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Gyroplane Flight Over Oahu’s North Shore

Jackson Groves

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Categories HAWAII, TOURS

Gyroplane Flight Over Oahu’s North Shore

Imagine soaring above the turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean, feeling the warm Hawaiian sun on your face and the wind rushing through your hair. From high above, you can see the lush green mountains and rugged coastline of Oahu’s North Shore, as well as some of the world-famous surf breaks like Pipeline and Sunset Beach. This is the exhilarating experience of gyroplane flight, a unique and thrilling way to explore the beauty of Hawaii’s third-largest island. In this article, I’ll share my experience of what it’s like to fly in a gyroplane and why it’s a must-try activity for adventure seekers visiting the North Shore of Oahu.

a man flying a plane over a lush green hillside.

BOOKING WITH SKYLAND AIR

I booked my Gyroplane flight with Skyland Air, owned and operated by Jay Eisenberg. The flight experience is actually an intro flying lesson where Jay teaches you a few of the basics of flying a gyroplane and you get to learn the fundamentals of the controls. You can head to the Skyland Air website for more information and booking options.

a man in a helmet is flying a yellow plane.

WHAT IS A GYROPLANE?

A gyroplane, also known as an autogyro, is a type of aircraft that looks similar to a helicopter but operates differently. Unlike a helicopter, a gyroplane’s rotor blades are not powered by an engine. Instead, they spin freely like a windmill as the aircraft moves forward, providing lift and stability. The engine powers a propeller, which propels the gyroplane forward. Gyroplanes can take off and land in short distances, making them ideal for recreational and sport flying. They are also known for their safety and stability, as they can glide to the ground in case of an engine failure. Gyroplanes come in various sizes and designs, from single-seat ultralights to larger models that can carry several passengers.

a small yellow plane parked on the side of the road.
a close up of a yellow and black propeller.

MY EXPERIENCE FLYING OVER THE NORTH SHORE

Flying over Oahu is always a magical experience with beautiful surf, jagged mountain ridges, and lush forests. I’ve experienced many helicopter flights over Oahu, many of which were ‘doors-off’ experiences. However, flying in a gyroplane over the North Shore of Oahu was the most immersive flight of them all.

an aerial view of a highway in the country.

The flights take off from the Dillingham Airfield, which is a fair drive from Waikiki. Here, I met up with Jay Eisenberg who runs the show. He is the owner of Skyland Air but also the pilot and mechanic. Jay is a flight instructor certified by the FAA with more than 20 years of experience in the field. He has worked as a professional skydiving instructor, completing approximately 4500 jumps. Jay also holds an FAA Repairman Certificate and is qualified as a Certified Rotax Mechanic and Autogyro Builder.

a man sitting in a small yellow airplane.

A gyroplane takes off by accelerating down a runway until the rotor blades generate lift. Unlike a helicopter, the rotor blades of a gyroplane spin freely and are not powered by the engine. Once airborne, the engine powers a propeller to propel the gyroplane forward. It was a pretty smooth take off and within seconds, we were high above Dillingham Airfield and already catching great views of the coastline.

an aerial view of a beach and the ocean.
an aerial view of a beach and a road.

The plan was to cruise along the coastline all the way down to Waimea Bay. We set off around 5 pm, which meant we had beautiful, soft lighting at the end of the day and would ease in towards golden hour to finish the flight. The weather gods smiled upon us with some perfect weather for the flight.

a man in a yellow jet flying over the ocean.

Our first major point of interest was the Waianae Mountain Range. Often there is solid cloud cover over these beautiful, rippled ridges but on this day they were relatively clear. A few clouds hung around Mount Ka’ala but otherwise, the views were perfect.

an aerial view of a beach and a tropical island.
a man flying a yellow plane over the ocean.
an aerial view of a beach and ocean with mountains in the background.

The journey continued down the North Coast as we flew over Haleiwa and the popular main strip of the North Shore. On the gyroplane, a small shield helps you hide from the wind but with just a light jacket on the temperature is not too cold. However, you are in an open plane with no roof and no sides to the gyroplane so you definitely feel exposed to the elements.

a view from inside of a plane looking down at the ground.
a yellow airplane flying over the ocean next to a beach.
a person is flying a plane over the ocean.

From the gyroplane, the reef is poignant and the cerulean blues of the Pacific Ocean are as vibrant as you will ever see. It was amazing to see the different reef structures, channels and some of the surf breaks from the air.

an aerial view of a beach and a body of water.
a yellow airplane flying over a lush green hillside.
an aerial view of a lush green field next to the ocean.
an aerial view of a beach and ocean.
a man flying a plane over a lush green hillside.
an aerial view of a beach and ocean.

