Home of "Gyrocho"
I first soloed the N.O.V.A. Cop-Ter on April 18, 2016. Then, on June 6, 2016, I received my Sport Pilot License. I have put several video's of me flying the N.O.V.A. Cop-Ter on YouTube. To view these video's of me flying the N.O.V.A. Cop-Ter, click on the buttons below. Enjoy!
In January, of 2014, I bought a used Air Command Gyroplane. I took it completely apart and rebuilt it with many, many upgrades. I named my Gyroplane the “N.O.V.A. Cop-Ter", because my business is N.O.V.A., and I'm a Cop. The picture below on the left is of the used Air Command Gyroplane when I first bought it. The picture on the right was taken 2 years later after I re-built it.
Visit the "Rebuild" link to see all that was done.
Now Flying a Sportcopter Vortex Gyro
On December 5, 2016, the engine on the N.O.V.A. Cop-Ter seized and is now no longer operational. I have been weighing my options, and have decided to acquire/build a 2 seat Gyro rather than to get a new engine. This new adventure has already begun, and I'm in the research and planning stage at the moment. If all goes according to plan, I will start my new 2 seat Gyro build, by the end of this year, and hope to have it flying by summer of 2018. See the Tandem N.O.V.A. Cop-Ter II link at the top of this page to learn more.
In the interim, as I don't want to wait a year until I can fly, I have fixed up a once, non-flying Sportcopter Gyro, and have started flying again! Here are the videos of flying the Sportcopter Gyro. Enjoy!
This is me on April 7, 2016, after soloing for the first time in this Autogyro MTO Sport.
The N.O.V.A. Cop-Ter
Sgt. Charlie Wakamatsu
I started my law enforcement career in 1984, with the Honolulu Police Department in Hawaii. In Hawaii, I was a patrol officer in the downtown Waikiki area, as well as in the Intelligence and Enforcement Unit investigating organized crime. In 1988, I moved to Orem, Utah, to work for the Orem Police Department. In Orem, I was assigned to patrol, the gang task force, and the Community Education Unit teaching citizens about safety, drugs, gangs, bullying, and media awareness. I was crossed trained as a fire fighter, and became an Arrest Control Tactics Instructor.
In 2003, I was assigned by the Police Chief to create a new drug awareness program. With the help of Dr. Paul Jenkins, a child and family Psychologist, and several officers, the “N.O.V.A. Principles” program was created. You can learn more about the N.O.V.A. Principles program by going to www.novaprinciples.com.
In 2013, I stumbled across a Gyroplane video on YouTube. My first reaction was, “What in the world is a Gryoplane? After watching a ton of Gryoplane videos, I wanted to see one up close and fly in one. I learned that in my home State of Utah, Airgyro Aviation out of Spanish Fork Airport, had one and that they do introductory flights. I flew in an Autogyro Calidus (picture of the red Gyroplane below) with CFI Mike Burton and the rest is history.