Craparo-Dabbs World Record

Doug Rhodes 3rd of October 2015 11:47:43 AM

I know they are going to be super busy, Robert, but any details would be GREATLY appreciated. This is a... read more

I know they are going to be super busy, Robert, but any details would be GREATLY appreciated. This is a super cool trip. Do they have a "tracker" on?

Greg Gremminger 3rd of October 2015 02:38:36 PM

Robert, what is the link to their SPOT tracker - Greg?

Robert, what is the link to their SPOT tracker - Greg?

Kathy Dabbs 3rd of October 2015 07:14:10 PM

What an exciting Send Off! Looking forward to following you daily!

What an exciting Send Off! Looking forward to following you daily!

Robert Dabbs 3rd of October 2015 07:18:13 PM

Greg and Doug, their spot tracker is on now. Click the TRACK THIS TRIP link and you should see them. We... read more

Greg and Doug, their spot tracker is on now. Click the TRACK THIS TRIP link and you should see them. We saw them take off at about 6:15. They were planning to stop in Waco to drop off a cell phone to one of Dayton's clients. Then, it's on to LOVE FIELD in Dallas. They're sleeping in the pilot's lounge tonight. Sean Thomas and Rob Waldrum are planning to meet them at 3:00 AM to weigh the machine. Then, it's on to Santa Monica CA. They're hoping to make it to CA by 9:00 PM Pacific time. I'll post PIX later tonight of their take off from John's place in CROSS COUNTRY ESTATES.

Kathy Dabbs 4th of October 2015 07:21:45 AM

Looking forward to seeing pictures of your 4:30 send off. Would love an email telling me your fuel stops,... read more

Looking forward to seeing pictures of your 4:30 send off. Would love an email telling me your fuel stops, just so I can watch! Hope the sun comes up soon and warms you up!

Scott Thomas 4th of October 2015 09:44:20 AM

Have a Great Day. Scott

Have a Great Day. Scott

John Chirtea 4th of October 2015 04:47:42 PM

Good luck on this exciting trip. When you get back, I think it is time for a Magni M-24 record!!!!

Good luck on this exciting trip. When you get back, I think it is time for a Magni M-24 record!!!!

Kathy Dabbs 4th of October 2015 07:00:40 PM

Great Pictures, Rob!!! I know they appreciate their 'send off' crew! Looking forward to hearing ya'll... read more

Great Pictures, Rob!!! I know they appreciate their 'send off' crew! Looking forward to hearing ya'll are safe in LA and can rest and get warm!!!

Kathy Dabbs 4th of October 2015 11:45:26 PM

11:00 Sunday evening. Just heard from Dayton that they made it to Lake Havasu AZ and will overnight there.... read more

11:00 Sunday evening. Just heard from Dayton that they made it to Lake Havasu AZ and will overnight there. With a couple of hundred miles to go and fog setting in over 7000 ft matin ranges, they made decision to hold off flying until Monday morning.

Kathy Dabbs 5th of October 2015 07:22:14 AM

Wait.....why aren't we getting updates from the PILOTS????? Hello, Dayton and John???!!!

Wait.....why aren't we getting updates from the PILOTS????? Hello, Dayton and John???!!!

Doug Rhodes 5th of October 2015 09:53:39 AM

What's going on?? I thought LAX was in the "travel plans". Did weather get in the way??

What's going on?? I thought LAX was in the "travel plans". Did weather get in the way??

Scott Thomas 5th of October 2015 10:44:33 AM

“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there... read more

“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” ― Leonardo da Vinci So wake up and get going already. Take Care Scott

Kathy Dabbs 5th of October 2015 10:48:51 AM

Doug, Word from last night was that fog was moving in. I think they had an issue or two with airports not... read more

Doug, Word from last night was that fog was moving in. I think they had an issue or two with airports not having their gas. Haven't heard this morning but last night they were staying in Lake Havasu area.

Cliff Massey 5th of October 2015 12:12:04 PM

Looks like you had to turn back to Desert Hills late last night. What happened? What record are you... read more

Looks like you had to turn back to Desert Hills late last night. What happened? What record are you trying to set, LA to NY? What is the current record and when was it set? What is your time goal?

Kathy Dabbs 5th of October 2015 12:24:35 PM

I think fog moved in, Cliff. They are not very good at keeping us updated, though, are they???? :)

I think fog moved in, Cliff. They are not very good at keeping us updated, though, are they???? :)

Kathy Dabbs 5th of October 2015 01:46:25 PM

At 1:30 (central time) they had stopped for fuel about 50 miles N/E of Palm Springs CA. Dayton says the... read more

At 1:30 (central time) they had stopped for fuel about 50 miles N/E of Palm Springs CA. Dayton says the decision to turn back last night was a life saving choice. Kudos to good decision making. They should get to Santa Monica around mid-afternoon. To the questions about what record they're trying to set - I'll ask to John to fill in details when he has time to post.

Ira McComic 5th of October 2015 02:46:19 PM

I'm following this grand adventure moment by moment. Dayton and John are helping folks discover that... read more

I'm following this grand adventure moment by moment. Dayton and John are helping folks discover that gyroplanes aren't just for flying around the patch. I have some photos of the two of them shortly after their arrival Sunday evening at Love Field, but I haven't discovered how to post them here.

