2001: Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA.
2009: Rotor Hawk Industries, Inc.
11114 Maples Rd.
Ft. Wayne, IN 46816, USA
Gyrocopter builder
Author: Terry
Rotor Flight Dynamic Dominator Tandem
A two seat tandem autogyro. A high profile open-frame design utilising a T tail, full suspension landing gear and large propeller. Also available: parts, components, pre-welded airframe kit.
Engine: 74 hp Rotax 618 or Subaru EA81.
Prop: 70” Warp Drive.
Rotor blades: 27-28’ Dragon Wings, all aluminium, bonded skins.
Min Speed 20 mph
Cruise 40-75 mph
Top Speed 75 mph
Empty Weight 375 lbs
Useful Load 505 lbs
Gross Weight 1,000 lbs
Width 6′
Height 10′
Length 13′
Seats 2
Rotor Flight Dynamic Dominator Gallery
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Rotor Flight Dynamic Dominator
High-profile open-frame design built of 2 x 2 aluminum tubing bolted together and welded. Utilizes tall tail, full suspension landing gear with 9″ travel, large propeller. Also available: parts, components, pre-welded airframe kit.70-min video $27.95 Assembly manual now available.
Plans were available for the single-seater Dominator models in 2001: $175. Plans: US$175 in 2009.
Depending on model and engine size, Dominators are available fully assembled: $12,000 to $29,000 in 2001.
The craft also holds the official world altitude record in its class, at 24,463 ft.
Rotor Flight Dynamic Dominator Plans
Engine: 52 hp Rotax 503, 66 hp Rotax 582 or 74 hp Rotax 618. Prop: 60” GSC or Warp Drive multi blade.
Rotor blades: 23’ x 7” Dragon Wings, all aluminium, bonded skins.
Single-seat open-frame autogyro
Engines: Rotax or Hirth
Propeller: 60″ GSC or Warp Drive multi-blade
Rotor Blades:23’X 7″ DragonWings all-aluminum, bonded skins
Specifications:
Min Speed 12 mph
Cruise 50+ mph
Top Speed 90+ mph
Empty Weight 310 lbs
Useful Load 310 lbs
Gross Weight 620 lbs
Width 5’6″
Height 8’1″
Length 10′
Seats 1
Engine: Rotax 582, 64 hp
Rotor span: 7.01 m
Blade area: 0.18 sq.m
MAUW: 280 kg
Empty weight: 140 kg
Max speed: 145 kph
Cruise speed: 80 kph
Minimum speed: 20 kph
Climb rate: 7 m/s
Seats: 1
Fuel consumption: 17 lt/hr
Plan price (1998): $175
Rotor Flight Dynamic Inc
1998-2009: Rotor Flight Dynamics, Inc.
19242 Grange Hall Loop
Wimauma, FL 33598, USA
Gyrocopter builder
Rotorcraft Grasshopper II
The Grasshopper 1 flew on March 11, 1962, but was considered to be underpowered. Only six months later the Grasshopper II emerged with two Walter Minor engines, and made its first hover on November 26 of that year. Its chief sponsor, F. G. Mitchell, died the same year and his heirs were unable to continue the financial support of the Grasshopper on their own.
Rotorcraft Grasshopper I
In 1951 J. S. Shapiro, formed a company, Servotec Ltd, to undertake R&D and contract design work for the aviation and light engineering industries. Shapiro had previously been with Sir Frank Whittle at Power Jets Ltd, where he came into contact with James Weir’s enthusiasm for personal helicopters. Aided by a loan from the Kemsley Flying Trust, Servotec began serious studies of small, foolproof helicopters and designed an experi¬mental model of the twin engined coaxial Grasshopper. These researches came to the notice of F. G. Mitchell, head of the Mitchell Engineering Group, who became fired with Weir’s and Shapiro’s enthusiasm.
Mitchell Engineering and Shapiro founded a new company in 1960, Rotorcraft Ltd, specifically to undertake the development of a helicopter which would embody the principles which had crystallised over the years. The construction was contracted to Servotec and two years later the company completed its first coaxial rotor helicopter, the Grasshopper 1.
The “Grasshopper” in its definitive form had an enclosed fuselage sports car with a small v-tail and a skid undercarriage. It was powered by a pair of 65hp Walter Mikron piston engines mounted forward of the two seat cabin. These drove a pair of two-blade coaxial rotors mounted on a pylon which emerged just ahead of the cockpit windshield.
G-ARVN, the prototype, flew on 11 March 1962, but was withdrawn from use the following spring when funding was withdrawn following the death of the owner of Mitchell Engineering, and the project was abandoned. It was considered to be underpowered.
Rotorcraft Ltd
Formed jointly by Mitchell Engineering Group and Servotec Ltd to develop the Grasshopper twin-engined light helicopter designed by Jacob Shapiro. Powered by two Walter Minor engines, this was first flown in 1962. A second example was built, but the type did not enter production.
James Weir became aware of the CR Twin development and in 1965 decided to give this development financial support. This combination of interests was cemented in a take over of Rotorcraft Ltd by the Cierva Autogiro Co, which was thereupon renamed the Cierva Rotorcraft Co.
Rotorcraft Designs Ultra Aggressor
An Aggressor 1 licenced as an ultralight by using a 50 hp Rotax 503 engine and 23’ x 7” Dragon Wings rotor.
Rotorcraft Designs Aggressor 1
A single seat partially enclosed autogyro. Drop keel airframe design with T tail.
Engine: 97 hp Subaru
Prop: 60” Precision wood
Rotor blades: 27’ x 8” Sky Wheels
Min speed: 15 mph
Cruise: 70 mph
Top speed: 110 mph
Empty wt: 435 lb
Useful load: 325 lb
Gross wt: 760 lb
Width: 5’6”
Height: 7’4”
Length: 8’6”
