The Avian 2/180 Gyroplane was a two-seat, single-engine autogyro built in Canada in the 1960s. Several prototypes were built but production was not achieved.
Avian Aircraft was started by Peter Payne and colleagues from the Avro Canada company specifically to build a modern autogyro.[1]
The Gyroplane prototype first flew in Spring 1960.[2] It was later lost in a crash. The compressed air jump start system was not a success, so the second prototype used the engine, connected via a belt, clutch and gear box. This aircraft was also made lighter than the first with more use of aluminium and fibreglass, increasing cruising speed by 25%.[1] It was followed by three pre-production aircraft. By the end of 1963 more than 300 flying hours were completed. In December 1964 Avian received a $540,000 Canadian government contract to build a modified Gyroplane that would take the type to Certification. This was achieved late in 1968.[2] Full FAA certification was achieved in the 1970s.
In 1970 Avian Ltd went into receivership. Although there were later hopes of a revival, nothing came of them.[3] In 1972 some assets of Avian, including three Gyroplanes, were put up for sale, but no purchase is recorded. However, in 2002 one surviving Gyroplane and its certification rights were sold to Pegasus Rotorcraft Ltd, who renamed it the Pegasus III.[1]
ARC Aerosystemsedit
In 2023, ARC Aerosystems[4] acquired the intellectual property, all rights and type certification of the Pegasus, including the one remaining flying example.[5] On 13th November 2023, ARC Aerosystems announced that test flights of the Pegasus will begin in early 2024, at its facilities in Cranfield, with Chris Taylor as the designated test pilot.[6]
ARC have published online plans for three aircraft designs using Pegasus technology. Of these three, only the Pegasus has had prtotypes that are flying and approved for production:
Pegasus VTOL Tech - a modern 2-seater gyroplane, a derivation of the Avian Gyroplane.
Linx (sic) P3 - a 3-seater version of the Pegasis VTOL
Linx P9 - a large gyroplane with wings that is proposed to carry 2 pilots and 9 passengers
In 2024, ARC announced that they had an order for five Pegasus VTOL, to be delivered in 2026.[7]
Despite being a gyroplane (and not a true helicopter), ARC claims that their aircraft have full VTOL capability.
Designedit
The Gyroplane was a two-seat autogyro without wings, with a ducted fan pusher propeller driven by a 200 hp (150 kW) Lycoming IO-360 piston engine. It had a three-bladed rotor, formed from bonded aluminium. There were flapping hinges but no drag hinges.[2] In normal flight the rotor was undriven, but the design team were keen to enable vertical jump starts, an autogyro technique which spins up the rotor before take off without forward movement over the ground. The first prototype used conspicuous tip jets fed directly with compressed air from a fuselage-mounted cylinder.[1]
The fuselage was built on a light alloy box beam which carried the cabin, engine mounting, rotor pylon and propeller duct. The well-glazed cabin seated two in tandem in front of the engine. Entry was via a starboard-side door; dual controls were fitted. Yaw was controlled with a rudder mounted within the propeller duct, enhancing its low-speed effectiveness. The Gyroplane had a fixed tricycle undercarriage. The main wheels were mounted on steel cantilever legs and the nosewheel castered.[2]
Specifications (certification aircraft)edit
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1970-71[2]
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The Avian 2 180 Gyroplane was a two seat single engine autogyro built in Canada in the 1960s Several prototypes were built but production was not achieved 2 180 Gyroplane Role Autogyro National origin Canada Manufacturer Avian Aircraft Ltd First flight 16 February 1961 Number built 6 Contents 1 Development 1 1 ARC Aerosystems 2 Design 3 Specifications certification aircraft 4 See also 5 ReferencesDevelopment editAvian Aircraft was started by Peter Payne and colleagues from the Avro Canada company specifically to build a modern autogyro 1 The Gyroplane prototype first flew in Spring 1960 2 It was later lost in a crash The compressed air