Layzell Cricket

The Layzell Cricket is a single-seat autogyro produced in the United Kingdom for homebuilding, although it was first produced in the early 1970s fully factory-built. It was a typically minimalist design, featuring a pilot's seat semi-enclosed within a fairing, and a pusher engine and large tailfin located aft of the rotor mast. Forty-three of the original Crickets were built by Campbell Aircraft, with the type enjoying a brief revival in 2001 when it was marketed in kit form by Mike Concannon of Cricket Gyroplanes, before reaching production again in 2005 by Layzell Gyroplanes as the Mk.6.

Cricket
Role Recreational autogyro
Manufacturer Campbell Aircraft
Cricket Gyroplanes
Layzell Gyroplanes
Designer Peter Lovegrove
First flight November 1969
Number built 43

The type remained in production by Layzell through 2011, although by July 2012 the company website had been removed from the internet.[1][2]

Specifications (Mk.6)

Data from Taylor and Bayerl[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)
  • Empty weight: 310 lb (141 kg)
  • Gross weight: 650 lb (295 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 36 litres (7.9 imp gal; 9.5 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 twin cylinder two stroke, liquid-cooled, aircraft engine, 64 hp (48 kW)
  • Main rotor diameter: 22 ft 0 in (6.71 m)
  • Main rotor area: 380 sq ft (35 m2)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed composite

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 63 mph (102 km/h, 55 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 52 mph (83 km/h, 45 kn)
  • Rate of climb: 650 ft/min (3.3 m/s)
  • Disk loading: 1.71 lb/sq ft (8.3 kg/m2)

References
  1. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 182. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. Layzell Gyroplanes (n.d.). "Gyro Kits". Archived from the original on 17 November 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  • March, Peter R. (October 1970). "Campbell Cricket: Britain's best-selling gyroplane". Aircraft Illustrated. Vol. 3, no. 10. pp. 394–396.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 225.
  • Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.
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