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Please note, this is an introductory guide.
For latest information see the PRA Rotorcraft
Directory ( www.pra.org )
If you are researching or planning on
buying a gyroplane
or gyroplane Kit
IMPORTANT
Click
Here
This page has two sections:
Part 1 Rotorcraft Directory, A listing
of current gyroplanes, kits and plans
Part 2 Rotorcraft Bestiary, A spotters
guide to future, present and past gyroplanes.
Part 1
Rotorcraft Directory
Popular Brands and Models
(Currently Producing Gyros or Developing Plans)
| Manufacturer |
|
Model |
Seats |
Class |
Assembly |
Price |
Comments |
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Air Command
www.aircommand.com
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Commander 447 |
1 |
Ultralight |
Kit |
Out of production |
Popular, one of the first ultralight gyros.
Needs upgrades to be safe. Can be cheaply converted to CLT |
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Commander |
1 |
Experimental |
Kit |
Out of production |
Needs upgrades to be safe. Can be cheaply
converted to CLT |
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Elite 447 |
1 |
Ultralight |
Kit |
Kit without engine: $7935
447 (40 hp) legal ultralight: $9875 |
Center Line Thrust |
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Elite (various) |
1 |
Experimental |
Kit |
503 (52 hp): $11,255
582 (67 hp): $12,675
2704: $12,996
2706: $14,995 |
Center Line Thrust, Popular |
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Trainer Elite |
2, Tandem |
Experimental or Ultralight Trainer |
Kit or assembled airframe |
---------------------- Tandem weight without engine: $12,570
Tandem heavy weight without engine: $14,235
F-30 Tandem, basic kit: $19,975
F-30 Tandem, all options: $24,975
Mazda Tandem, basic kit: $22,975
Mazda Tandem, all options: $28,450
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Popular Trainer, CLT |
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Elite Side by Side |
2,
Side by Side,
Part Enclosed
open. |
Experimental |
Kit or assembled airframe |
Side-By-Side F-30: $19,292
Side-By-Side without engine: $11,580 |
Newest Model. Redesigned version of original side
by side. Center Line Thrust
Single Place Elite can be upgraded to this machine.
Commander SxS can be upgraded to this machine. |
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Commander Side by Side |
2,
Side by Side,
Part Enclosed or open. |
Experimental |
Kit |
Out of Production |
Needs upgrades to be safe. Can be cheaply
converted to CLT |
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Commander 2-Place |
2, Tandem |
Experimental |
Kit |
Out of Production |
Needs upgrades to be safe. Can be converted to
CLT |
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147 |
2,
Side by Side, Enclosed |
Experimental |
Kit/ assembled |
Out of Production |
Advanced in closed 2-place. Only a few produced.
rare. |
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Sportster |
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Sportster |
2 |
Experimental |
Plans |
Plans $500ish |
1974 vintage |
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Bumble Bee
www.aircraftdesigns.com
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Bumble bee |
1 |
Ultralight |
Plans, pre-fab parts |
Plans |
1983 vintage |
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Barnett Rotorcraft |
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J4B |
1, Enclosed, or Part Enclosed |
Experimental |
Plans, Kit |
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J4B2 / 3 |
2, Enclosed |
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Plans, Kit |
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BRC540 |
2, Coupe |
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Plans, Kit |
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| JAY
SOUZA GYROPLANES
http://members.aol.com/jsgyro/jsgyros.htm
|
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Bandit Ultralight |
1 |
ultralight |
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Purchasing Guidelines |
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Purchasing
Guidelines |
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2-Place
Bandit |
2 Side by Side |
Experimental |
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Purchasing Guidelines |
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Super Bandit |
1 |
Experimental |
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Purchasing Guidelines |
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| Ken
Brock Gyroplanes
www.kenbrockmfg.com/ gyros.htm |
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KB-2 |
1 |
Experimental |
Plans, Sub assy |
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KB-3 |
1 |
ultralight or experimental |
Plans, Sub assy |
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Little Wing Autogyros
www.littlewingautogyro.com |
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LW-3 |
1 |
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LW-2 |
1 |
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LW-4 |
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LW-5 |
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| Magni
Autogyros
http://www.magnigyro.com/USA/usa.htm
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M16 Trainer |
2, Tandem |
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Literally the Ferrari of gyroplanes. Italian built, high-end,
High-performance and prestigious. |
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VPM-2 |
2 Side by Side |
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Out of Production? |
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M13 |
1 |
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Out of Production? |
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M14 Scout |
1,2 |
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M18 Spartan |
1 |
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PitBull
