How To Fly Autogyro?

Autogyro/Gyrocopter Theory...?

• I'm intrigued by the concept of the autogyro, aka gyrocopter, but I have some theoretical questions about this type of craft that I hope someone who knows more about them and the principles behind them can answer. 1: Most of the ones I've heard of are very tiny, personal aircraft. Are large, heavy gyrocopters possible? 2: Could a gyrocopter theoretically be designed to travel very fast, or would it start to spin/flip around at high speeds? 3: Could a gyrocopter work if the rotor was situated BELOW the chassis of the craft, perhaps in a big cage? Or would it flip upside down?

• Answer:

  1. Yes. During the 20's 30's some very larg two seaters, just as big as piper cubs were made. the only reason they werent developed further was the advent of WWII and the real birth of heliocopters. 2. It could be made to go as fast as the technology and stress points would allow the blades to move. Once you get the blades moving close to the point where the centrifical force exceeds the tensile strength of the blade, you would be in a lot of trouble. 3. the answer is no. I would not try this approch, unless you could bend the blades with enough upward motion to support the aircraft and give lift. The trouble is, you make a blade long enough to clear the front and back of the aircraft, so that it sits in a v to where the aircraft would be stable, it would be a darn big cage. The blades are really moving airfoils. The center of gravity point and the wing work in conjunction just as in a normal aircraft. in the Autogiro, the weight is suspended from the blades, and is the most practical way to allow them to move and support the weight of the aircraft at the same time. hope this helps. I believe there were some nasa designs for jet aircraft using a large airfoil. you might want to go there for a hint. happy hunting.