Unusual heli in very bad vis - what was it?

[2Sticks]

I was in a nasty rain shower on Sunday afternoon - on the ground, walking, but approx 600' ASL up a hill, approx 10k NW Aylesbury, UK. I heard, out of the murk, what sounded like a helicopter with a very microlighty-sounding engine. Looking up, my first words were, 'oh sh*t, I'm glad it's not me up there!' I fully expected the aircraft to come down in the field and wait for the heavy shower to disperse, but s/he pressed on regardless. Needless to say, he was smashing the 500' rule (I would have been in those conditions) but I can't imagine how he entered the shower system in the first place. I kept listening for the bang, but I think the wx was probably clearer once you cleared the hill. I also tried to take a photo with my mobile phone but the rain was so bad I couldn't sight the image!

The heli itself appeared to be very long and thin (tandem seating maybe?) with a tail boom and tail plane on either side - I also think it had wheels. Anyone any ideas on what this might have been?

Cheers
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[meloz]

Anyone any ideas on what this might have been?
Cheers
2Sticks

Very lucky perhaps

[rotorspin]

darn it, caught again! :}

http://www.minx.com/pub/editor/Image/pprune/GEN-H4.gif

do me a favour - lets not tell the CAA, and if the wife asks I WAS cleaning out the barn not playing with that darn rotor thingy..... ;)

[2Sticks]

Well I thought it might be tandem, it might just have been the length that gave the impression of narrowness, but the wheels would certainly have been an indication of run-on type landings. It looked fairly modern - anyone got any pics of modern autogyros?
Cheers
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[brett s]

Sounds like maybe Twinstarr gyro:

http://orchardphoto.com/i5zu20.jpg

[2Sticks]

No, not that - in fact, I've spent more of my day than I dare admit checking out websites. At this rate, I'm going to need counselling for OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder for the uninitiated)! The fuselage appeared quite long and the tail section had a fairly long boom with a wide tailplain, not the short design that all the microlight pics I've seen today appear to be showing. So, I'm still racking my brains!! :confused:
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[brett s]

Maybe a Magni then?

http://www.youngeagles.org/photos/gallery/Helicopters_-_Rotorcraft/MagniGyroM-16_2.jpg

[limlom]

Hello!
I dont know how to attach a link but check this one out: www.innovatortech.ca (http://www.innovatortech.ca) / Jon

[Whirlygig]

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n197/danodwyer/Hosted%20pics/19.jpg

It wasn't one of these in a civilian role was it? I heard that trials were taking place !

Cheers

Whirls

[2Sticks]

I think Brett S is the nearest - thanks Brett! :D The shape is right, as are the wheels/tail layout etc and the Countax engine would explain the sound it made. I've checked G-INFO and there is just one in the UK, G-CCAH, based in Clitheroe, so it was a bit far from home if it was the same one - only registered in June of this year. It seems it's address is the address of Magni Gyro Ltd, so maybe they were on a test drive if it was this! They have just announced a new model an M22 and there's a picture of one on there website which looks exactly like the one I saw - interesting design but they must have got wet that day!: http://ns.inqa.net/MagniAlbums/Gyrocopters/M22.jpg.
Thanks for all your help - I can stop thinking about it now! :ok:
Cheers
2Sticks