Photograph:
New Zealand registered Falcon ZK-RDF (c/n RH-151) at Parakia (Peter Lewis – NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single or two-seat sport gyrocopter
Power Plant:
One 52 kw (70 hp) converted Volkswagen four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Main rotor diameter: 7.92 m (26 ft)
- Width: 1.07 m (6 ft 8 in)
- Height: 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
- Fuselage length: 2.74 m (9 ft)
- Max speed: 153 km/h (95 mph)
- Cruising speed: 97 to 113 km/h (60 to 70 mph)
- Minimum speed: 32 km/h (20 mph)
- Empty weight: 215 kg (475 lb)
- Useful load: 136 kg (300 lb)
- Loaded weight: 352 kg (775 lb)
History:
The Falcon is a light gyrocopter produced in kit form in the United States and has been produced in two variants, the Falcon single-seater and the Falcon II two-seater. It is able to be fitted with a number of engines in the 52 kw (70 hp) region and those which have been installed include units from the Subaru, Rotax and Hirth ranges. These engines provide a cruising speed of around the 110 km/h (68 mph) range. The Falcon II can be used for training, seating two side-by-side, and both models can be built with or without an enclosed cockpit.
The Falcon kit airframe is of aluminium, bolted together. Rotor blades ranging in length from 6.7 to 8.53 m (22 to 28 ft) are available, these being constructed of aluminium, bonded and riveted. The series has been available since 2001 and individual component and modification kits have been available, including a kit to upgrade Bensen type gyrocopters to Falcon configuration. The undercarriage and suspension use standard Bensen axle tubes. The kit contains everything less the engine, propeller, rotor blades, instrument and fuel tank, which is located under the seat. At least one example of the Hawk I has been registered in this region, this being ZK-RDF (c/n RH-151) registered in October 2004 to Mr G Woodward.