Little Wing Autogyro

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

Ron 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

Andy Keech set 29 world records in an LW-5 Autogyro.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]

Variants
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

Specifications (LW-2)

Data 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

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page F-5. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  2. Downey, Julia: 2005 Trikes 'Chutes and Rotorcraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 22, Number 2, February 2005, page 57. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  3. Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 206. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  4. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 182. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  5. "Little Wing Autogyros, Inc". Littlewingautogyro.com. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  6. "Little Wing Wonder-World Records". Littlewingwonder.com. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  7. "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
  8. "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.
  9. "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.
  10. "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.
  11. "FAI Record ID #9597 - Autogyro, altitude" Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Retrieved: 28 November 2013.
  12. "FAI Record ID #14695 - Autogyro, distance without landing" Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Retrieved: 28 November 2013.
  13. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 326. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  14. "2000 Herron/Keech Little Wing LW-5 Autogyro - N100MK". eaa.org. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  15. "Little Wing Autogyros, Inc". Littlewingautogyro.com. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
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