Air Copter A3C explained

The Air Copter A3C is a French autogyro, designed and produced by Air Copter of Lherm, Haute-Garonne. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1]

Design and development

The A3C was designed to comply with amateur-built aircraft rules. It features a single main rotor, a two-seat side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit with a windshield, tricycle landing gear and a four-cylinder, air and liquid-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition, turbocharged 1150NaN0 Rotax 914 or a normally-aspirated 1000NaN0 Rotax 912S engine mounted in pusher configuration.

Air Copter is well known as a designer and manufacturer of gyroplane rotor blades and other dynamic components and they also make their own components for the A3C. The aircraft's 8.41NaN1 diameter rotor has a chord of 201NaN1 and employs a NACA 8H12 airfoil. The main rotor has a pre-rotator to shorten take-off distance. The aircraft has an empty weight of 250kg (550lb) and a gross weight of 450kg (990lb), giving a useful load of 200kg (400lb).[2]

Notes and References

  1. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 174. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. Web site: Air Copter - Air Copter Sarl (France), Aircraft - Manufacturer. 26 December 2012. Jane's Information Group. 3 November 2011. 26 January 2013. https://archive.today/20130126201039/http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-All-the-Worlds-Aircraft/Air-Copter--Air-Copter-Sarl-France.html. dead.