Autogiro Company of America AC-35
Autogiro Company of America · United States · first flew 1936 · helicopter
The Autogiro Company of America AC-35 was an early attempt to make a roadable aircraft in the United States during the 1930s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 4.95 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Roadable autogyro with its rotors stowed for driving
- Three equal-size wheels, two at the front and one at the rear
- Engine mounted at the rear driving a forward propeller by shaft
An autogyro with side-by-side seating, a fuselage of steel tube forward and wood behind, and a rear-mounted Pobjoy Cascade engine driving a forward propeller.
Specifications
- The Autogiro Company of America AC-35 has a length of 4.95 m (16 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.44 m (34 ft).
- Typical crew: 1-2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Design began in 1935 under a Bureau of Air Commerce contract, based on a PA-22 autogyro from ACA's parent company, Pitcairn Autogiro. It was the only one of seven contracted roadable designs to meet all the requirements.
Variants
In 1961 Skyway Engineering licensed it to produce a non-roadable variant with a 135 hp Lycoming O-290; one was built and flown but did not go into production.
Where you'll see it
It was first flown on 26 March 1936 by James G. Ray, and was tested by the company at Pitcairn Field until 1942. It was transferred to the Smithsonian Institution in 1950.
Related aircraft
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