The gyroplane was a development from the 1920's, then known as an autogiro, and was the first practical rotorcraft the world had seen. To many industrialist nations such as England, the United States, Germany, Japan and Italy the gyroplane would provide very economical solutions to further help develop these nations into economic powerhouses.
Aside from the technological advances to rotorcraft development toward vertical flight aircraft, specifically the development of the helicopter, the gyroplane also provided many other well needed services for the time period.
Before we can appreciate what the gyroplane has done we need to look at what all great nations through history have had in common. Lasting empires all had the ability to feed the people and in many of these nations the ability to sell excess foods. While many of us forget in our modern times of relative peace and international world trade is the importance of logistics in times of war, famine or natural disaster. Egypt as told in the Bible fell from power do in part by fallen crops from draught and other phenomena. While the Greek and Roman Empires fell from political struggles from within there can be little debate of the economic hardship they both faced in trying to feed the peoples of their vast holdings.
Gyroplanes at the turn of the Twentieth century were used for fertilization and pesticide application right alongside the barnstormers in their biplanes. The agility and speeds with which the gyroplane normally flies provided a better application with less wasted chemicals than its fixed wing counterpart. In many countries the agricultural use of helicopters fills this role. Problems with helicopters and agriculture in developing nations stems from the expense of the helicopter itself in terms of purchase costs, maintenance and available fuel availability within the nation itself. Gyroplanes on the other hand are far cheaper to operate and maintain and use a fraction of the fuel that helicopters use. This means the food sources can be grown at a far cheaper cost in comparison to other methods of crop control.
The gyroplane of today is as much of an aviation oddity as it was when it first made its appearance almost a hundred years ago. Companies back then took advantage of the strangeness and aura that the gyroplane made by using it for commercial advertisement of its products much like blimps are used at major sporting events.
From its inception the gyroplane was found to be a very good observation platform for both survey work, geological and mapping studies, air route planning and aerial photography work. Many of these services are still needed around the world not just in developing nations and again the gyroplane is even better suited today to fill these roles than it was in its earlier history. The development of Global Positioning Satellites or GPS navigation has added a far greater degree of accuracy to all aviation and navigation applications.
As can be deduced from what we have covered here a small nation can readily afford several gyroplanes for the cost of one helicopter. These gyroplanes can map, survey and provide aerial photographs of the nations agricultural belt thus providing critical data and visual proof of the effectiveness of its agricultural and land space usage assets. These same aircraft can be dispatched to areas that have insect outbreaks for pesticide application/eradication before the effects become out of control.
Some nations that come to mind are some of the war torn countries of Africa were the gyroplane is still being made in flown in rather strong numbers. The impact that these small and affordable aircraft have to offer would not only help to feed the people but possibly help turn the economics woes of the nations in a new direction.
In addition to the agricultural uses of the gyroplane in developing countries, the gyroplane has and continues to be used for law enforcement roles around the world in both developed and under developed countries. With budget restraints and the high costs of fuel and parts, as well as insurance, many municipalities and cities have turned to using gyroplanes to provide the needed air support for their law enforcement agencies. Duties can run from national defense and protection roles, harbor and port safety, patrol of critical national or economic sites such as powerplants and dams, code enforcement duties such as environmental services.
As can be seen the gyroplane can fill many roles of the helicopter and do it for a far cheaper cost thus making the gyroplane a valuable resource in the development and growth of any nation.
Bad enough that a nation is trying or struggling to grow in a world where technology can quickly pass them by but when a small country then must face natural disasters on the forms of floods, fires or earthquakes again the gyroplane can be put to effective use. From surveying the damage, dropping supplies and delivery of medical assistance and supplies. While a gyroplane cannot hover as the helicopter can, the gyroplane can land in a very small patch of real estate and get airborne again typically in only a few lengths of the aircraft. Because of this short take off and landing capability the gyroplane makes an effective machine to making contact with the smaller outlying communities and can be supported with very little support equipment to remain on station for extended periods.
A role for which the helicopter does have much more practical use is in the emergency medical services. While a gyroplane can transport patients in the larger versions such as the Groen Brothers Hawk gyroplanes, a helicopter can hover over an area and get into much more confined operating areas. Developing countries that build and utilize their own gyroplanes can further the research and development into other rotary wing aircraft designs further developing the aviation market within their own country and providing valuable jobs and technologies within their own borders.
Who is to object? Most developed countries do not view the gyroplane as a threat. True that any vehicle can be turned into a machine of war, the gyroplane is not regarded as a military weapon even though it can find many uses within the military.
Gyroplanes could be made larger and outfitted with guns, rockets or used in observation roles for other air, infantry or artillery assets. These are aviation needs for any modern military force but one that can still leave the taxpayers with something in their pockets.
Fiscal responsibility does not seem to be a major factor for superpower countries but for those nations trying to trim the fat for more immediate concerns the gyroplane has plenty to offer that other platforms cannot do at such an affordable rate or as efficiently. Imagine a nation such as Ethiopia with a small fleet of gyroplanes to help develop crops, control crime and provide an effective military platform at low cost.
When we review the operating costs of some of the developed countries around the world and the expenses that cities spend on aviation assets they alone can rival that of some nations. Many cities large and small around the world are finding the economical benefits the gyroplane offers over the helicopter in law enforcement and insect control programs.
In review, the gyroplane is affordable and cheaper to operate and maintain than helicopters. The gyroplane can perform a majority of missions that the helicopter also performs. The cheap and efficient use of gyroplanes can help increase food production, control pests and be used in law enforcement, natural disaster, and military roles as well thus helping to provide a stable form of government for which economic growth can spur.
For more information on gyroplanes, their construction, history and much more visit http://www.gyroplanepassion.com. This site provides an incredible amount of data on gyroplanes, gyroplane kits and plans, supplies and gyroplane organizations. Loaded with photos and videos to bring this incredible machine to life.
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