A gyrocopter is a type of rotorcraft that is also known by the names gyroplane or autogyro.
They operate on the principle of flight known as autorotation, which basically means that rather than having an engine that drives the rotor on top of the aircraft, the rotor turns automatically under it’s own power.
The propeller at the back of the gyro provides the forward thrust, and the rotor blades are tilted back slightly and as a result air rushes through the blades from the underside.
As this air rushes through the blades they spin (in autorotation) and generate the vertical lift that allows the gyro to stay airborne.
A simple way to visualise this vertical lift is to imagine yourself in a car with your hand out the window.
If you hold your hand horizontal, your fingertips pierce the air and your hand stays level. If you tilt your hand back slightly, the wind forces your hand to rise…and this is similar to how vertical lift is create in a gyrocopter.
One of the real benefits of autorotation is that engine stalls are far less of a problem. If an engine stall does occur it means that there is no longer any forward thrust being generated. But the rotors will still spin and create enough lift that the gyro can descend in a controlled manner and be gently guided to the ground.
In the past gyrocopters have had a slightly chequered past – mainly due to the ‘home made, gung-ho’ nature of many gyro pilots.
But times are changing, and with the introduction into the marketplace of our factory designed, fully certified Autogyro’s, the average person now has a much safer, more cost effective option if they are looking to get into recreational aviation.
If you’d like to find out more about our Autogyros, please feel free to contact us and we’ll help you with any questions you may have about sales or training.