December 14 2005
A flying instructor and learner pilot escaped injury after the Robinson R22 helicopter they were in struck the ground during a training exercise at Trinity Inlet near Cairns
 
It appears the exercise was to do with emergency procedures which turned into a "real-life" situation

 
The Robbo sustained extensive damage to the airframe and rotating components
 
Earlier in the week a helicopter pilot was injured in a crash while spraying crops at Miriwinni near Innisfail south of Cairns in FNQ

December 12 2005
Experienced gyro pilot 34 year-old Darryl Percival of Charleville lost his live after his machine struck a power line while mustering goats on a property 180km north-west of Charleville
 
The pilot had extensive experience in gyrocopters logging more than 6000 hours flying time

 
The self-built and pilot maintained machines are a low cost alternative for mustering normally carried out by the more expensive helicopter variant

Previous news articles on Gyrocopters back in 2004 HERE and 2002 HERE