(updated 4/2/02)

CarterCopters has attracted a top notch crew test pilots. Currently, flight testing is being conducted by our team of autogyro pilots, who have developed a superb intuitive feel for flight characteristics from decades of flight experience in a wide variety of different types of autogyro aircraft.

Larry Neal

Mr. Neal began flying autogyros in 1973. He is rated in gyroplanes, single engine land and multi-engine land aircraft. Larry is the owner of Team Falcon, which purchased the manufacturing rights to the Falcon 2000 canard airplane in 1995, and the owner of New Horizons Components (founded 1994), which manufactures planetary speed reduction units (PSRUs) for Subaru and Mazda engines and numerous composite parts for gyroplanes. He also developed and manufactures the GRS (gyro recovery system) ballistic parachutes for autogyros and designed the centerline thrust modification now used on all new Air Command International autogyros. Larry is president of the Texas Rotorcraft Association (PRA chapter 78) and a board member of the International Popular Rotorcraft Association (PRA). He is a Basic Flight Instructor (BFI) and gives both ultralight and gyroplane instruction at the Bridgeport, Texas airport. When not having fun with aircraft, Larry builds custom homes in the Boyd, Texas area through his company, Christian Home Builders (founded 1990).

Brad King

Mr. King retired from General Motors in August 2001 after a 30-year career building such notable cars as the Oldsmobile 442, Monte Carlo SS, Chevelle SS454, Impala SS, and Buick Roadmaster. A 1975 graduate of the General Motors Institute, he used his degree in Industrial Administration in various roles, including test-driving the first cars off the production line. He has been involved with autogyros since 1995 and owns and flies a Mad Max II LTC Tandem. Brad has a Private Pilot Rotorcraft Gyroplane license with over 200 hours in this class and is VP of the Chapter 78 Texas Rotorcraft Association.

Captain Russell W. Nance

Mr. Nance has 19 years of aviation experience. He is a Distinguished Honor Graduate of Military Rotory Wing Flight school, has an extensive background in developing and implementing flight training and evaluation programs and is a U.S. Army AH-64 Standardization Instructor Pilot and Instrument Flight Examiner. He has extensive gyroplane experience, including over 900 flight hours and initial test flights on over 20 experimental gyroplanes, as well as a Rotorcraft Gyroplane Commercial and CFI certificate. His gyroplane flight experience includes AirCommand, Twinstar, Air and Space 18A, Dominator, Falcon, Bensen, Eagle, MadMax, Vancraft, RAF, Marchetti, Brock, Parsons, and several one of a kind gyroplanes. His experience base includes flight experience in fixed wing, helicopters, and gyroplanes as well as a background in training/standardization and test flight procedures.

Colonel Richard A. Kraemer

Mr. Kraemer holds degrees in Aeronautical Technology, Aeronautics, and Astronautics Engineering from MIT and has ten years of experience teaching these subjects. He has over 6,000 hours and 33 years of civilian and military airplane pilot and flight instructor experience in dozens of general aviation airplanes, military transports and supersonic fighter jets. He was commander of the 301st Air Force Reserve Combat Rescue helicopter squadron flying Sikorski HH-60G multiengine turbine powered helicopters. He has extensive pilot and flight instructor experience in the full spectrum of general aviation reciprocating and turbine powered helicopters and large military transport and combat rotorcraft. He is currently employed by the FAA as a general aviation operations safety inspector performing 1) certification and proficiency flight checks to private and air carrier pilots in airplanes and helicopters 2) air carrier operations and training program certification and surveillance, and 3) accident/incident investigations. He is an ATP and instructor rated in single, multi-engine and instrument airplanes, helicopters and instrument helicopters.

Dick Degraw

Mr. Degraw is a self-taught machinist, welder, designer, builder, and test pilot. He designed, built, and test flew a twin rotor helicopter (synchropter style) that won Outstanding New Design and the Charles Lindbergh Grand Champion award at EAA Oshkosh. He designed, built, and test flew 3 gyroplanes, one of which is the Gyrhino that won the $20,000 prize at the Popular Rotorcraft Assn. Performance Award Contest, plus Outstanding Workmanship Award at Oshkosh. It now has over 700 jump takeoffs. He has built six aircraft, four of which were original designs, and is starting a fifth.

George D. Mitchell

Mr. Mitchell has 3,000 hours in helicopters, single and multi engine, reciprocating and turbine, 500 hours in fixed wing, single and multi engine reciprocating, and 80 hours in single engine gyros. He holds ratings for single and multi engine land, instrument, and helicopters, and has held CFI fixed wing and helicopter licenses since 1988. He currently owns and flies a Brock KB2 Gyro. In addition to his aviation experience, he has extensive expertise in electronic circuit design and fabrication, hydraulics and mechanical design and fabrication, computer systems analysis and programming.

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