www.classics.nu/pitbull |
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1 |
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Gyrobee
http://taggart.glg.msu.edu/gyro/gbee.htm
www.usaerotec.com
Pre-made parts can be found here:
http://www.starbeegyros.com/
http://www.iserv.net/~strdream/aluminum.html |
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Gyrobee |
1 |
Ultralight |
Plans |
Free |
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ROTOR FLIGHT DYNAMICS
(813) 634-3370 |
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Dominator |
1 |
Experimental |
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Dominator Tandem |
1 |
Experimental |
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Sport Copter, Inc. |
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Vortex |
1 |
Experimental |
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Sno Bird (219)
477-5332 |
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Charger |
2 |
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1 |
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Groen
Brothers Aviation
www.gbagyros.com
|
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Sparrow Hawk |
2 Side by Side |
Experimental ( production sport pilot ) |
Kit |
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RAF - Sparrow Hawk |
2 Side by Side |
Upgrade Kit (Requires RAF) |
Upgrade Kit |
|
Provides CLT and many other features for the RAF gyroplane |
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RAF
http://www.raf2000.com/
|
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GTX-2000 |
2 Side by Side |
Experimental |
Kit |
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WARNING This gyro is UNSAFE unless equipped with a Horizontal Stabilizer. |
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The Butterfly, L. L. C |
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Butterfly |
1 |
Ultralight |
Kit |
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http://www.thebutterfly.info/ |
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Monarch |
1 |
Ultralight |
Kit |
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The Monarch as a truly revolutionary landing system that can withstand
landings that would crush other craft. |
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Gyro-Kopp-Ters
www.gyro-kopp-ters.com
|
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Midnight Hawk |
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Montgomerie
Gyrocopters www.gyrocopters.co.uk |
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Merlin |
1 |
Experimental |
Kit |
Center Line Thrust |
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Australian
Autogyro
Co 011-61-29449-9816 |
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Skyhook |
1 |
Experimental |
Kit or Assembled |
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Chayair
www.chayair.com |
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Sycamore MK2000 |
2 |
Experimental |
Production (South Africa)
LSI Amateur-class
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TERVAMAKI
http://www.icon.fi/~jtki/gyroplan.html
|
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JT-5 |
1 |
Experimental |
Plans |
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Original Designer of the Magni Gyroplane. Has designed more but has not
published plans for all. Worth checking out this guys site just for the
research. |
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FAA Certified Production Gyroplanes (Modern)
| Manufacturer |
|
Model |
Seats |
Class |
Assembly |
Price |
Comments |
|
| Groen Brothers Aviation www.gbagyros.com
|
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Hawk 4 GT |
4 |
FAA Certifed |
Assembled |
$749,000 |
Used for Security for Olympic games, Low - cost / High safety
helicopter alternative |
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Sparrow Hawk |
2 Side by Side |
Sport Pilot |
Assembled or Kit |
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Part 2
Rotorcraft Bestiary
Military and Government Produced Gyroplanes
Prototypes and Under Development
Out of Production Gyroplanes
| Manufacturer |
|
Model |
Seats |
Class |
Assembly |
Price |
Comments |
|
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McCulloch Gyroplanes
|
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J-2
J-2 Sport |
2 Side by Side |
FAA Certified Production
The J2 Gyroplane Manual (pdf)
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Fully Assembled |
$?K |
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Air & Space
|
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18A |
2 Tandem |
FAA Certified Production |
Fully Assembled |
$?K |
Jump-Takeoff |
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Twinstarr |
2 Tandem |
Experimental |
Kit, Sub Assembly |
$?K |
Trainer with Lycoming Engine |
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Out of Production Gyroplane Kits / Designs
| Manufacturer |
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Model |
Seats |
Class |
Assembly |
Price |
Comments |
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Marchetti
|
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Avenger |
2 Side by Side |
Experimental |
Kit |
$? |
Hollman, Sportster Copy |
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Glanville |
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Sky Master |
2 Side by Side |
Experimental |
Kit |
$? |
Hollman, Sportster Copy |
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Tyler |
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Shadow |
2 Side by Side |
Experimental |
Kit |
$? |
Hollman, Sportster Copy |
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Unknown Status
Bensen Gyrocopters
Currently Available Bensen Gyrocopter Plans
/ Kits
WARNING: Please do not fly a Bensen style gyroplane without
first consulting your Gyroplane Instructor and doing the known-required
safety upgrades
( such as a horizontal stabilizer ).
