We flew the Cherokee to Farmington Airpark in Puducah, KY, the center of gyroplane activity in this country. A gyroplane uses an airplane engine and propeller for thrust and a rotary wing for lift. Unlike a helicopter, the engine does not turn the rotor. The rotor turns and generates lift as it is pushed through the air. This principal of physics is used by a helicopter pilot when he reverses the pitch of the rotor after engine failure so the helicopter autorotates down to a safe landing.
Gyroplanes are more maneuverable than airplanes and can take-off and land in much shorter distances.
Autogryos, as they were then known, were used to carry mail to and from the roofs of post offices in the 1930s. They were later overwhelmed in the marketplace by fixed wing aircraft and then helicopters. Farmington Airpark offers training in two models. The Air and Space 18 is certified in the normal category like most of our general aviation aircraft. It is fully enclosed and with collective pitch on the rotor will even take-off vertically.