Just got back from the flying field, and can now report that the Augogiro DOES fly, albeit not well.  I deeply fear, gentlemen, that this is strictly a round-and-round airplane. 

The rotor DOES spin, which is all I wanted anyhow...does look really interesting in the air.  The rotor turns I would estimate around 200 rpms average, not very fast.  Try to pull up as into a loop (I can tell you now, forget that fantasy) and the tail drops, the rotor SPEEDS UP, the plane slows down--looks like a Carrier plane, 'way high angle of attack without much climb. In fact it probably would make a great Carrier landing...wonder if the Navy ever used autogiros?  Then input "down" to get the tail back up, and as the plane resumes its "proper" attitude the rotor SLOWS DOWN, nearly stops until air speed picks back up, then it goes back to its 200 or so rpms.

Frank, I got three flights out of it before I broke a rotor...because the first two were bad engine runs and it made pretty much power-on (barely) landings.  Kept it upright, anyway.  Tjhird flight, decent engine run, ran it out of fuel, it said "I want to set down THERE!" and wouldn't stand for any argument from me.  Put down rather hard in the grass (glide angle about 45 d.), flipped and snapped one rotor off right at the end of the hub extension, exactly where you would expect it to break.  No problem to fix it, and I will, if only to hang it on the wall--I may not fly it again.

Still, a fun build; and it is unique in the air--just rather difficult to get it down in one piece. But I'm glad we built it anyhow.

OK Frank, now it's your turn!

--Ray

Oh, I'm not disappointed a bit...I didn't expect it to stunt.  You oughtta see it buzzing around with that rotor spinning!  Very cute.  Crowd-pleaser no doubt. Yes, I count it a success, and yes, I had fun with it, from the very beginning.

--Ray

I think I'll have a plaque made for my desk.  "Mr. Otto Gyro", I like that.

C'mon, guys, you build 'em to fly 'em!

--Ray

I think full size gyro copters have that and maybe collective also.  I've seen them make near vertical descents and then "cushion" somewhat before touchdown.  In reference to rotor speed, while fixed wing pilots are taught to nose down to increase airspeed if in fear of loosing lift, gyro pilots are taught to nose up to increase rotor speed.  A nose over in a gyro can translate into severe loss of rotor speed and catastrophic loss of lift.  Seems like the military did have a few in service at one time.  As far as the one you guys have been modeling, I don't have a clue about the affects of having a rotor and a wing.  ...so much for my $.02 worth........

Saw a program on the of the MilitaryChannelsthe other day.  "Secret Japanese airplanes" or something like that.  They showed a Japanese carrier that was made for the specific purpose of subhunting using their KA-1(?) autogyros.   Don't know if they used a hook, but probably didn't need one.  The carrier was sunk by one of our subs on it's way to going into service, I think they said.

So looks like autogyros were used on carriers.

Boy, the carrier guys oughtta jump on that.

They did, and now they are illegal.  There was a model builder plan in the  80's for one.  Promptly made them illegal for carrier. 

As a kid I build one call Kopter Kit from somewere out in NJ.  It was a 1/2a.  Wish I still had it.

 Dave