Don and I were fortunate to be able to travel down to Bensen Days in Wauchula, Florida on April 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th. If you have never attended a Bensen Days get-together, you owe it to yourself to attend. Compared to the July Convention of the PRA, Bensen Days has a very relaxed feel. It is definitely a different experience and the members of the Sunstate Rotor Club (PRA Chapter 26) are to be commended for the effort they put out. What follows are a few photographic memories of a fine weekend.

I don't usually take photos of little gyro "spots" up in the sky, but this fly-by was special. Three Mac-equipped and one Continental Bensen/Brock gyros were flying a "Missing Man" formation in honor of Dr. Bensen. The sustained roar of three Mac engines served as a reminder that it wasn't so long ago that that was the only engine sound you would hear at a Convention or fly-in.

Ken Brock, a long time friend and associate of Dr. Bensen, performs in the daily airshow at Oshkosh each year. Ken participated in the Missing Man formation and, as the other three machines landed, he climbed to perhaps a thousand feet, shut off his engine, and silently spiraled to a perfect power-off landing at the junction of the runway and taxi-way. Here he is pushing his gyro off the taxi-way.

Ken and Marie Brock are two of the finest folks in the sport and it was a pleasure to see them again this year!
 

The PAM Flying Platform was on static display. It is a lot more complex than it looks at first-glance!

Mike Solano flew this Air Command tandem all week. Note the tall-tail and the structural modifications to lower the engine thrust-line.

If you wanted to sample the joys of gyro flying, it was easy to get the opportunity. Here's Ernie Boyette, about to take up another "wannabe" in his two-seat Dominator.

Dave Holmes says his "Redneck Digipod" is the only instrument panel approved by the Postmaster General. While a mailbox might not make an elegant instrument enclosure, it does work!
 

Greg and Steph Gremminger and now the U.S. distributors for the Magni line of gyroplanes. These are very well-engineered machines!

Things were getting pretty slow at Wauchula by Sunday morning, but the afternoon was livened up by a barbecue and cookout sponsored by Rotor Flight Dynamics at Ernie Boyette's place up in Lithia during the afternoon. Ernie, Connie, and all their friends put out a major effort to host one and all and eraned everyone's appreciation!

Dr. Bill Clem flew his world record (altitude) turbo-powered Dominator in from Colorado. A pair of large extyernal fuel tanks provide up to eight hours flight duration! Much of the trip was flown above 10,000 feet and he planned to get back home the same way!