The turn-around point for this flight was Waimea Bay. It isn’t a huge distance to cover from Dillingham Airfield to Waimea Bay so we were able to cruise at a slow speed and take in the sights. That is probably one key difference to the circle-island helicopter flights that zip around the whole of Oahu in about an hour. This flight was definitely a slower-paced, North Shore flight.

an aerial view of a beach and a wind farm.
an aerial view of a beach and ocean.
an aerial view of a lush green hillside next to the ocean.

We zipped around and began heading back toward the airfield. We now had the sun shining onto us from the right side and the perfect lighting made it a beautiful time for photos.

a man flying a yellow airplane over the ocean.
a man flying a plane over a lush green hillside.
a person in a yellow plane flying over a body of water.
an aerial view of a beach and a body of water.
a man in a yellow jet flying over the ocean.

The final part of the tour was a little cruise alongside the lush mountain range near the airfield. We had the sun beaming onto us from directly in front and the green mountains glowing in golden light. These were absolutely dreamy scenes on Oahu’s North Shore.

a man in a helmet is flying a yellow plane.
an aerial view of a lush green mountain range.
a man flying a small plane over a lush green hillside.
a man flying a small plane over a lush green hillside.

To land a gyroplane, the pilot reduces the engine power, causing the aircraft to descend gradually. As the gyroplane approaches the landing zone, the pilot flares the rotor blades, increasing their angle of attack to slow down the forward motion. The gyroplane then touches down on its main landing gear, and the rotor blades continue to spin freely until the aircraft comes to a complete stop. It’s a pretty bizarre feeling to switch off the engine and glide down, it actually feels a lot like a parachute landing. The bump down back to the landing strip was pretty smooth and quite slow. It’s not like landing a plane at speed whatsoever.

That wrapped up our flight and we took a few nice photos of the gyroplane as the sunset.

a man sitting in a small yellow airplane.
a small yellow plane is parked on the tarmac.
a close up of a yellow and black propeller.
a small yellow plane parked on the side of the road.
a close up of the engine of a yellow airplane.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HELICOPTER AND A GYROPLANE?

Although they may look similar, helicopters and gyroplanes operate quite differently. The biggest difference is the way their rotors generate lift. In a helicopter, the rotor blades are powered by an engine, allowing the helicopter to hover and fly vertically. In contrast, a gyroplane’s rotor blades are not powered by the engine but are instead free-spinning like a windmill. As the gyroplane moves forward, the blades generate lift, which allows the aircraft to take off and stay in the air.

a man in a yellow jet flying over the ocean.

Another significant difference is that a helicopter can fly vertically and hover, while a gyroplane cannot. However, gyroplanes have several advantages over helicopters. They are simpler, lighter, and cheaper to build and maintain. Additionally, they have a shorter takeoff and landing distance, making them ideal for recreational and sport-flying. Gyroplanes are also considered safer and more stable, as they can glide to the ground in case of an engine failure, while helicopters must perform an emergency landing or autorotation.

a man sitting in a small yellow airplane.

BEST RENTAL CAR COMPANY IN HAWAII

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When you book your Hawaii Rental Car online, I personally recommend and always use Discover Cars. They search for both local and international companies, so you get the best deal!

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THE FOUR MOST POPULAR OAHU TOURS

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY ON OAHU

a couple of people sitting in a swimming pool.
a view of a beach with palm trees and a swimming pool.
  • Ultimate Luxury: Lotus Honolulu – Diamond Head View, Great Waikiki Location
  • My Favorite: Aston Waikiki Beach – Best value in Waikiki & Great location
  • Value Hotel Waikiki: Surfjack Hotel is easily the best value (luxury) hotel in Waikiki

WHERE TO STAY ON OAHU

  • Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort (Overall Favorite): In the heart of Waikiki, this high-end resort is right on the beach with a private lagoon.
  • Sheraton Waikiki (Luxury): A luxury resort with the most amazing infinity pool on the island, which overlooks the beach.
  • Ewa Hotel Waikiki: (Value): Ewa Hotel is just one block back from the beach and is just over $150 USD.
  • Waikiki Beachside Hostel (Budget Choice): A budget alternative, which is still in an amazing location.
  • Disney Aulani Resort (Family Choice): This is a resort your kids will never forget. It honestly feels like you are living in a theme park.

MORE OAHU BLOG POSTS

I lived on Oahu for two years and loved adventuring from the beaches to the mountains to the waterfalls! These are my most popular blog post and guides from the beautiful island of Oahu to help you plan your trip!