It'd be great if people would just get their facts straigt. Obviously the 1936 Flettner 185 was an autogyro (even if the motor could engage the rotor for jump-start). The Fairey Rotodyne was a gyroplane, which is just an autogyro with tip jets. The same was true the (conspicuously named) VFW H3 from 1969. Keeping with the nerd theme, the X3 is more like the Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne compound helicopter. The clever bit, though, is apparently that they've combined this design with a variable-RPM rotor like the Boeing Hummingbird. That was the key missing ingredient for high speed. Insofar, it's fair to assume that Eurochopper's goal to provide high speed at less cost and complexity than for a tiltrotor, might be quite achievable.
And yes, I expect them to introduce shrouds, and to disengage the props while on ground. And to make the actual product better looking. But those are details. And anyway, I've recently flown on a plane with two open propellers. Guess what - they only started turning after we were all inside!
BTW, one has to hand it to Lewis Page, he's always a good laugh...
