Breguet-Richet Gyroplane

Infobox Aircraft
name=Gyroplane No.I and No.II


caption=Breguet-Richet Gyroplane No.1, 1907.
type= Rotary-wing test vehicle
manufacturer= Breguet
designer=
first flight= 1907
introduced=
retired=
status=
primary user=
more users=
produced=
number built= 2
variants with their own articles=

The Breguet-Richet Gyroplane was an early French experimental rotary-wing aircraft developed by Breguet.

Design and development

The Gyroplane No.I was one of the earliest attempts to create a practical rotary-wing aircraft, developed by the Breguet brothers with help from Professor Charles Richet. The aircraft was an uncovered open framework structure with a seat for the pilot and a powerplant. Radiating from the central structure were four tubular steel wire-braced arms. At the end of each arm, smaller intersecting tubular frames were pivoted and able to rotate when driven by the engine. Each of these rotors carried two fabric-covered lifting surfaces at the end of each arm. Each arm provided eight lifting surfaces, a total of 32. To eliminate the torque effect two rotors were driven clockwise and two counter-clockwise.

Operational service

During August or September (probably September 19) 1907 Gyroplane No.I was flown for the first time albeit only to an elevation of half a metre. It was not a free flight as four men were used to steady the structure. It was not controllable nor steerable, but it was the first time a rotary-wing device had lifted itself and a pilot into the air. It later flew up to 1.52m (5 ft) above the ground. The design was improved and Gyroplane No.II appeared the following year. No.II had two two-blade rotors of 7.85m (25.75 ft) diameter and also had fixed wings. Powered by a 55hp (41kw) Renault engine it was reported to have flown successfully more than once during 1908. No.II was damaged in a heavy landing and was rebuilt as the No.IIbis. It flew at least once in April 1909 before being destroyed when the company's works were badly damaged in a severe storm.

pecifications (No.I)

aerospecs
met or eng?= met

crew=One pilot
capacity=
length m=
length ft=
length in=
span m=
span ft=
span in=
swept m=
swept ft=
swept in=
rot number=4
rot dia m=8
rot dia ft=26
rot dia in=3
dia m=
dia ft=
dia in=
width m=
width ft=
width in=
height m=3.7
height ft=12
height in=1¾
wing area sqm=14.7
wing area sqft=158.23
swept area sqm=
swept area sqft=
rot area sqm=26
rot area sqft=279.87
volume m3=
volume ft3=
aspect ratio=
empty weight kg=500
empty weight lb=1,102
gross weight kg=578
gross weight lb=1,274
lift kg=
lift lb=

eng1 number=1
eng1 type=Antoinette piston engine
eng1 kw=30/34
eng1 hp=40/45
eng1 kn=
eng1 lbf=
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eng1 lbf-ab=
eng2 number=
eng2 type=
eng2 kw=
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eng2 kn-ab=
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max speed kmh=
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range km=
range miles=
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endurance min=
ceiling m=
ceiling ft=
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climb rate ftmin=
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armament1=
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ee also

aircontent
related=
*Helicopter

similar aircraft=

lists=

References

*cite book |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985)|year= |publisher= Orbis Publishing|location= |issn=

External links