Cierva C.19
Cierva Autogiro Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1929 · light aircraft
The Cierva C.19 was a two-seat autogyro produced in the UK from 1929 onward, one of the first autogyros to enter small-scale production and the type that established Cierva's reputation internationally. It retained small stub wings with ailerons to assist rotor load-sharing, distinguishing it from later tilting-rotor designs.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Pyramid-frame rotor pylon above forward fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Pyramid-frame rotor pylon above forward fuselage
- Small stub wings with ailerons beneath the rotor hub
- Early Cierva autogyro with tandem open cockpits
Distinguished from the later C.30 by the presence of small fixed stub wings with ailerons and the use of a pyramid-frame rotor pylon rather than a simple mast. The conventional tractor radial nose and open tandem cockpits are characteristic.
Specifications
- The Cierva C.19 has a length of 5.49 m (18 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.97 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 153 km/h (95 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 pilot + 1 passenger.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by the Cierva Autogiro Company and built by A.V. Roe (Avro), the C.19 was produced in four marks between 1929 and 1932. The Mk IV introduced a three-blade cantilever rotor, improving performance significantly. The type was exported to several countries and licensed for production in the United States by Pitcairn.
Variants
Marks I through IV differed in rotor blade count and hub design; the Mk IV abandoned the four-blade wire-braced rotor of earlier marks for a three-blade cantilever unit.
Where you'll see it
Operated by private owners and demonstration pilots across Europe and the United States; the type proved the commercial viability of the autogyro concept and attracted military interest in several nations.
Related aircraft
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