Autogyro

An autogyro (only an autogiro when produced by the Cierva Autogiro Company or one of its licensees (see below), sometimes called a gyroplane or Gyrocopter™) is an aircraft supported in flight by an unpowered rotary wing, or rotor. Though the autogyro resembles a helicopter, it is driven in flight by an engine-powered propeller similar to that of an airplane. Though often mistakenly characterized as a hybrid between an airplane and helicopter, the autogyro is a distinct type of aircraft that made its first successful flight in 1923 at Cuatro Vientos Airfield in Madrid, Spain, predating the first successful helicopter by 13 years. All helicopters utilize rotor technology first developed for the autogiro: the helicopter owes its existence to the brilliant work conducted by Juan de la Cierva and his associates.

Related Topics:
Aircraft - Helicopter

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