The Bumble Bee is one of the few ultralight gyroplanes on the market. It uses a prerotator to spin the rotor blades up to 300 rpm on the ground. Once the blades are up to speed, the take off distance is 230 feet on a calm day. It is powered by a 40 hp Rotax or Kawasaki engine. Flight speed ranges from 15 to 70 mph.
Construction is bolt together aluminum tubes.
Plans include prerotator, blades, and trailer modification to transport aircraft. The Bumble Bee at Hollister, CA in 1983. This gyroplane is the first ultralight gyroplane with a prerotator and instrument panel. Others such as the Honey Bee and the Gyro Bee are Bumble Bee clones. It flies very nicely and I have flown it for 220 hours by January of 2001.