The RotorSport Calidus is a German tandem two-seater
autogyro
An autogyro (from Greek and , "self-turning"), gyroscope, gyrocopter or gyroplane, is a class of rotorcraft that uses an unpowered rotor in free autorotation to develop lift. A gyroplane "means a rotorcraft whose rotors are not engine-d ...
modified in the UK to meet
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.
* British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
Civil Airworthiness Requirements CAP643 Section T.
The Calidus is an enclosed-cockpit development of the open-cockpit
RotorSport UK MT-03. New-build
AutoGyro Calidus aircraft are imported from the manufacturers,
AutoGyro GmbH in Hildeshem, Germany and completed to British regulations by
RotorSport UK Ltd (now AGC).
Design and development
The Calidus is powered by a
Rotax 912 ULS
The Rotax 912 is a horizontally-opposed four-cylinder, naturally-aspirated, four-stroke aircraft engine with a reduction gearbox. It features liquid-cooled cylinder heads and air-cooled cylinders. Originally equipped with carburetors, late ...
, although optionally a
Rotax 914 UL Turbo can be fitted. Fuel capacity is either 39 litres in a single tank or 74 litres in two tanks.
The Calidus has an aerodynamic fuselage pod, giving 20 knots higher maximum speed than the MT-03.
While the open-cockpit MT-03 (which continues in production) is promoted as a "motorbike in the skies", the Calidus is aimed at a different market. The Calidus' fully enclosed cockpit protects the occupants from exposure to inclement weather, while the aircraft's higher cruise speed makes it more suitable for long-distance touring.
The panel can be equipped with conventional instruments and/or a "glass panel" according to certification requirements and the buyer's needs. For the UK RotorSport version, either a fixed-pitch
propeller
A propeller (often called a screw if on a ship or an airscrew if on an aircraft) is a device with a rotating hub and radiating blades that are set at a pitch to form a helical spiral which, when rotated, exerts linear thrust upon a working flu ...
or a ground-adjustable propeller may be fitted;
but in Germany the unmodified AutoGyro Calidus has either a ground-adjustable propeller or an inflight-adjustable
controllable-pitch propeller.
The Calidus has a take off distance of 10 to 70 metres and lands in 15 metres, or can land vertically in some circumstances.
Flying speeds range from to ;.
An optional heater makes cold-weather flying feasible; but although navigation lights may be fitted, night flying is not permitted. The payload is 230 kg for versions with the Rotax 912,
so even with a full fuel load of 54 kg, two crew of up to 88 kg each can be accommodated.
UK manufacturer AGC
The UK manufacturer, formerly RotorSport UK Ltd (RSUK), is now known as AutoGyro Certification Ltd (AGC). AGC holds the CAA AANs for the gyroplanes in the UK, and are responsible for the Continued Airworthiness of all RSUK gyroplanes. The company is based in Wentnor, Bishops Castle Shropshire.
Operators
;
Brest Border guard
A border guard of a country is a national security agency that ensures border security. Some of the national border guard agencies also perform coast guard (as in Germany, Italy or Ukraine) and rescue service duties.
Name and uniform
In diff ...
, at least one labeled EW-443SL
Specifications (Rotax 912 variant)
See also
References
{{AutoGyro GmbH aircraft
2000s British civil utility aircraft
AutoGyro GmbH aircraft
Single-engined pusher autogyros