Autogyro Vertical Take-Off

Demonstration of VTO with a gyro glider

For background. See previous reports:

Autogyro Project Report 1
Status Report Oct 03
Status Report April 04
Status Report May 04
First Successful Ground Test


On June 12 we went to a remote air field outside Gothenburg and made a few vertical take-offs with the hydrogen peroxide tip rockets. The glider was tied to the ground with a tow rope.

Jerry Edvardsson, an experienced gyroplane and aeroplane pilot, was the test pilot.

The first movie is showing a well controlled take-off. Jerry has the stick back and the tow rope is stretched:

VTO1

The second movie is showing a well controlled take off, but a less well controlled landing. Jerry said: "The gyro was climbing fast and my natural reaction was to give the stick somewhat forward push and to throttle the fuel flow in order to slow down the climb rate. The tow rope slacked and the descent and landing became bumpy and uncontrolled. In a real situation, with the tow rope replaced with the pushing force of a propeller, this uncontrolled situation would not occur."

Towards the end of the movie, Jerry was coming fast in my direction, so I felt I had to run away. That is why the movie is looking a little funny.

VTO2

Some more comments and advice by Jerry:

-He wanted to control the fuel valve with his left hand so that he could hold the stick with his right hand. To meet his requirement we made a quick change of the piping and switched the valve position from right to left side. For a powered gyro Jerry suggested to have the propeller motor throttle and the peroxide throttle on the same grip handle.

-The control of the rockets is fast and responsive.

-The maximum rocket thrust can be lowered. With the present prototype rockets the gyro was taking off after 12 seconds, without the need of using maximum rocket thrust! (This adjustment can be done by having smaller diameter rocket nozzles. The fuel consumption will be lowered by this change.)

Jerry also said:
"Even if this is the first prototype system, it is already matured enough to be used on a powered gyroplane. It is a great leap forward for the gyroplane sport, because it will be possible to make easy to handle vertical take-offs from small unprepared fields!"

Next report:Peroxide powered take-off and transition to forward autogyro flight

This article was updated on November 30th, 2006