What’s the difference between an autogyro and a helicopter?
Autogyros may look like rudimentary helicopters, but there are some key differences between them.
Asked by: Ben Hume, Oxted
At first sight an autogyro looks like a rudimentary helicopter as they both have large horizontal rotor blades. But unlike a helicopter, the rotors on an autogyro are not powered. Instead, the thrust comes from a propeller either at the front or rear of the aircraft.
The blades spin because of the air rushing up through them, providing lift and stability. Though this is an unusual design, autogyros are popular with recreational pilots and they’re well suited to low-speed flight.
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