| C.6 | |
|---|---|
 Cierva C.6 autogyro taking off | |
| General information | |
| Type | Autogyro |
| Manufacturer | Cierva |
| Designer | |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| First flight | March 1924 |
| Developed from | Cierva C.5 |
TheCierva C.6 was the sixthautogyro designed by engineerJuan de la Cierva, and the first one to travel a "major" distance.Cierva, theengineer responsible for the invention of theautogyro, had spent all his funds on the research and creation of his first fiveprototypes. Therefore, in 1923, he turned to theCuatro Vientos Aerodynamics Laboratory chief, CommanderEmilio Herrera, who succeeded in persuading GeneralFrancisco Echagüe, the director of the Military Aviation Aeronautics Department, to take over the second stage in the research and development of Cierva'sautogyros.[1]
After severalwind tunnel tests, Military Aviation built a Cierva C.6 autogyro in anAvro 504 frame. This machine, piloted by CaptainJoaquín Loriga Taboada, made three flights, all of them in March 1924. One of those flights, the eight-minute trip fromCuatro Vientos airfield toGetafe airfield (10.5 km or 6.5 miles), was considered a giant step for Cierva's autogyros.
The Cierva C.6 prototype was fitted with ailerons mounted on two small wings, also with elevators and a rudder. This complete three-axis control scheme was needed because the pilot had only limited control over therotor. The engine powered the propeller at the front while the rotor on top was unpowered, driven instead by air flowing upward through the inner region of the rotor disc. This meant that the aircraft, like all autogyros, could not hover. But so long as there was sufficient airflow to turn the rotor the aircraft could safely descend, even at low airspeeds where a conventional airplane would stall and possibly crash.
A replica of the Cierva C.6 was built to be shown inMurcia pavilion inSevilleExpo '92World's Fair. That replica can be now be seen inMuseo del Aire (Spain), Cuatro Vientos,Madrid, Spain.
General characteristics
Performance
Related lists