Kay Gyroplane

The Kay Gyroplane Type 33/1 was a 1930s British single-seat autogiro design by David Kay.[1]

Kay Gyroplane
The Gyroplane at Scone Airport in 1967 after restoration to static display standard
Role Single-seat autogyro
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Oddie, Bradbury and Cull Limited
Designer David Kay
First flight 18 February 1935
Introduction 1935
Retired 1947
Status On display
Primary user the designer
Number built 1 (32/1)
1 (33/1)
Type 33/1 on display at the National Museum of Scotland.

Design and development

David Kay had first flown an autogiro (the Type 32/1) in 1932 but it was damaged in early 1933 and not repaired. Kay then designed a larger single-seat autogiro, the Type 33/1 and contracted Oddie, Bradbury and Cull Limited of Southampton to build two fuselages.[1]

The first autogiro, registered G-ACVA, first flew on 18 February 1935 from Eastleigh Airport.[1] The second autogiro was not completed.[1] Following the last flight of G-ACVA on 16 August 1947 at Perth Airport (Scotland) at Scone, it was stored there for many years. It was then refurbished at Scone in 1967 and loaned to the Museum of Transport, Glasgow.[1] The autogyro was then purchased from the Kay family by the National Museums Scotland and is on display in the main museum building in Chambers Street, Edinburgh.

Variants
Type 32/1
Single-seat autogiro powered by an ABC Scorpion piston engine.
Type 33/1
Single-seat autogiro powered by a Pobjoy R piston engine.

Aircraft on display

On display at National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland.[2]

Specifications

Data from [1] British Civil Aircraft since 1919 - Volume 3

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 5.46 m (17 ft 11 in)
  • Empty weight: 301 kg (664 lb)
  • Gross weight: 417 kg (920 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pobjoy R piston engine , 56 kW (75 hp)
  • Main rotor diameter: 6.71 m (22 ft 0 in)

See also

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. Jackson 1974, p. 258
  2. Ellis 2010, p. 276

Bibliography
  • Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 - Volume 3. Putnam & Company Ltd. ISBN 0-370-10014-X.
  • Ellis, Ken (2010). Wrecks & Relics, 22nd edition. Manchester: Crécy Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85979-150-2.
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