jump start system was not a success so the second prototype used the engine connected via a belt clutch and gear box This aircraft was also made lighter than the first with more use of aluminium and fibreglass increasing cruising speed by 25 1 It was followed by three pre production aircraft By the end of 1963 more than 300 flying hours were completed In December 1964 Avian received a 540 000 Canadian government contract to build a modified Gyroplane that would take the type to Certification This was achieved late in 1968 2 Full FAA certification was achieved in the 1970s In 1970 Avian Ltd went into receivership Although there were later hopes of a revival nothing came of them 3 In 1972 some assets of Avian including three Gyroplanes were put up for sale but no purchase is recorded However in 2002 one surviving Gyroplane and its certification rights were sold to Pegasus Rotorcraft Ltd who renamed it the Pegasus III 1 ARC Aerosystems edit In 2023 ARC Aerosystems 4 acquired the intellectual property all rights and type certification of the Pegasus including the one remaining flying example 5 On 13th November 2023 ARC Aerosystems announced that test flights of the Pegasus will begin in early 2024 at its facilities in Cranfield with Chris Taylor as the designated test pilot 6 ARC have published online plans for three aircraft designs using Pegasus technology Of these three only the Pegasus has had prtotypes that are flying and approved for production Pegasus VTOL Tech a modern 2 seater gyroplane a derivation of the Avian Gyroplane Linx sic P3 a 3 seater version of the Pegasis VTOL Linx P9 a large gyroplane with wings that is proposed to carry 2 pilots and 9 passengers In 2024 ARC announced that they had an order for five Pegasus VTOL to be delivered in 2026 7 Despite being a gyroplane and not a true helicopter ARC claims that their aircraft have full VTOL capability Design editThe Gyroplane was a two seat autogyro without wings with a ducted fan pusher propeller driven by a 200 hp 150 kW Lycoming IO 360 piston engine It had a three bladed rotor formed from bonded aluminium There were flapping hinges but no drag hinges 2 In normal flight the rotor was undriven but the design team were keen to enable vertical jump starts an autogyro technique which spins up the rotor before take off without forward movement over the ground The first prototype used conspicuous tip jets fed directly with compressed air from a fuselage mounted cylinder 1 The fuselage was built on a light alloy box beam which carried the cabin engine mounting rotor pylon and propeller duct The well glazed cabin seated two in tandem in front of the engine Entry was via a starboard side door dual controls were fitted Yaw was controlled with a rudder mounted within the propeller duct enhancing its low speed effectiveness The Gyroplane had a fixed tricycle undercarriage The main wheels were mounted on steel cantilever legs and the nosewheel castered 2 Specifications certification aircraft editData from Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1970 71 2 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 16 ft 0 in 4 88 m Height 7 ft 4 in 2 24 m Empty weight 1 400 lb 635 kg Max takeoff weight 2 000 lb 907 kg Powerplant 1 Lycoming IO 360 4 cylinder horizontally opposed 200 hp 150 kW Main rotor diameter 37 ft 11 m Main rotor area 1 075 sq ft 99 9 m2 Propellers 2 bladed Hartzell constant speed Performance Maximum speed 120 mph 190 km h 100 kn Cruise speed 105 mph 169 km h 91 kn Service ceiling 14 000 ft 4 300 m Rate of climb 870 ft min 4 4 m s at sea levelSee also edit nbsp Aviation portalReferences edit a b c d Charnov Bruce H 2003 From Autogiro to Gyroplane Westpool Con USA Prager pp 284 5 ISBN 1 56720 503 8 a b c d e Taylor John W R Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1970 71 London Sampson Low Marston amp Co Ltd p 14 Private Flying Canadian Gyroplane to be revived Flight No 23 May 1972 p 760 ARC Aerosystems https arcaerosystems com Perry Dominic May 2023 The Linx effect Flight International 200 5781 42 ARC announcement 1 AAM report 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Avian Gyroplane amp oldid 1217484158, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
