Cierva C.8
Cierva Autogiro Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1926 · light aircraft
The Cierva C.8 was an early autogyro design by Juan de la Cierva, featuring a conventional fuselage with a freely spinning overhead rotor supplementing fixed wings. It was one of the pivotal early designs that demonstrated the practical potential of rotary-wing assisted lift.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.97 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Early Cierva autogyro with four-blade rotor
- Fixed conventional wings retained alongside rotor
- Licence-built in UK and France from Spanish design
Conventional biplane or monoplane fuselage with a prominent four-blade overhead autorotating rotor. The combination of fixed wings and rotor is the defining characteristic distinguishing early Cierva autogyros.
Specifications
- The Cierva C.8 has a length of 10.97 m (36 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.06 m (23 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 161 km/h (100 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Juan de la Cierva developed his autogyro concept in Spain and moved to Britain to further develop it with the Cierva Autogiro Company. The C.8 of 1926 was an important step, using an Avro 504 fuselage mated to a four-blade autorotating rotor. It achieved notable early flights and helped attract interest from military and civil operators. Licence agreements spread the technology to other manufacturers.
Variants
Several sub-variants of the C.8 existed, including versions built under licence by Avro in Britain and Lioré et Olivier in France. The basic configuration was refined through the C.8L and C.8W sub-types.
Where you'll see it
Used for demonstration and evaluation flights in the United Kingdom and abroad. The C.8 proved the viability of the autogyro concept and paved the way for later Cierva models that entered limited service with air forces.
Related aircraft
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