Buzzing the Gulf Coast
Linda Williford
Have you ever seen a small aircraft in the sky like a helicopter but smaller and wondered what it was? You were probably looking at a one-person (or two-person) ultralight airplane known as a gyrocopter (autogyro, or gyroplane). This aircraft was first invented in 1923 by Spanish engineer Juan de la Cierva. The gyrocopter came about 15 years before the helicopter. They are very popular in Europe, especially in Italy, Germany, and Spain. In Europe, they have many uses, including the military, police agencies, crop-dusting, and other commercial uses. They are becoming more popular in the U.S., primarily for recreational use by aircraft enthusiasts and hobbyists.
Corey Kirkwood, a certified flight instructor and designated pilot examiner (DPE) by the Federal Aviation Administration, has many years of flying and teaching those interested in aviation how to fly gyrocopters and airplanes. However, he says that his main job is as a designated pilot examiner, providing certificates to pilots.
Kirkwood said that compared to an airplane, the structure of the gyrocopter has fewer moving parts and is more mechanically simple. The gyrocopter needs a runway to take off and land. Even though it is similar to a helicopter. A helicopter is powered and rotored by an engine and a gyrocopter uses an engine to start it but it’s rotors are powered by air flow (autorotation).
"Think of it like this," Kirkwood said. "When you were a kid, you would blow on your pinwheel, and it would spin.”
According to Kirkwood, the gyrocopter takes $50 an hour to operate as opposed to $1000 an hour to operate a helicopter. They go about 200-300 miles at a time before needing refueling. Gyrocopter can take off and land at any public airport and, with permission, at any private airport.
Kirkwood said, "If you have an adequate runway on your property, you can even take off and land in your own backyard.”
A fixed-base operator (FBO) is an organization which is granted the right by an airport to provide services such as fuel, hangars, tie-downs, parking, and aircraft rentals, etc. Lightning Aviation, owned and operated by Kirkwood, is a private company that runs the FBO at the Foley Airport on behalf of the City of Foley. Lightning Aviation does maintenance and repairs not only of gyrocopters but also of other airplanes.
Kirkwood added, "We are the leading flight training destination in the U.S., and Foley is the only maintenance and repair facility for gyrocopters.”
Many of those interested in flying gyrocopters are 60-80 years old.
Kirkwood explained, “That’s because during the 50, 60, 70’s, when these guys were younger, the market heavily advertised the gyrocopter to those who were interested in aviation.” He continued, “They advertised the affordability to build and the ease to fly. These guys are now retired, and many still have an interest in aviation and want to fly.”
The average cost of a new gyrocopter is between $15,000 and $120,000, depending on the diversity of the models and features available. For a used, older model, expect to pay between $15,000 and $40,000 on average. If you want to build one, a kit will generally start at $10,000 and up, again depending on the model, design, and features.
Gyrocopter flying is great for entertainment and recreation. Kirkwood said, "You can fly over the corn fields, or along the countryside, and even go to the Grand Canyon.”
For more information about gyrocopter flying, flight lessons, buying, or building one, contact Corey Kirkwood at 251-943-5214 or visit the airport at 510 North Airport Drive in Foley.
