Post by greybeardgil on Aug 31, 2007 8:46:55 GMT -5
The origins of the present day Autogyro come from the original 'Autogiro' invented by the Spanish Engineer Juan de la Cierva. They are now known as autogiros, giros, gyrocopters and gyro kites depending on their origins. These aircraft share the generic category of Rotorcraft with Helicopters, which use an overhead rotor to generate lift rather than wings, but are distinctly different in the way they fly.
The helicopter has a power driven rotor to remain airborne It also needs a tail rotor to prevent the body of the aircraft from rotating in the opposite direction to the main rotor
The autogyro's main rotor acts as a circular wing and draws energy from the airstream to rotate and generate lift. It is not powered. The aircraft is either pulled or pushed by an engine and propeller thus driving the rotor into the airstream. When the rotor attains sufficient revolutions per minute (depending on type and make) it begins to 'Fly' like a solid circular wing. No air passes through it only under and over it. This is called Autorotation and allows the aircraft to fly and land even with engines stopped. The autogiro also has a vertical and /or horizontal tail planes. The aircraft is controlled by the same basic controls, stick, throttle and rudder pedals as a fixed wing aeroplane but is significantly more manoeuverable. (Note: The small drive shaft you may see attached to the rotor-head is used only to spin-up the rotor, while the giroplane is on the ground. This provides a shorter take-off distance.Hope this helps to introduce this Unique type to those who may be unfamiliar with it.
The helicopter has a power driven rotor to remain airborne It also needs a tail rotor to prevent the body of the aircraft from rotating in the opposite direction to the main rotor
The autogyro's main rotor acts as a circular wing and draws energy from the airstream to rotate and generate lift. It is not powered. The aircraft is either pulled or pushed by an engine and propeller thus driving the rotor into the airstream. When the rotor attains sufficient revolutions per minute (depending on type and make) it begins to 'Fly' like a solid circular wing. No air passes through it only under and over it. This is called Autorotation and allows the aircraft to fly and land even with engines stopped. The autogiro also has a vertical and /or horizontal tail planes. The aircraft is controlled by the same basic controls, stick, throttle and rudder pedals as a fixed wing aeroplane but is significantly more manoeuverable. (Note: The small drive shaft you may see attached to the rotor-head is used only to spin-up the rotor, while the giroplane is on the ground. This provides a shorter take-off distance.Hope this helps to introduce this Unique type to those who may be unfamiliar with it.
