LSA Designation Could Jump-Start Stalled Gyro Sales
The FAA appears ready to let a little sunlight into one of
general aviation's darkest statistical corners. The agency is now
accepting comments on new petitions from three manufacturers of
small gyroplanes, seeking authorization to sell them as
Experimental Light Sport Aircraft in the US.
In the 1930s, when early autogyros roamed the earth (thereby
beating back the few remaining pterosaurs that had the bad grace to
ignore their supposed extinction -- grin), their ability to take
off and land with zero ground speed, and their immunity from
aerodynamic stalls, resulted in a safety record superior to that of
contemporary fixed-wing airplanes. After being made largely
obsolete by helicopters, gyroplanes made a comeback in the 1950s as
single-seat homebuilts, among which the Bensen Gyrocopter (shown
below) was the most famous.
Dr. Igor Bensen was an engineer at General Electric, but many of
his imitators were not qualified designers. The next half-century
of gyroplane history was marred at times by unstable designs and a
culture of self-training, with a commensurately grim fatality
rate.
Since the early 1970s, all new gyroplanes available in the US
have been experimentals, limiting their market potential to buyers
who are willing to also be homebuilders, and leaving qualified
innovators with little hope for a return on investment. But in much
of Europe, two-place gyros can be purchased factory-built, and
registered under EASA's ultralight rules. Newer, stable designs are
thriving there.
Not surprisingly, now that the FAA is considering these newer
designs for ELSA, most of the gyroplane manufacturers ready to run
the ASTM gauntlet are based in Europe. The three most recent
petitions come from Magni Gyro (shown at top of story) SRL of
Italy; AutoGyro GmbH of Germany, whose best-known model is the
MT03; and Sport Copter (below), Inc., based in Scappoose, Oregon,
which plans to sell an LSA version of its two-place, enclosed-cabin
prototype introduced at EAA AirVenture 2007.
Two previously-filed petitions also remain under consideration
by the FAA:
The Xenon (shown below) is an enclosed, two-place gyroplane of
French design, manufactured in Poland for ABS Aerolight. Ten
factory-built Xenons were grandfathered to ELSA in time for the
FAA's deadline in January of 2008, and are flying in the US. The
type remains on sale in other international markets while the FAA
considers the LSA petition.
Groen Brothers Aviation of Salt Lake City, Utah sought LSA
status for its SparrowHawk enclosed, two-place gyroplane. The
company ceased manufacturing operations one year ago and is seeking
a buyer for the SparrowHawk (below) line.
There's no deadline for comments listed on any of the three
latest ELSA gyroplane petitions. Find them by searching "ELSA
gyroplane" using the FMI link below.
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