The AutoGyro Calidus is a German autogyro, designed and produced by AutoGyro GmbH of Hildesheim. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 176. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
The Calidus was approved in the United Kingdom in 2010 in a modified form as the RotorSport UK Calidus.
Design and development
The Calidus features a single main rotor; a two-seats in tandem enclosed cockpit with a complete aerodynamic cockpit fairing; tricycle landing gear with wheel pants; and a four-cylinder, air- and liquid-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition Rotax 912 engine or turbocharged Rotax 914 engine in pusher configuration.
The aircraft's fuselage is made from composites and is a faired teardrop shape to ensure smooth airflow over the variable pitch pusher propeller. Its diameter rotor has a chord of . The aircraft has an empty weight of and a gross weight of , giving a useful load of . The design incorporates vibration dampers that greatly reduce the level of main rotor vibration transmitted to the cockpit.
The design is noted for both its cruise speed of and range of . It was developed into the side-by-side configuration AutoGyro Cavalon.
Operational history By December 2012, eight examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration. Most are in the Experimental - Amateur-built or Experimental - Exhibition categories. Also by December 2012, three examples had been registered with Transport Canada in the Special Certificate of Airworthiness Limited category.
Variants AutoGyro Calidus Base model for the European and North American market. RotorSport UK Calidus Modified model for the United Kingdom market, imported assembled and modified by RotorSport UK.
Specifications (Calidus)
See also Niki Lightning - autogyro
References
External links
Video flight report on AVweb