Wellll, weather turned cold again (snow showers last night and this AM, thankfully it didn't stick) so I went back to building.  Here's what I have, a scaled-down Otto the Gyro for 1/2A--21" rotor diameter, about 18" long.  Planning on a Norvel .049 for power. 

Only have the rotor to go, oh yeah and the controls, including BC and leadout guide mount.

Finished, ready for paint.  I will actually have to disassemble some of it before painting (take off rotor, whole control system, landing gear, etc.)

Sitting in front of my box fan, the rotor spins freely. Always a good sign.

--Ray

Hopefully the slipstream from forward motion spins the rotor and lifts the plane, mostly by deflection I guess...I envision it sorta like a big flat-plate wing shaped like a disc; that may not be an accurate description of how an autogyro flies but it's my concept.  No forward speed, no lift...it ain't a helicopter.  Lands like a brick I understand. That's why the LG is so far forward, to avoid rotor-snapping noseovers.

Round and round, a little up and down...I hear you can nurse one through a big loop, I'm gonna find out. This is the epitome of a "novelty" plane, not much good for anything but the look on people's faces when it actually maintains flight.

Why did I build it?  'Cause it looks like fun. 

I have the remnants of the original Otto.  Used to belong to John Hall of the NW Skyraiders.  I was with him when he was flying it at the Boeing Museum parking lot and it did OK considering he used a K&B 40RC engine and Roberts 3 line bellcrank.  Shooting touch and goes and perhaps some type of wingover was about all he could do.

He came in a little steep on one flight and the rotors flexed downward from the force of the hard landing.  The still spinning rotor hit the tail feathers and blew everything apart.  He elected not to repair it and gave the remains to me.  I've vowed to eventually rebuild it.  Yeah, eventually...

Looks great to me! I am looking forward to its maiden flight.

Robert