repayments… See the membership page for the full per-aircraft price list. Instructor fees are additional during training.
How much does it cost in total to fly or train with SGK?
It depends on what you want to do. A trial flight is a one-off experience and the price varies per package. As a member, flying itself typically costs 900–1,500 SEK per flight hour on top of the annual membership fee, depending on the aircraft — or 450–750 SEK per flight hour with the "large flying package" (50% discount). A complete basic training course to a UL licence costs a total of about 55,000 SEK, including membership, theory and all flight lessons. The full price list with every fee is on the membership page.
Can I get a licence for aeroplanes, not just gyroplanes, at SGK?
Yes. In addition to gyroplanes (UL-Gyro), we also train pilots for the UL licence on fixed-wing ultralight aeroplanes (UL-B) and weight-shift trikes (UL-A). The club owns both gyroplanes and a UL-B aeroplane (Tomark Viper SD-4) as well as a seaplane. See flight training for all classes.
Are there any restrictions on obtaining a UL-gyro certificate?
See the Swedish Transport Agency's regulations on UL certificates.
What do I, as a fixed-wing pilot, need to know about gyroplanes?
Information can be found on our page for fixed-wing pilots.
Where is the flight school?
We are based at ESMI Sjöbo/Sövde airfield, Snogeholmsvägen 1241-53 outside Sjöbo, in the middle of Skåne in southern Sweden. All practical flight training and club flying starts from here, and there is free parking right at the airfield. Directions and a map are on our contact page.
How far is the airfield from Malmö and the rest of Skåne?
From Malmö the drive is approx. 50 min via the E65 and road 13. From Lund it is approx. 40 min, from Ystad approx. 30 min, from Simrishamn approx. 55 min and from Sjöbo just approx. 10 min. Kristianstad (approx. 1 hr 10 min) and Helsingborg (approx. 1 hr 20 min) are commutable too. The full table is under Getting here.
Can I learn to fly and get a UL licence if I live in Malmö?
Yes. There is no ultralight flight school inside Malmö itself, but many of our students and members live in Malmö and drive out — approx. 50 min each way. Flight lessons are booked to suit you and the weather, so you do not need to be at the airfield daily, and the theory course is taken entirely online. Read more about training for the UL licence.