2006-07-13 21:51:09 · 4 answers · asked by mjcraz 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
Auto-Gyro -
A craft in which the main rotor is turned by the relative wind. It is pushed through the air by a regular aircraft engine driving a (usually) pusher propeller.
They often have a pre-rotor that gets the main rotor turning but the aircraft MUST have foward airspeed to keep it turning.
They are NOT capable of hovering but can land and take off in very short distances.
Helicopter -
A craft in which the main rotors are driven and DOES NOT rely on relative wind to maintain flight. It is capable of hovering, vertical takeoff and landing.
The only time they are truly related is when the engine on a helicopter fails and the helicopter enters what is called "Autorotation" This is when the helicopter's main rotor is NO LONGER powered and rely on the relatrive airflow through the disc to maintain rotor RPM. This is an emergency procedure to effect a safe landing in the event of an engine failure.
2006-07-14 05:37:30 · answer #1 · answered by helipilot212 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An auto gyro has an unpowered main rotor blade..
and while it can land vertically it must have a short runway to take off.
A helicopter has a powered main rotor system and can land and take of vertically. An auto gyro is STOL Short Take Off and Landing Vehicle as opposed to VTOL Vertical Take Off & Landing
RAF 2000 makes a great GYRO..I flew in one a few years ago
awesome
2006-07-14 04:57:30 · answer #2 · answered by Stan B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As the previous answerers have implied, the rotor in an autogyro is not engine-powered.
The rotor is brought up to speed by the forward motion of the aircraft, which is powered by pusher props, much the same as some not-very-common rear-engine fixed-wing craft.
2006-07-14 06:53:37 · answer #3 · answered by Par'o 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The rotor on an autogyro is not powered, so it can land like a helicopter but takes off more like an airplane and can't hover.
2006-07-14 04:56:20 · answer #4 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