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Flying Windmill: The Gyroplane Story

J.M. Syken

Course Outline

In this course, we will examine history of the development of an early rotary-wing aircraft type known as the Autogiro or Gyroplane and its later derivatives (i.e. Convertiplane, Gyrocopter). We will review this development with respect to the simultaneous development of the helicopter as a VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft. This will include an in-depth review of the principles of rotary-wing flight (i.e. Autorotation).

As well, we will review the evolution of the Autogiro from its beginnings in the early 1920s through to the end of WWII. This will include the development of “Direct Control” and the “Jump Take-Off.” The further development of hybrid designs featuring elements of both helicopter and Gyroplane will be discussed in great detail with particular respect to the efforts of the UK’s Fairey Aviation Company in the immediate post-WWII years through to the early 1960s. The on-going development of hybrid rotary-wing designs will also be of great interest.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

• Understand/appreciate the early efforts to achieve manned flight via both lighter and heavier-than-air craft;
• Understand/appreciate the origins of rotary-wing flight, starting with a simple child’s toy through to the invention of the Autogiro by Juan de la Cierva in 1920;
• Understand/appreciate the principles of rotary wing flight, including Autorotation, and the design principles used in the Autogiro (a.k.a. Gyroplane);
• Understand/appreciate the importance of the development of both Direct Control and the Jump Take-off to the evolution of the Autogiro;
• Understand/appreciate the simultaneous development of the helicopter, it’s advantages and disadvantages and how, by the early 1940s, it had surpassed the Autogiro, mainly due to its ability to hover;
• Understand/appreciate the role of Harold Pitcairn – aviation pioneer and manufacturer, to the development of the Autogiro in America;
• Understand/appreciate the role of Juan de la Cierva as the inventor and chief proponent of the Autogiro, his insights to rotor design which made the helicopter possible sooner than it would have otherwise been and how his untimely death in 1936 began its demise;
• Understand/appreciate the development of hybrid designs in the post-WWII years in America, the UK and Europe;
• Understand/appreciate the development of the Gyrodyne, Jet Gyrodyne and Rotodyne “Convertiplane” type by the Fairey Aviation Co.; and
• Understand/appreciate the development of the Gyrocopter and the on-going development of rotary wing aircraft using the principles first developed by Juan de la Cierva.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for architects, engineers and other design professionals.

Benefit to Attendees

The attendee/s will gain an intimate knowledge and insight into development of the Autogiro – forerunner of the modern helicopter, and the development of rotary wing aircraft, in general

Course Introduction

The course includes an in-depth PowerPoint presentation and the viewing two documentary films

Course Content

In this course, you are required to view/study the following slideshow and the materials contained in the web pages:

Flying Windmill: The Gyroplane Story (printable handout in PDF, 14 MB, see Note A below for downloading instruction)
Flying Windmill: The Gyroplane Story (non-printable slideshow for screen-viewing only, 45 MB, see Note A below for downloading instruction)

Archival/Documentary Film:

Note A: Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right-clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader from your computer.

Course Summary

It’s one of the great stories of the early days of aviation and its legacy is still with us in the form of the conventional helicopter. Harold Pitcairn, an avid aviator, aircraft pioneer/manufacturer and entrepreneur recognized the potential of the Autogiro and risked everything to see it realize its full potential. By 1931, it seemed the Autogiro was destined for great things. Altitude records were set, a promotional tour featuring aviation luminary Amelia Earhart was a great success and expanding commercial use of the type seemed to foretell great things for the rotary wing aircraft whose greatest selling points were its safety and ability to land in a space no larger than its own shadow. When Juan de la Cierva solved the problem of “Dissymmetry of Lift” (an unbalance in lift caused by advancing and retreating rotor blades), he not only made the Autogiro take flight, but also solved one of the problems holding back development of the helicopter. Though the “Convertiplane” derivative of the Gyroplane/Autogiro – Fairey Aviation’s Rotodyne never went past the prototype stage (due to cost overruns and excessive noise), the benefits of combining the best of both the helicopter and gyroplane has not been lost on modern aircraft designers. Companies like Groen Brothers Aviation (GBA) are revitalizing the hybrid design for multiple roles, ushering in a new era in aviation history.

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autogyro

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_de_la_Cierva

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_FB-1_Gyrodyne

https://archive.org/details/GyroFliesToCapitol
(Newsreel: Gyro Flies To Capitol December 19 1928)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MwxHCzGbY
(Film: History of Autogiros)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bo-eb1Gm1U
(Film: The Flying Windmill)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmTdDQUZdn8
(Film: Aero-TV: Profiles in Aviation - Pitcairn PA-18 Autogiro - Part 1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-wT09iDfGM
(Film: Aero-TV: Profiles in Aviation - Pitcairn PA-18 Autogiro - Part 2)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFk5Y_F-dwg
(Film: Avro Rotodyne Simulation)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bP2MH3LqvI
(Film: The Propeller Explained - 24:05)

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.