Has anyone else on this forum taken any lessons in an autogyro? I went this past tuesday for my first lesson in one and have to say it was the most fun thing I have flown to date. The VSI was indicating a 1500 ft/min climb shortly after takeoff at 60 MPH. We had no ground roll after landing. We stayed between 60 and 80 MPH for most of the flight.





The instructor was a very nice guy, Jim Logan. I believe he said he'd be at Fond du Lac airport just south of Oshkosh during airventure giving rides for anyone interested. I highly recommend it. It's a ton of fun.

Hi Yes, they are fun but that is where their usefullness ends. They work okay in small sizes such as the one you flew but helicopters wiped them out 60 years ago and will continue to do so. Norm

when they were invented by Spaniard Juan de la Cierva in the late 1920s helicopters did not exist.

Not all aircraft need to have any purpose other than fun. Look at people who have Mooney Mites or restored Stearman. Those aircraft are just for fun. Most people that have C-150s and C-172s just use them for fun. A piper cub isn't a useful aircraft, but many people have them and fly them for fun. Anyways all I'm trying to say is that most people I'vbe met at the small local airports just want an aircraft for fun; they love to fly and the aircraft is just what gets them in the air.

Of course Helicopters are better suited to many things, but helicopters are a lot more expensive for a private pilot to own. The autogyro is a lot less complex than a helcopter which is another nice attribute.

Thats right, when autogyros were invented helicopters did not exist. They were the predecessor to the helicopter. They eventually mutated into the helicopter. It's an aircraft that is very responsible for current day aviation and it is not understood by many people.

I guess it all depends what you want from an aircraft. I'm not planning on flying commercially, so I guess I just look at whats fun. I think of aviation as a hobby, something fun I can do with my time.

Why ask a question if you are not interested in the answer. I have been writing about small autogyors in international magazines for over 30 years. Go ahead and spend 1000s on a small autogyro and then learn all about them by yourself. Good luck,Norm

Sorry, you just seemed so negative about them. I was just wondering if there was any other interest in them on this forum. It just seemed like you were really against them; I'm sorrry if I misinterpreted your first reply

Hi, I guess I came across as being super negative on gyrocopters but my long years of experience has made me a little gun shy. First they have a terrible accident record and it is almost impossible to obtain insurance on them or on you if you fly one. The best ones are the small Benson style, avoid any without a horzizontal stabilizer. If they have an old McCullough 4 cylinder 2 stroke b e prepared for engine outs very often. If it is has a VW better check the weight because it might be heavy to be an ultralight. If you want to be pilot I highly suggest you learn to fly ultralights, autogyros are not in the ballpark. If you really want one check out Trade aplane, they are for sale for peanuts and I have heard of folks giving them away. The one you flew in is very nicely made but super expensive and you will never get your money back and will have a hard time unloading it. Norm

Whoever says a piper cub is not a useful aircraft has obviously never been to Alaska.

Hi you lost me, I don't recall saying Piper Cubs weren't useful. I have owned 10 different Cubs and the last J-3 I owned was on contract with the Bur of Land Manage for many years counting horses and cattle on gov property for billing purposes. We would land on the Intestate and fill up at the gas stations. Great airplane, I even got my seaplane ticket on a J-3 60 years ago. But..most Cubs in Alaska and Super Cubs on floats. Norm