Photograph:
Gyroz Tandem G-511 at Narromine, NSW in April 2007 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Australia
Description:
Two-seat light sport gyrocopter
Power Plant:
One 76 kw (102 hp) Simonini Victor two-stroke four-cylinder air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Rotor diameter: 8.22 m (27 ft)
- Length overall: 3.75 m (12 ft 3 in)
- Width: 1.8 m (6 ft)
- Height: 2.7 m (8 ft 9 in)
- Max speed: 174 km/h (108 mph)
- Cruising speed: 129 km/h (80 mph)
- Minimum speed: 87 km/h (54 mph)
- Fuel capacity: 94 litres (20.6 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 230 kg (507 lb)
- Useful load: 370 kg (816 lb)
- Loaded weight: 600 kg (1,323 lb)
History:
The Gyroz two-seat tandem gyrocopter was the culmination of the development of gyrocopters for sport pilots by Advanced Kinetics of Kurrajong, NSW. The machine was usually known as the Gyroz but has also been known as the Advanced Kinetics Gyroz. Designed as a comfortable, compact and capable gyrocopter, it had the ability to carry some luggage under the seats. It had a semi-enclosed cabin and was normally fitted with a Simonini Victor engine, but the 76 kw (102 hp) Hirth F30EU four-cylinder air-cooled unit or 75 kw (100 hp) Rotax 912ULS four-stroke liquid-and-air-cooled unit could be installed. The engine drove a 1.72 m (68 in) propeller.
The machine was built to Australian Two-seat Standards and could be flown as a single-seater from both the front or rear seats. The airframe was constructed with 6061T6 aluminium. The rotors consisted of an outer extruded wheel with a solid internal spar in the leading-edge. The rotor-head was manufactured in-house. A twin-rudder system was fitted. The main model available was the Tandem Formula 1+1. The type has been used for a range of duties, including mustering in outback Australia.
A number of examples have been registered in Australia, including G-0311, G-2065, G-511, which crashed into Brundee Swamp, south-east of Nowra, NSW on 16 March 2014, and G-2111.