Cierva C.24
de Havilland · United Kingdom · first flew 1931 · light aircraft
The de Havilland C.24 was a two-seat autogyro built by de Havilland at its Stag Lane works in England in 1931, using a Cierva rotor.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.1 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Cierva rotor head on a fixed cabin
- Cabin of a de Havilland DH.80A Puss Moth
- Single 120 hp Gipsy III engine driving a tractor propeller
It combined a Puss Moth cabin with a Cierva rotor head, with a rotor diameter of 10.36 m. Its maximum speed was about 185 km/h.
Specifications
- The Cierva C.24 has a length of 6.1 m (20 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.36 m (34 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 185 km/h (115 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was built in 1931 using a Cierva rotor head coupled to the cabin of a de Havilland DH.80A Puss Moth, and driven by a 120 hp Gipsy III engine. It first flew in September 1931.
Variants
In 1932 it was redesignated C.26 when a two-blade rotor system was installed. This is not to be confused with the unbuilt twin-engine C.26 autogiro design.
Where you'll see it
A single example, G-ABLM, was produced. It was withdrawn from use by December 1934 and is part of the Science Museum collection, on loan to the de Havilland Aircraft Museum at Salisbury Hall.
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