Cierva C4 hundred years on
 

Airbus Helicopters engineers in Spain have been working for a while to reconstruct the C4 Autogyro and today a hundred years since it first flew, it flew again.

Airbus admitted they cheated and put in an engine from an ultralight

photos courtesy of Airbus


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The production developed version becoming a 'bit-player' in the Scottish Moors police hunt in the original '39 Steps'.

Rotor some what different to the original. By using flapping hinges, he resolved the problem of asymetric aerodynamic load caused by the speed difference between forward and retreating blades in forward flight. Although this idea had been proposed earlier, De la Cierva is credited with the first realisation of flapping hinges in a rotor system.

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Yes it’s a bit ironic - he’s famous for inventing flapping hinges but the replica (sic) uses a teetering head!

Teetering heads flap too........

My Father in Law flying over Old Sarum.......................
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