The Little Wing Autogyro is a series of conventional one and two place autogyros with a tractor engine layout using modern engines and produced by Little Wing Autogyros, Inc. of Mayflower, Arkansas.[1][2][3][4]
| Little Wing Autogyro | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Autogyro |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Little Wing Autogyros, Inc. |
| Designer | Ron Herron |
| First flight | 1995 |
| Introduction | 1995 |
Development
editRon Herron was concerned about the problem of pushover fatalities in pusher gyrocopters. He set to develop a tractor layout gyrocopter that also met the FAA rules for ultralight aircraft. A Prototype LW-1 powered by a Continental O-200 engine was soon followed on by the LW-2. The design was influenced by Juan de la Cierva's autogyros. [5]
Operational history
editAndy Keech set 29 world records in an LW-5 Autogyro.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Variants
edit- LW-1
- Original proof of concept prototype
- LW-2
- Single place autogyro designed to weigh less than 254 lb (115 kg) to meet US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles regulations
- LW-3
- A 70 hp (52 kW) covered version
- LW-4
- A two place long frame version
- LW-5
- A two place short frame version
- Roto-Pup
- Ultralight version based on the Preceptor Ultra Pup airframe.[1][13]
Aircraft on display
editSpecifications (LW-2)
editData from Company[15]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 18 ft (5.5 m)
- Height: 8 ft 5 in (2.57 m)
- Gross weight: 750 lb (340 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 8.5 U.S. gallons (32 L; 7.1 imp gal)
- Main rotor diameter: 23 ft (7.0 m)
- Main rotor area: 415 sq ft (38.6 m2)
- Propellers: 2-bladed
Performance
- Cruise speed: 65 kn (75 mph, 121 km/h)
- Disk loading: 1.8 lb/sq ft (8.8 kg/m2)
See also
editAircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
edit- ^ a b Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page F-5. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
- ^ Downey, Julia: 2005 Trikes 'Chutes and Rotorcraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 22, Number 2, February 2005, page 57. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- ^ Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 206. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 182. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ "Little Wing Autogyros, Inc". Littlewingautogyro.com. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
- ^ "Little Wing Wonder-World Records". Littlewingwonder.com. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
- ^ "Class E (Rotorcraft) record claims ratified". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. February 26, 2004. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2014. 1 Archived 2014-09-12 at the Wayback Machine 2 Archived 2014-09-12 at the Wayback Machine 1+2 Archived 2014-09-12 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "FAI Record ID #13113 - Speed over a closed circuit of 500 km without payload Archived 2014-09-13 at the Wayback Machine" Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Retrieved: 12 September 2014.
- ^ "FAI Record ID #13115 - Speed over a closed circuit of 1000 km without payload Archived 2014-09-12 at the Wayback Machine" Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Retrieved: 12 September 2014.
- ^ "FAI Record ID #13111 - Speed over a closed circuit without landing Archived 2014-09-12 at the Wayback Machine" Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Retrieved: 12 September 2014.
- ^ "FAI Record ID #9597 - Autogyro, altitude" Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Retrieved: 28 November 2013.
- ^ "FAI Record ID #14695 - Autogyro, distance without landing" Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Retrieved: 28 November 2013.
- ^ Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 326. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
- ^ "2000 Herron/Keech Little Wing LW-5 Autogyro - N100MK". eaa.org. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ^ "Little Wing Autogyros, Inc". Littlewingautogyro.com. Retrieved April 10, 2012.