Hawk 4 Gyroplane

[sting]

not sure if you guys have seen this, but it looks like it can take of Vertical..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCEYfW8D ... re=related

[sting]

same as this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9_aiDG0 ... re=related

[FLYNOTE]

Check out this Hawk thingie. Hell boet, the twin tail boom and seaplane horizontal stabiliser ... Its a Xenon!! ( on steroids)

[grahame]

It helps if you've got a whacking great Rolls Royce engine!

The Hawk 4 Gyroplanes will be the first in a series of specially designed and constructed aircraft by Groen Brother Aviation (BGA) based in Utah, USA. The Hawk 4 provides S/VTOL capabilities with its patented variable pitch rotor head and offers a safe and economic alternative for the rotor-craft and fixed wing market.

The first test flight took place in 2000 as part of the flight test programme underway at Groen Brother's operations facility in Buckeye, Arizona. The FAA type certification process of the Hawk 4 began in 1998 but was abandoned in October 2001 due to a lack of available financing and the status of the programme is now uncertain.

Advanced Technologies Incorporated (Virginia) manufactured the two prototype blades, each measuring 42ft.

The Hawk 4 is powered by a 420 shp Rolls-Royce Model 250 series gas turbine engine. The design specifications for the airfoils were determined from rotor-performance calculations produced by the Department of Aerospace, Pennsylvania State University.

http://www.aerospace-technology.com/pro ... gyroplane/

[WillemG]

This looks more like a helicopter, it seems power is transferred to the main blades thus the ability to do S/VTOL.

[THI]

it seems power is transferred to the main blades thus the ability to do S/VTOL.

Only on startup and on the ground.

[mak]

The last price for the Hawk 4 that I saw about four years ago was +- $ 780 000-00. I like the fact that it is a five seater. Some interesting facts below re their rotor, especially the second point showing how much energy these rotors store.

"The CarterCopter rotor is a 'high-inertia' rotor. This means it stores rotational energy because of its weight and design. The 110 lbs of depleted uranium (55lbs in each blade tip) allows the rotor to hold sufficient rotational energy when spun at approx 525 RPM, to lift the Cartercopter at a typical weight of approx 2,600 lbs, up to a height of 50 ft + a forward distance of 75 ft at 50MPH.

Jay Carter wants to do a demo where he switches off the engine just prior to landing, then as soon as the nose wheel touches the ground, pull collective, go up to 40-50 ft, fly forward 150 yards and land again dead-stick."