The AutoGyro Calidus is a German autogyro, designed and produced by AutoGyro GmbH of Hildesheim. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The Calidus was approved in the United Kingdom in 2010 in a modified form as the RotorSport UK Calidus.

Design and development

The Calidus features a single main rotor; a two-seats in tandem enclosed cockpit with a complete aerodynamic cockpit fairing; tricycle landing gear with wheel pants; and a four-cylinder, air- and liquid-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition 100hp (75kW) Rotax 912 engine or turbocharged 115hp (86kW) Rotax 914 engine in pusher configuration.

The aircraft's fuselage is made from composites and is a faired teardrop shape to ensure smooth airflow over the variable pitch pusher propeller. Its 8.4m (27.6ft) diameter rotor has a chord of 20cm (7.9in). The aircraft has an empty weight of 265kg (584lb) and a gross weight of 450kg (990lb), giving a useful load of 185kg (408lb). The design incorporates vibration dampers that greatly reduce the level of main rotor vibration transmitted to the cockpit.

The design is noted for both its cruise speed of 160km/h (99mph) and range of 800km (500mi). It was developed into the side-by-side configuration AutoGyro Cavalon.

Operational history

By December 2012, eight examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration. Most are in the Experimental - Amateur-built or Experimental - Exhibition categories. Also by December 2012, three examples had been registered with Transport Canada in the Special Certificate of Airworthiness Limited category.

Variants

AutoGyro Calidus

Base model for the European and North American market.

RotorSport UK Calidus

Modified model for the United Kingdom market, imported assembled and modified by RotorSport UK.

Specifications (Calidus)

AutoGyro Calidus

Data from Bayerl and the manufacturer

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 4.78m (15ft 8in)
  • Width: 1.73m (5ft 8in)
  • Height: 2.74m (9ft 0in)
  • Airfoil: NACA 8-H-12
  • Empty weight: 265kg (584lb)
  • Gross weight: 450kg (992lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 86 litres (19impgal; 23USgal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912ULS four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 75kW (101hp)
  • Main rotor diameter: 8.4m (27ft 7in)
  • Main rotor area: 55.4m2 (596sqft)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed variable pitch composite, 1.72m (5ft 8in) diameter

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 185km/h (115mph, 100kn)
  • Cruise speed: 160km/h (99mph, 86kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 185km/h (115mph, 100kn)
  • Rate of climb: 5m/s (980ft/min)
  • Disk loading: 8.1kg/m2 (1.7lb/sqft)

See also

External links

  • on AVweb