From Autogiro to Gyroplane: The Amazing Survival of an Aviation Technology [Hardcover]

Bruce H. Charnov (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1567205038 | ISBN-13: 978-1567205039 | Publication Date: July 30, 2003

Predating the invention of the helicopter by two decades, the Autogiro was the world's first rotary-wing aircraft. The helicopter had the advantageous ability to rise straight up, while the Autogiro/gyroplane could only taxi. Yet the gyroplane was safer and more stable; both aircraft should have had value in market. Why did the helicopter survive and prosper, while the Autogiro became a nearly forgotten historical footnote? Why didn't the Autogiro catch on, and why is it being revived today?

This is the first book to tell the fascinating 80-year history of today's gyroplane and its antecedent, the Autogiro. Charnov explains that the near-eclipse of the Autogiro was caused by a potent combination of bad luck, the impact of the Great Depression and World War II, and egregious business decisions. Only by understanding the amazing manner in which this aviation technology has persisted and evolved can one fully understand the basis for its future. In contrast to the fate of the Autogiro, the gyroplane's unfolding story is characterized by successful business models, effective decision making, and the emergence of cutting-edge technology. The survival of the gyroplane may be a paradigm for the persistence of earlier, less complex technologies, and its future relies on grasping its colorful history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Bruce Charnov has written an exceptional book, and the first to tell in detail the quite extraordinary story of 80-years of autorotational flight. It should prove to be a valuable reference resource for many years to come."-British Rotorcraft Association Members' Magazine

Book Description

Charnov tells the 80-year history of the Autogiro, a rotary-wing aircraft that predated the helicopter by two decades and that was almost lost to history before its resurrection as the gyrocopter in the 1950s and 1960s.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Praeger (July 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1567205038
• ISBN-13: 978-1567205039
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,607,182 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Worthwhile if read with some skepticism, July 8, 2006

By 

JPH (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Autogiro to Gyroplane: The Amazing Survival of an Aviation Technology (Hardcover)

Charnov has done a creditable job of presenting a history of the Autogiro. This effort joins the small library available on the subject, the current gold standard being "Cierva Autogiros" by Peter Brooks, who in addition to his writing abilities is technically qualified to discuss the subject. Though Charnov has obviously expended much effort in gathering, sifting and organizing information on the Autogiro, his greatest weakness is his lack of technical understanding of the aircraft. For the casual reader, this deficiency is probably unnoticeable; however, since books of this type tend to attract a somewhat technically aware audience, the frequent and inaccurate use of terms and descriptions detracts from the book. The discussion of the Fairey Gyrodyne completely misses the point of what made this third type of rotorcraft (including gyroplane and helicopter) so technologically significant. Also, the title, "From Autogiro to Gyroplane," is misleading since the latter term is merely a generic definition for autorotational aircraft which automatically includes the trademarked Autogiro; the title is analogous to "From Chevrolet to Automobile."

This book's greatest failure is the implication that the Bensen Gyrocopter and its derivatives are the natural successors to the Autogiro. The Autogiro was developed, constructed, and operated by aviation professionals. This produced the outstanding safety record of the Autogiro even though each successive aircraft included significant technical or operational advances over its predecessor. This work laid the foundation for today's rotary wing aircraft industry. By contrast, the Bensen Gyrocopter and derivatives are commonly designed, constructed, and operated by rank amateurs who commonly dismiss or are completely ignorant of lessons learned during the development of the Autogiro, with the result that this type of aircraft has established an abysmal safety record. It is instructive to compare side-by-side Bensen's "Mechanics Illustrated" advertisements of the type, build it yourself, train yourself to fly it, with Cierva Autogiro Company/Pitcairn Autogiro Company advertisements which announce the availability of professional flight training in certificated aircraft.

The era of the Autogiro ended with the magnificent Fairey Rotodyne; with very few exceptions, succeeding gyroplane history is the story of amateurs.

This book contains much valuable information though it includes a significant amount of detritus.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and complete, perhaps too much so., October 7, 2005

By 

Charles Hall (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: From Autogiro to Gyroplane: The Amazing Survival of an Aviation Technology (Hardcover)

The book is superbly researched and seems to include every scrap of autogiro history from the beginning right up through the ultra-lights of the present day. Each period is given it's due and no enthusiast will be disappointed by the coverage of his or her special interest. Excellent bibliography and further reading suggestions as well.

Having said that, reading the book from cover to cover is slow going. And the interweaved tales of various autogiro developments in various times and locales makes some sections almost unreadable. For example you'll be reading about some invention progressing from 1926 to 1939 and then be abruptly jerked back to 1927 to start the next thread of development. When this happens 4 or 5 times in two or three pages you loose all sense of what happened when. But I'm not sure how you'd fix that except to edit out some of the material.

5.0 out of 5 stars Some day we will all have one in our driveway!, January 16, 2007

By 

Beezlephod (Wilimington DE) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Autogiro to Gyroplane: The Amazing Survival of an Aviation Technology (Hardcover)

Excellent book for any one interested in aviation. After reading the book we found out there is a Pitcarin autogyro in a museum less then 10 miles from our house. It is a must read for those interested in helicopters and their development.