Some 'vendors'
are selling outdated plans (kits) that will lead you to construct an unsafe
machine! Do your research!!
Pre-Bensen Gyroplanes
| Manufacturer |
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Model |
Comments |
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Cierva
Autogiro Company Lt. |
C 1
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C1 |
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C2
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C2 |
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C3 |
C3 |
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C4 |
C4 |
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C5 |
C5 |
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C6 |
C6 |
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C6A |
C6A |
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C6BIS |
C6BIS |
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C6c |
C6c |
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C6d |
C6d |
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C7 |
C7 |
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C8L - I |
C8L - I |
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C8L - II |
C8L - II |
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C8R |
C8R |
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C8V |
C8V |
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C8W |
C8W |
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C10 |
C10 |
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C11 |
C11 |
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C12 |
C12 |
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C19 Mk II |
C19 Mk II |
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C19-Focke-Wulf |
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C19 Mk III |
C19 Mk III |
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C19 Mk IV |
C19 Mk IV |
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C19 Mk V |
C19 Mk V |
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C21 |
C21 |
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C30 |
C30 |
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C30a
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C30A |
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C30 Mk II |
C30 Mk II |
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C30 Mk III |
C30 Mk III |
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C30 P |
C30 P |
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C30 P MkIII |
C30 P MkIII |
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Pitcairn - Larsen Autogiro Company |
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PCA-1 |
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PCA-1A |
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PCA-1B BLACK MARIA |
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PCA-2 |
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AC-35 |
One of the sharpest designs I have ever seen. Considered 'roadable' as the
blades would fold back and you could drive it around on the ground. |
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YG-2 NACA |
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PA-18 |
$6,750 with flight
instruction; POP: 51, of which 6 were converted to PA-39. The fatal
crash of a Pitcairn autogyro in Oct 1935 ended one of aviation's longest
safety records, when pilot Robert Swenson unwisely tried to stretch a glide
over power lines after an engine failure |
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PA-19 |
CABIN AUTOGIRO |
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PA-22 |
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PA-33 |
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PA-35 (AC-35) |
see
AC-35 |
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PA-36 |
WHIRLWING |
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PA-38 |
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PA-39 |
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PA-44 |
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PAA-1 |
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XOP-1 |
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XOP-2 |
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Kellett
Autogiro Company |
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K-1X |
Featured a unique,
single-blade, wooden rotor that see-sawed on its rotor hub. The craft
suffered from structural problems and unsound aerodynamic design, so several
taxi runs were made with no flights, then the project was abandoned |
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KA-1A (K2) |
Direct-drive.
Side-by-side seating; convertible coupe-type top. $7,885 open cockpit,
$8,255 canopied cockpit; POP: 14 with some modified into K-3 and
-4. Rotor design and tradename licensed by Autogiro Co of America
(Pitcairn). (2-351) for prototype only restored to flying condition in 2001
by Al Letcher, Mojave CA |
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K-2A |
K-2A 1932 (ATC
2-431) = 210hp Continental R-670. POP: 4 conversions from -2. |
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K-3 |
Went
with Adm Richard Byrd on his 1933 Antarctic Expedition, where it crashed and
is still there |
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K-4 |
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KD-1 |
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KD-1A |
Cropmaster |
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KD-1B |
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KD-10 |
never built |
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KH-17 |
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KH-17A |
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XG-1B |
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XO - 60 |
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YO - 60 |
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XR-2 |
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XR-3 |
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XR-8 |
Not a gyro but a helicopter. Here for reference |
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XR-8a |
Not a gyro but a helicopter. Here for reference |
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XR-10 |
Not a gyro but a helicopter. Here for reference |
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XR-15 |
Not a gyro but a helicopter. Here for reference |
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Other Cierva Licensed Autogiros |
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The Buhl Autogiro, built
under license from the Autogiro Company of America, had a "pusher"
propeller. |
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Russian Observation Gyro |
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Non - Bensen Gyrogliders
Individual Designs
UFGs ( Unidentified
Flying Gyroplanes )
These gyros are as yet unsorted, unconfirmed or
unknown.
If you know anything about these gyros please
let me know.
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![[Company Logo Image]](_borders/Chapter34%20Logo%20small.jpg)
