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A brief history of the Side by Side Elite....

Once upon a time, Air Command the worlds largest gyroplane kit manufacturer produced and sold gyroplane kits for a side-by-side gyroplane. These machines were often used as trainers. An example is pictured here:

Helicopter Ed's Side by Side

As time and technology marched on Center Line Thrust (CLT) design in gyroplanes became popular because of it's increased safety and efficiency.

After updating there most popular gyro kits (single place and 2-place tandem) Air Command decided to create a CLT version of the Side by Side.

The prototype kit design was assigned to Mike Soleno. He designed and created the first prototype which he is seen on here:

This prototype was sold to a non-gyro pilot from the Central American country Honduras.

The buyer it turns out was less then scrupulous and thus souring his relationship with his trainer did not complete his training.

Later he damaged the prototype machine and sold it (after covering up the damage) to me.

I parted out the gyro keeping just the frame pieces and a few other parts.

Then I contacted Air Command's Doug Smith who then graciously sold me the SxS kit less the parts I salvaged from the prototype. With Air Command help I completed the fist CLT SxS Elite gyroplane.

At the PRA International Convention at Mentone 2004 she won Grand Reserve Champion Gyroplane!

Receiving the Reserve Grand Champion Award, Mentone 2004

Flying the SxS at Mentone

Removing the blades for transport to Mentone 04.

The second SxS Elite to be completed and fly is owned and built by Chris Spadafora. His was the first to be completed as an upgrade kit from a single place Air Command gyroplane.

Chris's Side by Side Elite built from single place conversion.

"Rotors... The only way to fly"

Copyright © 2003 PRA Chapter 34 Indiana
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