Avian Aircraft Ltd 2/180

This two-seat Gyroplane was a compound aircraft flew in spring 1960 as an experimental machine, and a small production run followed.

The all-metal fuselage had a tandem two-seat cockpit in the front enclosed by a large bubble canopy, and a 180hp Lycoming O-360-A engine in the rear driving a pusher propeller inside a circular duct. The 2/180A was fitted with a fixed tricycle undercarriage and had a three-blade rotor fitted with compressed air tip nozzles to assist 'jump starting'. The top rotor had three blades, with flapping hinges. The blades had steel tube and leading edge spars, wood core, and fiberglass covering, and used a NACA 0015 configuration. The plane had a non-retractable tricycle landing gear with a steerable nose wheel and disc brakes. The prototype (CF-LKF-X) first flew in early 1960 but was subsequently damaged beyond repair.

It was followed by a second aircraft (CF-MTV-X) on 16 February, 1961. This 2/180B prototype used a mechanical drive to the rotor. Avian then built the first of three pre-production prototypes (CF-NWS-X) with a larger annular duct, no tail fins and a more extensively framed cockpit canopy. These were followed by a 'certification prototype' (CF-JTO-X) which had further canopy modifications, spring steel undercarriage legs and a 200hp Lycoming IO-360 engine. The Avian 2/180 was certificated in 1968, but it seems that the company went out of business shortly after without starting production.

Avian 2/180
Engine: 1 x Lycoming IO-360, 150kW
Main rotor diameter: 11.28m
Fuselage length: 4.92m
Height: 2.95m
Take-off weight: 862kg
Empty weight: 590kg
Max speed: 193km/h
Cruising speed: 179km/h
Service ceiling: 4280m
Range: 640km
Rate of climb SL: 5m/s
Seats: 2