Ultra Light Aircraft - The Auto-Gyro

A completely different design of the ultra light flyingcan make a hundred and eighty degree turn in a very
machine, the auto-giro is fitted with a rotor bladeshort distance, nearly around its own axes. It reaches
without wings, similar to a helicopter.quite a high speed in straight and level flight. It has
The rotor blade does not have a fixed drivethe ability to land on a very short runway. The
connected to the engine. The pilot engages the rotoraircraft is practically stationary on touch down. When
blade to the engine before takeoff. The engine thenreferring to practice landings the auto-gyro pilots will
pre-rotates the rotor blade up to a rotation speed oftalk about "stop and go" landings where winged
two hundred revolutions per minute when the driveaircraft pilots will call it "touch and go" landings.
from the engine to the rotor blade is disengaged asCompared to other models the auto-gyro is the least
well as the parking brake.affected by wind and turbulence thus can be
The push propeller on the back mounted engine thenoperated in winds much stronger than what the
pushes the aircraft forward. Picking up speed, theweight shift and fixed wing models can handle.
wind from the front "auto rotates" the rotor to gainThe rotor blades are manufactured from either
speed and lift until the aircraft is airborne.carbon fiber or aluminum with pros and cons to both.
Once airborne, the aircraft is normally flown level at aThe carbon fiber blade may gain rotation speed more
low altitude to gain air speed and more rotor speed.readily than the aluminum blade, (not verified) but
With sufficient air and rotor speeds, it can climb at agets pit marks when flown in rain.
considerable steep angle.The versatility of this version in the ultra light aircraft
Handling and maneuverability of the auto-gyro isrange will surely make it the popular choice of most
unique compared to other micro light models andenthusiasts able to afford it.
configurations. It can be flown almost sideways. It