Ira McComic 5th of October 2015 02:55:35 PM

Hi Cliff John can answer your questions most directly, but FYI, here's the text of the press release... read more

Hi Cliff John can answer your questions most directly, but FYI, here's the text of the press release for the trip. Ira PRESS RELEASE Contact: Jay Tyler +1 (201) 786-4550 Texas Pilots Will Crisscross United States to Set World Speed Records in Experimental Aircraft Two pilots plan to depart from Dallas Love Field on 4 October 2015 in an attempt to set three world speed records over recognized courses in a two seat open-cockpit gyroplane. The duo will fly the following routes: Dallas to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to New York City, and New York City to Dallas. John S. Craparo and Dayton A. Dabbs will act as co-pilots during this National Aeronautic Association (NAA) sanctioned flight. Their aircraft is a Magni M16 gyroplane designated as an Experimental Amateur Built (EAB) flying machine. The pilots will alternate as pilot in command (PIC) of the aircraft during each leg of the flight. The M16 has two open cockpits which situate one pilot in front of the other. Each cockpit is equipped with dual controls. The pair will navigate the gyroplane at various altitudes taking advantage of favorable wind and weather conditions. Plans call for cruising altitudes from 500 to 12,500 feet above the ground. The aircraft is equipped with advanced navigation and radio transceivers. Satellite tracking will allow the mission support team and all interested parties to track the flight in real-time. The public can follow the satellite track at gyrotrips.com. Major airports visited during the flight will include Dallas Love Field, Santa Monica Municipal Airport and LaGuardia Airport. Dabbs states, “Aside from any record setting, we would like to display the capability of this small aircraft as a comfortable and economical touring vehicle for short and long distance travel.” The gyroplane uses about 5 gallons of premium auto fuel for every hour of flight. The gyroplane cruises at 100 mph. John Craparo stresses the safety and stability record of the aircraft. He also says, “It is fun and its simple controls make it easy to fly for a properly trained pilot.” John S. Craparo, 56 years of age from Georgetown, TX, is a retired senior vice president of HewlettPackard Company. He holds pilot privileges in airplane, seaplane, gyroplane, powered parachute, glider, and hot air balloon. He is also a certificated advanced ground instructor and aircraft repairman. Dayton A. Dabbs, 30 years of age from Taylor, TX, is the president of Lone Star Magni Gyro, Inc. The company trains gyroplane pilots and is a leading distributor for Magni Gyroplanes in the USA. He holds commercial pilot privileges in airplane and gyroplane. He is also a certificated flight instructor (CFI) and aircraft repairman. He is authorized to issue pilot certificates as a designated pilot examiner (DPE). A gyroplane is a category of aircraft utilizing non-motorized overhead rotor blades for lift with an engine driven propeller for forward thrust. The Magni M16 is an open cockpit two place carbon fiber and steel aircraft equipped with a 115 horse power Rotax 914 turbocharged aviation engine. The rotorblades measure 28 feet in diameter. The gyroplane, as configured for the record attempt, weighs 1,100 pounds. The aircraft can cruise at 100 mph at a maximum altitude of 14,000 feet. The precursor of the modern gyroplane was the Autogiro, invented in 1923 by Juan de la Cierva of Spain. The aircraft was hailed for its ability to make very short takeoffs and landings. In addition, it was extremely safe due its inability to suddenly lose aerodynamic lift which plagued fixed wing airplanes of the day. During the 1930’s the Autogiro was imported into the United States under license to aviation entrepreneurs like Harold Pitcairn and Wallace Kellett. Advanced models of the original design were developed in the States by these men. In May 1931, the experienced exhibition pilot Johnny Miller took off for the west coast in an attempt to be the first person to cross the country in an Autogiro. Amelia Earhart, who was better known than Miller and much better financed, also left the east coast trying to add that title to her list of aviation triumphs. When she reached California in her Pitcairn Autogiro, she was surprised and angered to learn that Miller beat her there by a week in the same make and model machine. During this period, Autogiros were regularly flown from the lawn of the White House and the US Capitol. In 1939, Miller and Eastern Airlines entered into a contract with the US Postal Service. Miller was contracted to fly the world’s shortest airmail route between the rooftop of the Philadelphia post office and the Camden, NJ airport. Miller flew over 3,000 successful flights between the downtown office building and the airport over the course of twelve months. The gyroplane used by Craparo and Dabbs carries the same registration number as the Kellett Autogiro flown by Miller, N15069. It is also dressed with a modernized Eastern Airlines logo from that era, a stylized eagle in a circle. The Autogiro was displaced by the helicopter during the Second World War due to the latter’s vertical takeoff and landing capability. In the early 1990’s Vittorio Magni, an Italian engineer, developed the prototype for the modern gyroplane flown by Craparo and Dabbs, the very versatile Magni M16. The M16 is now flown all over the world for recreation and commercial use including pipeline patrol, traffic reporting, agricultural spraying, ranching and police surveillance. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defines criteria for Experimental Amateur Built (EAB) aircraft and upon passing rigorous government inspection issues a special Certificate of Airworthiness. The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) is the nation’s oldest flying organization. It is the official sanctioning body for national and world record flights as a founding member of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the World Air Sports Federation (FAI). Attachments: Record Flight Schedule and Route High Resolution Photograph of N15069 Flight Logo Flight Map

Robert Dabbs 5th of October 2015 03:14:15 PM

Ira - email your images to rdabbs@gyrotrips.com and we'll pose them. Thanks for your post.

Ira - email your images to rdabbs@gyrotrips.com and we'll pose them. Thanks for your post.

Brook Benten 5th of October 2015 04:46:37 PM

You guys are in our prayers. Keep flying safe. Enjoy the adventure.

You guys are in our prayers. Keep flying safe. Enjoy the adventure.