1932 again

[Baldeagle]

http://www.eaa.org/apps/galleries/gallery.aspx?ID=266 , photo #17, thanks to Mike S.




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[Airplanejunkie]

Thanks for posting those pics! Those are the first I've seen of the project in its original condition. I'm really amazed by how much was still there, including the cockpit instrumentation.

Steve

[Canso42]

Different strokes for sure! You have an amazing and quite interesting logbook, Andrew. I found the technical shots imformative. I had no clue how the driveling functioned on a Pitcairn.
Were there any other manufacturers worth noting who built 'Giros?
Thanks for the eaa link too.

[Canso42]

Me again, Bald Eagle. Are any of the other restored autogiros airworthy, even if they aren't flown? How many examples exist?
How many 'giro pilots are there besides yourself?

[Baldeagle]

Cierva started it all, and Avro in England built them under license. In the US Pitcairn and Kellett were the primary mfg's, although a few others were built.

Cover of this month's "Vintage Airplane":

and nice article inside.

I guess a dozen or two autogiros exist, none others flying, but one in NJ being restored to fly, so right now I'm alone in the club (lots of modern gyrocopter pilots around of course). Hoping to check out a Dayton based back-up pilot in case I get hit by a bus, he's working on getting his gyroplane rating...




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[JDK]

Me again, Bald Eagle. Are any of the other restored autogiros airworthy, even if they aren't flown? How many examples exist?

Following Andrew's remarks - I've been and am working on a couple of early rotary wing books. We've just published one on Autogiros which should act as a pretty comprehensive round out on the concept, and also on W.W.II Allied Rotorcraft to go with a previously published on on German Rotorcraft.

There are a couple of Pitcairns that were donated to the EAA Museum as airworthy, but don't fly, while Kermit Week's Avro Rota was restored to taxining condition with the Shuttleworth Collection. After Rolf van Bar in Sweeden stopped operating C-30s, I think in the 1950s or 60s, I think that was about it for those pre- '45 generation giros.

The Spanish built a replica Cierva C-30 which they flew for a period, but it's grounded now.

I'd like to see more, and another Pitcairn is under restoration as we write, but there are some marginal control regimes in flight and some nasty characteristics too, limiting enthusiasm for them otherwise.

There's about a dozen Avro Rotas / C-30s in preservation, a handful of miscellaneous American types such as the Pitcairns, lots of the German U-Boat 'Kite', and a handful of other types from Britain, France etc.

Book details:
Autogiro, Rotary Wings Before the Helicopter, Arthur W. J. G. Ord-Hume
http://mmpbooks.biz/mmp/books.php?book_id=109

Rotorcraft of The III Reich, Ryszard Witkowski
http://mmpbooks.biz/mmp/books.php?book_id=56

Allied Rotorcraft of the WW2 period, Ryszard Witkowski
http://mmpbooks.biz/mmp/books.php?book_id=110

HTH!

[Airplanejunkie]

Where does one get that rating? (Inquiring minds want to know.... )

[airknocker]

http://www.pra.org/

[Canso42]

Hoo Rah! That photo is too cool. I love the shiny rotor blade effect. Whose photo Andrew?

[Baldeagle]

Should've noted that, photo by H.G. Frautschy of EAA.




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[Airplanejunkie]

My copy of Vintage Aviation arrived yesterday. Enjoyed both 'Gyro articles!! It was particularly interesting to see some of the details of the PA-18 project fleshed out!

Steve

[barnbstormer]

Here is another “goodie” from the Waco company archives/files.
Waco Company President Clayton Brukner kept and responded to this original letter , beautifully signed by Harold F. Pitcairn, after Pitcairn sent him the latest 28 page brochure/catalogue from The Autogiro Company of America. The profusely illustrated brochure details the history and evolution of the Autogiro up to that time, including the aircraft of Cierva, Kellett, Buhl,& Wier, among others. Also shown is the photo of Harold Pitcairn taking off, in a PCA-2, from the White House lawn after being presented with the 1931 Collier Trophy. One of the more intriguing entries in this contemporary history of the development of the Autogiro, is the mention that “during 1925-27 Mr. Pitcairn developed a flying model of a jet-actuated helicopter with hinged rotor blades, which showed remarkable stability.” A lot more R & D was done during WWII which developed numerous military autogiro and helicopter aircraft. Prior to WWII, Firestone Tire & Rubber (G. & A. Aircraft), and Kellet Aircraft Corp. held production licenses. As of 1944, United Aircraft Corp. (Sikorsky Aircraft Division) was manufacturing under Autogiro Corp of America license for the duration of the war, at the request of the USAAF.,