Buhl A-1 Autogiro
Buhl Aircraft Company · United States · first flew 1931 · light aircraft
The Buhl A-1 Autogiro was an autogyro optimised for air camera work, designed and built from 1930. Etienne Dormoy designed it with a pusher engine behind the pilot and camera operator.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.2 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Pusher engine located behind the pilot and camera operator
- Overhead rotor 40 ft (12 m) in diameter
- Two-seat autogyro with a Continental A70 seven-cylinder radial
An autogyro with a rear-mounted pusher engine, which was unusual when it was built. The two crew sit ahead of the engine.
Specifications
- The Buhl A-1 Autogiro has a length of 8.2 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.2 m (40 ft).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The A-1 was the first pusher-style autogyro. It first flew on 15 December 1931 and had a 165 hp Continental A70 seven-cylinder air-cooled radial.
Variants
Only one was built, and it is now on display.
Where you'll see it
It was a camera observation aircraft built by the Buhl Aircraft Company. The sole example is on display at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, California.
Related aircraft
- Buhl CA-1 Airster
- Buhl Airsedan
- Abbott-Baynes Scud 1
- Aero A.46
- Akaflieg Berlin B4 F.F.
- Berliner-Joyce OJ-2
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.