Photograph:
Windryder Hurricane ZK-RBP (c/n NZRA/R81) at Tauranga, NZ in May 1992 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat sport autogyro
Power Plant:
One 48 kw (64 hp) Rotax 532 two-cylinder, two stroke, air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Rotor diameter: 8.84 m (29 ft)
- Length: 3.38 m (11 ft 1 in)
- Height: 2.57 m (8 ft 5 in)
- Rotor disc area: 61.3 m² (660 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 185 km/h (115 mph)
- Economical cruising speed: 129 km/h (80 mph)
- Max rate of climb at sea level: 305 m/min (1,000 ft)
- Range: 322 km (200 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 66 litres (14.6 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 204 kg (450 lb)
- Loaded weight: 363 kg (800 lb)
History:
The Windryder Hurricane was a single-seat autogyro produced by Windryder Engineering Inc of Broomfield, Colorado, USA. The first of two prototypes flew for the first time in August 1985. It was available to the amateur builder in kit form and was demonstrated to the US Army at one stage.
The airframe was a monocoque fuselage of pre-moulded inner and outer shells, bonded in the factory using bi-directional unwoven S-glass and graphite in a polyester resin matrix. A non-retractable tricycle undercarriage was fitted. Power plants which could be installed included the Rotax 532, 75 kw (100 hp) Teledyne Continental O-200, and the 82 kw (110 hp) Hirth F30. A high-performance variant was also available, known as the Hurricane 100, fitted with an 84 kw (112 hp) Arrow engine, which could be fitted with a cargo pod. This model had a max speed of 177 km/h (110 mph), an economical cruising speed of 129 km/h (80 mph), and an endurance of two hours.
A small number have been registered in this region, one of the first being ZK-RBP (c/n NZRA/R81), followed by ZK-RBT (c/n NZRA/R77). Australian registered machines include G-0471 and G-0472.