TWO NEW AUTOGYROS FOR UK

27 Aug 2010

Save to de.icio.us

Rotorsport UK boss Gerry Speich with the new Calidus.

TWO new enclosed, two-seat autogyros are being flight tested by the UK's CAA with the hope of going on sale later this year.

The first autogyro is the Calidus from Rotorsport UK. It is a factory built enclosed two-seat tandem gyroplane, and it had its first flight in the UK on 21 August at the Midland Gliding Club. G-CLDS is now released by the UK CAA for flight testing, and sorties to various airfields across the UK are planned.

Rotorsport says the Calidus combines the excitement and manoeuvrability of a gyroplane with the unashamed luxury of an enclosed aircraft.

"Fitted with full avionics, dual controls and cabin heater, a range of up to 450 miles, cruise up to 120mph, together with the already established short take-off and landing runs, this aircraft can truly claim to be the future of aviation. The optional addition of a semi-open canopy makes it a real four season machine."

Rotorsport expects the full Permit to Fly release of G-CLDS in October, together with start of the release to service of 14 aircraft already on order.


Magni M24 two-seat side-by-side autogyro.

The second autogyro is the Italian Magni M24, a fully enclosed side-by-side gyroplane which received approval from the CAA to commence UK Test flying on 25 August.

“This is a very significant milestone on the route to full approval of the aircraft against the CAA’s BCAR Section T airworthiness standard for gyroplanes,” said Steve Boxall on behalf of the Magni Gyro UK team.

“We agreed an aggressive but achievable certification schedule with the CAA in April this year, and so far not a single date has been missed – quite an achievement in an industry where project delays are usually measured in years! It has been a real team effort – not only between the Magni Gyro UK team and the factory in Italy, but also with the CAA who have pulled out all the stops in order to meet the commitments they have made to us.”

Company test flying will commence at Rufforth Airfield near York, with the CAA scheduled to undertake their test flying program at the start of September.

Magni says more than 50 M24 gyroplanes have been delivered to customers around the world deliveries to the UK will start soon.

“We already have a number of confirmed UK orders, and interest in the aircraft is phenomenal” said Steve. “Gyroplanes offer an incredibly exhilarating flying experience like no other – the M24 offers fun by the bucket-load but in a comfortable enclosed cockpit with side-by-side seating which really allows you to share the fun. As well as private buyers we also have huge interest from schools, who see this as an ideal training aircraft.”

LINKS
Rotorsport UK

Magni Gyro UK

Send To A Friend