Show your support for Norman and the GyroxGoesGlobal Circumnavigation flight.

Norman is still holding out hope for continued support from the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) and Ministry of Transport (MOT) as the Chinese have now refused him flying permission for one of the two viable routes out of the Philippines. After months of work, persuasion and meetings the Chinese Civil Aviation Authority have refused our intrepid global gyrocopter pilot permission to fly across their country. Norman has also been working hard with the Japanese authorities to try and work out a safe route across their country. This is a particular challenge as such a flight in such an unusual aircraft has never taken place before and therefore needs special permission from the Japanese Authorities.



We are now calling for help from all the loyal supporters out there to help bring this phase of the journey to a satisfactory conclusion for all. Please contact the Japanese authorities / embassy where you are and ask them to continue to support Norman's world record flight by giving him clearance to fly across their great country."

Add your voice to the our global appeal to urge the Japanese aviation authorities to continue their ongoing support alongside the other 23 countries who make up the circumnavigation route. By acting together, they will allow this official FAI World Record attempt by Autogyro to embark on the second half of its circumnavigation journey.

A special exemption to fly for a short period of days through Japanese airspace will allow the flight to continue and to enable the onward route to be flown during the very brief “Arctic Summer” weather window. The onward route would then cross the Far East of Russia, the Bering Sea, North America and finally the North Atlantic to the FAI finish line back in Northern Ireland.

How to assist - if you can (and in your own words), contact your countries Japanese Embassy Press Office and/or Ambassadors Office, to express your support for the flight and highlight its varied objectives /goals (click here for a list of all Japanese embassies and consulates). This Global flight needs global international cooperation between all the participating countries to succeed and now, with the flight in its greatest “hour of need” we are appealing for your active, global support to help achieve it….perhaps even pass on this link...http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000769639636   to your friends who might then also lend their voice to this “Get Gyrox Going appeal!”  We appreciate very much your loyal ongoing interest in this very unique real life (and thanks to satellite tracker, online) 21st century adventure.

Now, let’s all try to get that little yellow aircraft, that’s been waiting so patiently en route in the Philippines, back on course and to get the first Autogyro, after 88 years of waiting, to finally, successfully, gloriously achieve a maiden flight around the world.

Many thanks from Norman and all the GYROX Team.

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Worldwide Japanese Embassies: Email them through the 'contact us' pages.

Deluge Delays Departure

Test flying and any hope of Norman flying up to Laoag has been halted this weekend at Woodland Airpark because of Tropical Depression Falcon. This has been a devastating tropical storm and has caused the displacement of 300,000 people in the Philippines.

Norman has managed to send us back some photos of the devastation caused by ‘Falcon’ and as you can see, the only flying possible would have been if ‘Roxy’ came equipped with floats!

The deep end of Woodland's runway...2-3 foot of water!

Luckily, ‘Roxy’ and all the other aircraft at Woodland’s are under cover and Norman is safe and dry too.

The view from the dry, or should I say, less wet clubhouse.

As of Saturday night the rain hadn’t abated but the weather report for the area on Sunday morning shows signs of the storm moving away.

Runway 08! Note the Fuel shed under water!

How long it will take for the airfield to dry out is anyone’s guess but obviously Norman will make sure the ground is safe before taking to the skies again.

It is so wet that the local frogs have come into the clubhouse to get dry!

We will keep you updated as and when we receive further details.

The Gyrox Team


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Follow the adventure on Facebook and click 'Like'
For more information check out our website
Consider Donating to Norman's Chosen Charity: Bowel Cancer UK
Norman now has a chosen North American charity to donate to also: Livestrong
Follow us on Twitter
Follow Norman and 'Roxy' live online via the 'Spot' tracker
Consider joining the Authorised Facebook Fan Page
Relive the adventure so far on the Timeline website

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Looking Good in Luzon!

Preparations for the resumption of the circumnavigation attempt continue apace in the Philippines and we can now give you an update on Norman’s activities over the last couple of weeks.

The second half of the journey will be quite different than the first half, with long open ocean crossings and travel through colder and wetter northern latitudes, which has meant a couple of updates to the gyro, mainly in the form of replacement fuel LED sensors for the unique Turtle-Pac 'in flight' refueling system. Plus the addition of 6 combinations of temporarily attached Camera positions which give tremendous alternative viewpoints around the Gyro, both looking forward and backwards!

Also taking place was a weigh-in exercise where the all-up empty weight of the aircraft (no fuel), pilot (no dinner) and hand luggage were weighed so as to be able to fine tune how much weight of fuel/passenger will be allowed to bring the aircraft up to its maximum take off weight (MTOW) of 500kg.


Norman, with the help of a local tree, weighs all his kit.



But just how do you weigh an autogyro? Not the easiest thing to do but Norman and the guys at Woodland’s came up trumps with a mobile weighing platform and some careful balancing!

So that's how you weigh an autogyro!



Norman has also been continuing with his flight tests in the local area which has included trying out new camera positions. As can be seen from the following images, these give a greatly improved view of the whole Gyrox adventure. Different camera positions are still being tried but we can rest assured that once the journey begins again we are in for some really dramatic images from Norman’s flight.

New camera view of Norman's take-off from Woodland's runway with local volcano, Mt Arayat in the distance.

Dramatic view of Norman as he flies Roxy down the local river.

Norman flies parallel to Woodland's grass runway as an ultralight lands on.

Great view from the new pylon mounted camera as Norman lines up for final approach to runway 08 at Woodland Air Park.

Of course, it’s not all been hard work down in the Philippines. Even Norman gets a day off at times and this allowed him to partake in one of his other favourite pastimes…Scuba Diving!

Vasco's Hotel and Diving Centre.

He and Jay were able to visit Vasco’s Diving Centre and Resort at Olongapo City, on the eastern coast of Subic Bay, about 35 miles south west of Woodland Air Park. The owner of Vasco’s was very nice and even lent Norman some of his dive-school scuba gear, free of charge, so he could dive along with Jay (who had his own gear).

Norman and JC at Subic Bay.

Subic Bay was a major US naval base during World War 2 and after and was the scene of major battles during the war. This has left many wrecks for the accomplished diver to explore. There are even aircraft strewn across the sea bed!


Vasco’s had a lot more than just diving for Norman to enjoy on his days off, including a fine restaurant and bar, a dive shop, accommodation and even a dive museum. Although exchanging his flying helmet for the deep sea diving helmet may have taken the all up weight of the Gyro slightly over the limit!

Norman modelling the latest in Gyro pilot's headgear? Not really, just an old deep sea diving helmet at Vasco's restaurant!

Woodland Air Park is closed every Wednesday and this has given Norman time to take the short journey down to Subic Bay to enjoy these watery distractions, returning refreshed to continue with the preparations for the upcoming flight. He is very closely watching the weather reports as Tropical Storm Egay makes its way across the northern parts of the Philippines. Hopefully this will die out before long and clear skies will see Norman on his way again very soon.

Tropical Storm Egay and it's expected track across the region.

The Gyrox Team

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Follow Norman on our new Facebook Page: Remember to click 'Like'
For More Information go to our Website
Consider Donating to Norman's Chosen UK Charity: Bowel Cancer UK
Or Maybe Consider Donating To Norman's Chosen North American Charity: LiveStrong
Follow us on Twitter
Follow the flight live via the 'Spot' tracker
Consider joining the Authorised Facebook Fan Page
Relive the flight so far on the Timeline Website

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