Photograph:
Sport Copter Vortex G-2468 at Temora, NSW in April 2012 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat sport gyrocopter
Power Plant:
[Vortex]
One 50 kw (67 hp) Rotex 582UL two-cylinder, two-cycle, air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Rotor span: 7.62 m (25 ft)
- Disc area: 45.52 m² (490 sq ft)
- Length: 3.65 m (12 ft)
- Max speed: 161 km/h (100 mph)
- Cruising speed: 129 km/h (80 mph)
- Rate of climb: 366 m/min (1,200 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 3,962 m (13,000 ft)
- Take-off run: 91 m (300 ft)
- Landing run: 3.05 m (10 ft)
- Range: 274 km (170 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 38 litres (8.3 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 159 kg (350 lb)
- Payload: 159 kg (350 lb)
- Loaded weight: 345 kg (760 lb)
History:
Marketed by Sport Copter Inc of Scappoose, Oregon, the Vortex was one of a series of gyrocopters produced in three basic variants, the Sportscopter II, Vortex M-912 and the Lightning, the latter being a basic model. The basic model of the Vortex was visually similar to the Vortex M-912, with similar features, but fitted with a Rotax 582 engine. It could be engineered to accommodate a rough-field package and full Lotus floats.
The Vortex M-912 is said by the manufacturer to be inspired by Australian operators who required a gyrocopter to perform mustering work, the “M” standing for “Mustering”. To this end the Company re-engineered a Vortex to enable it to perform rough-field operations. Changes to the design included a longer tail boom, larger horizontal stabiliser, larger outboard fins, and a high performance suspension system in which the main undercarriage and nosewheel were built of 4130 steel. Other changes included 40.6 cm (16 in) Tundra tyres and aluminium extended range fuel tanks providing a capacity of 68 litres (15 Imp gals).
The pilot sat in a seat of composite construction. Vortex gyrocopters had a shock-mounted rotor head and toe operated differential disc brakes. A 75 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912ULS engine could also be installed. Full flight instrumentation was available. Initial order from the Australia distributor was for four aircraft, the type being demonstrated at Natfly 2011 at Temora (G-2526). An example was registered in New Zealand as ZK-TEW (c/n 119).
The Sportscopter II was a two-seat fully enclosed cabin model powered by a 172 kw (230 hp) Lycoming IO-360 engine. It had a larger, roomier cabin with heating and ventilation and was also designed for rough-field operations.