Dave,
i have read the Kaman story about that, do you mean she was soloed after 2 hours ? Can you solo every housewife after 2 hours ? it would be so nice.
"If the pure gyrocopter was competitive with the helicopter, there would be Carter and Groen Bros. products in the air, as we speak.
"
As far as i know, they are in the air.
i don't think carter and groen have the same means than Bell, Boeing, MDD and friends... have they ?
and, of course, helicopters manufacturers have no interest in developing a challenger to their main source of income....
BTW state depts buys proven solutions, not side-solutions, they are not really "pionneers".... if they were we could see a lot of coaxial or intermeshing rotors in the air, right ?
remember, in the automotive market, the electric engine was considered during a loooong long time as a chimaera... not speaking about the hybrid powers.
but now that there IS a need for that, mas production hybrid cars come in the market.
it is all about the MARKET and the psychological impressum.
i guess that if you were a buyer for a state dept. and i was a gyro manufacturer, i would have no chance to sell one just because, thinking like this, you wouldn't even give it a chance.
http://www.groenbros.com/
http://www.groenbros.com/archives/hawksnest/nest30.htm
from their sources : Direct Operating Costs (per hour) $158.72