Gyroplanes
Gyroplanes use an airplane engine and small propeller to push or pull themselves forward. As they move, air rushing up through the free-wheeling overhead rotor blades causes the rotor to rotate.
Gyroplane
A rotorcraft whose rotors are not engine-driven, except for initial starting, but are made to rotate by action of the air when the rotorcraft is moving; and whose means of propulsion, consisting usually of conventional propellers, ...
Gyroplane. A mechanically-driven aeroplane deriving its lift from the reaction of the air on one or more rotors freely rotating in a horizontal plane.
Gyroplanes also cannot fly safely under low-g conditions, such as a pitch-over maneuver commonly used in fixed-wing aircraft, due to excessive loss of rotor rpm and resulting rotor instability.
Gyroplane pioneer Juan de LeCervia (TBS - spelling) solved this by installing a flapping hinge. This hinge allows the blade to move up and down, changing the angle of attack and thus the amount of lift being generated.
(d) For a gyroplane rating. Except as provided in paragraph (i) of this section, ...
Autogyros or gyroplanes have unpowered rotors, with a separate power plant to provide thrust. The rotor is tilted backwards. As the autogyro moves forward, air blows upwards through it, making it spin.(cf. Autorotation) ...
Ratings are more complex than this limited explanation -- for example, Rotorcraft come in two flavors, Helicopter and Gyroplane; Lighter-than-Air aircraft come in two flavors, Free Balloon and Airship; ...
gyroplanes.org is the representative body for Autogyros and Gyroplanes in the UK - primarily 'full size' aircraft, but some of the skeletal ones are smaller than the bigger fixed wing models flying nowadays.
The problem that Juan encountered was that as his gyroplane would start to fly, it would invariable roll to the left and crash. Models he built using lightweight rotors did not experience this.
Examples include: single engine; multiengine; land; water; gyroplane; helicopter; airship; and free balloon; and (2) As used with respect to the certification of aircraft, ...
 See also: Plane, Aircraft, Rotor, Speed, Flight
  
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