Aircraft Designs Inc / Hollman Bumble Bee

In 1984 the world's first ultralight gyroplane made its debut in the pages of Ultralight Aircraft magazine. This was Martin Hollmann's Bumblebee. Hollman had originally planned to market Bumblebee kits, but only a small run had been produced.

A single seat open frame autogyro with an airframe of bolted 2x2 aluminium tubing and a simplified rotor head. Big enough for a large pilot, the plans sold for US$200 in 2001 and US$250 in 2009.

Able to take either a 40-hp Rotax 447 or a 38.5-hp Kawasaki engine, the take-off distance is 230 ft on a calm day and useful load is 270 pounds.

Engine: Rotax 447, 40 hp
Prop: 66” x 68” wood
Rotor blades: 23’ x 7” aluminium/composite
Disk area: 415 sq.ft
Width 7'4"
Height 7'8"
Length 12'
Empty Weight 230 lbs
Useful Load 300 lbs
Gross Weight 500 lbs
Fuel cap: 5 USG
Min Speed 10 mph
Cruise 40 mph
Top Speed 70 mph
Range: 65 sm
Service ceiling: 16,000 ft
Seats: 1
Landing gear: nose wheel