Air & Space 18A
Air & Space America · United States · first flew 1959 · light aircraft
The Air & Space 18A was an American two-seat autogyro of the late 1950s that earned FAA certification and achieved modest commercial sales as one of the few production gyroplane designs available in the United States at the time.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.2 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- open-framework autogyro with large unpowered rotor
- tractor propeller on nose
- side-by-side two-seat open cockpit
Unmistakable autogyro configuration: large free-spinning rotor mast above a slim fuselage, conventional tractor propeller on the nose, and a small fixed-wing stub or none at all. The open or lightly enclosed side-by-side cockpit and the big rotor overhead distinguish it from any conventional fixed-wing type.
Specifications
- The Air & Space 18A has a length of 6.2 m (20 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.7 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 177 km/h (110 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by Air & Space America (formerly associated with Umbaugh Aircraft), the 18A received FAA type certification and was marketed as a safe, slow-speed personal aircraft. The autogyro's inherent inability to stall and short-field capability attracted interest, but high cost and the novelty of the configuration limited sales. The programme passed through several ownership changes during its life.
Variants
The basic 18A was offered in single and dual-control configurations; no substantially different variants were produced.
Where you'll see it
Small numbers operated privately in the United States through the 1960s; the type occasionally appeared at airshows demonstrating slow-speed flight.
Related aircraft
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