Autogyro - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cmac2012 · #1 11-24-2009, 02:09 AM

What's up with gyrocopters/autogyros? I saw part of a History Channel piece on the tech of James Bond and they had some footage of the guy who invented it. Flying about, taking off, landing, maneuvering. Looks sorta cool and I have to wonder if there's something I don't know about them. Something that would make me conclude that no way in hell would I want anything to do with one.

I recall reading that they were very safe, that they'd coast easily to a landing in the event of an engine failure.

Oh well, as soon as I pay off the 3rd vacation home maybe I'll look into one.

http://www.americanautogyro.com/

KarTek · #2 11-24-2009, 05:02 AM

Gyro's are a blast! Check out the PRA website for more info on them. You might be able to find a local event to attend to get a closer look. I went to the national meet in Indiana back in 2000 and it's amazing to see the guys zipping around.

www.pra.org

stimpy451 · #3 11-24-2009, 09:57 AM

KarTek · #4 11-24-2009, 11:46 AM

Nice, the gyro captain...

Hatterasguy · #5 11-24-2009, 01:28 PM

I couldn't help but chuckle thats what they called the Seahawk in Zipang. "look at the fast gyro"

Stretch · #6 11-24-2009, 01:45 PM

Because the rotor above isn't powered you don't need to have a reactive force in the form of a tail rotor or a contra-rotating blade (or even a jet) stopping the structure below from spinning the opposite way like you do on a helicopter. If propulsion dies on a helicopter they can still be controlled enough to enable a landing that doesn't kill everyone but they tend to go down in a large circular motion (I'm not a pilot but I think you need to drop the collective and push down hard on your left pedal and not pull / push too hard on the cyclic - assuming the main rotor rotates in a clockwise direction if you were looking down on it from above!)

Anyway as a gyrocopter only needs forward thrust if that dies the main rotor apparently allows just as much / similar control as a fixed wing aircraft. I don't think it would glide like a glider but it wouldn't go straight into brick mode like a modern jet fighter...

...so my understanding is that they are in principle sort of safer than a helicopter.

Fulcrum525 · #7 11-24-2009, 02:46 PM

I think its called a flared landing or something like that....

Autogyro...too many moving parts....

KarTek · #8 11-24-2009, 03:26 PM

Actually, the gyro has very few moving parts compared to a helicopter.

Now, if you're talking about something like a Carter Copter or the "Gy-rhino" that have essentially a helicopter rotor head that spins freely in flight, then there are close to the same number.

cmac2012 · #9 11-25-2009, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

I think its called a flared landing or something like that....

Autogyro...too many moving parts....

I was wondering that too. In the James Bond tech video the rotor looked semi complicated. I understand that helicopters need major maintenance and maybe a gyro needs a good deal also.

It just suddenly struck me that I hardly ever hear about them compared to similar light-weight aircraft.

The gyro kit in the OP link comes with a 165 hp Subaru engine. Seems like a lot of power for such a small craft. Might be fast.

**EDIT** Ah, I see on their site that it has a max speed of 100 and a cruise of 75. Oh well, speed is not the reason for having one of these. Max. altitude of 10,000 feet. Oh man, that's a long ways up in something you built in your garage.

compress ignite · #10 11-25-2009, 02:16 AM

Is properly termed Auto-rotation [+ it can be a rather abrupt "Stabilization"]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JqmoWAhv5g
(The above is Classic of the Genre)
[I don't know who the pilot of the S 92 is...But he knows his S**t]

This one don't end so nicely:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OmoahmtKss&feature=related

CMAC 2012,
Is this what's caught your fancy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QRZb-fZMd8&feature=fvw

The Young Lady in the picture(s) was a big fan of the Autogyro.
http://www.lincoln-highway-museum.org/Earhart/Earhart-Index.html

mytmousemalibu · #11 11-25-2009, 02:20 AM

In r/c aircraft and heli's, and the real deal, an unpowered decent is called an Auto-rotation. We do it alot in r/c heli's as fun or just flying it out of fuel. The biggest deal it to assist in keeping the stored energy going as much as possible. As mentioned, keep some collective/cyclic in it as you decend and the forward or backward motion and bleeding off altitude in a controlled manor keeps the head speed up till the last seconds where you add in more collective to slow/stop decent, and touchdown!

The Autogyro flys in the same auto-rotation principal, using the blades as a rotary wing VS. fixed. If you noticed in autogyro pics the incidence of the blade track, the forward motion puts alot of energy into the blades, thus plenty of lift! One cool thing is they can build an autogyro in about the most stripped down powered airframe possible! You, a seat, motor, frame and some blades and you have an awsome ride! I'd love to fly one if i get the chance! They have r/c A-G's and thats prolly as close as id get!