 As part of his Aeronautical Engineering thesis research Martin Hollman designed a set of aluminum rotor blades for a two-place gyroplane. Having designed a practical rotor system for a two-place gyro, he moved on to the design of a gyroplane to go with the new blades. The result was the Hollmann Sportster, a two-place home-built gyroplane. Plans for the Sportster were made available, powered by a certified Lycoming engine. The Sportster is designed for the homebuilder who has limited access to power tools. Ninety percent of the structure is bolted or riveted together, 2 x 2in aluminum tubing, and a minimum of machined parts are used. For convenience, the Sportster is designed to be towed behind a car. Two average people, 350 pounds combined, can fly comfortably inside its nearly enclosed cockpit for up to 90 miles on a cross-country trip. A 130-hp Franklin, 135-hp Lycoming, or 150-hp Lycoming engine can be used. With the engine cut, the Sportster has a 1,000-fpm sink rate. The Sportster is now marketed by Aircraft Designs, Inc. The Sportster has been in the air since 1974. Its side-by-side dual controls are ideal for flight training. It’s partially enclosed and uses a 160-hp Lycoming engine to reach top speeds of up to 100 mph. Well-detailed plans for the Sportster 2001: $535 
|
