Airspeed Hardrada - Airborne Troop Gyrocopter

[buzzbomb]

Looks like I forgot to post this here. The Rotodyne post reminded me. It is fully finished so a few images

I have read a bit around the Hafner Rotachute concept Linky  for delivering Airborne Troops. Nice concept.

How about if they upscaled to make it a full on Autogyro using the proven Horsa glider as the basis to deliver more troops. Still towed to the operational area, then released to Gyro down
This concept might deliver a more controlled landing maybe
Yes there a lots of reasons where this concept is impractical.

So some quick tape cobbling together with the Italeri 1/72 Horsa and a left over 1/48 rotor head as a proof of concept


Horsa kit goes together ok for its age. Add some stuff and compulsory PSR




See why the Rotodyne post reminded me 

[Leading Observer]

Brilliant concept!

[PR19_Kit]

Blooming wonderful (even if it has shorter wings than the original... ) and I can't see why it wouldn't have worked. 

OK, so the tow speed may have had to be a bit limited, but it would have made for much higher survival rates for the troops and cargo. A great idea.

[chrisonord]

I like that too, brilliant idea and build.  Would it cause more drag to tow than a glider  would  or do the aerodynamics  work differently.
Chris

[The Rat]

Lovely job! 

[kitbasher]

Top banana 

[zenrat]

Very good.

But I can see Air Ministry pen pushers insisting that, despite their shortness, both wings must carry invasion stripes and roundels as per regulations.

[TomZ]

Absolutely stunning!

TomZ

[Scotaidh]

That's great!     


Now I'm jealous that I didn't think of it ...

but then I look at my "to build" list ...

from 2017 ...

<grumble>

[Rheged]

Most impressive!   As whirlythings go, it's totally unexpected, but logical.

[Doug K]

That looks very plausible, great build

[NARSES2]

That does look good 

But I can see Air Ministry pen pushers insisting that, despite their shortness, both wings must carry invasion stripes and roundels as per regulations.

Funnily enough I had very similar thoughts 

[PR19_Kit]

I like that too, brilliant idea and build.  Would it cause more drag to tow than a glider  would  or do the aerodynamics  work differently.

I imagine so, an autogyro works with the air going UPWARDS through the rotor apparently, whereas a helicopter has it going downwards.

No, I don't understand it either, but it's the way they work according to all the references I've read.

I guess you'd need a hefty tug to tow a big gyrocopter, a Halifax at least.

[chrisonord]

That is what I was thinking, but it would have looked very impressive coming in to land somewhere on the Dutch flatlands.
Chris

[PR19_Kit]

Or dropping in vertically on Pegasus Bridge?

They wouldn't have to avoid those three socking great concrete pyramid things in the fields along side this time either..............