First JK-2 Nanocopter in Australia

Summer 2023 - Fusioncopter have delivered the first examples of the ultralight JK-2 Nano gyrocopter to Australia. The first example is now registered locally as G-2023 and operates with Gyrocopter Flights Australia at York in Western Australia. 

Five examples of the JK-2 Nano were shipped to Australia in early 2023.

By August 2023 Fusioncopter had produced over thirty five Nano gyrocopters with many of these being exported to pilots in the USA.

More information via the Fusioncopter website below,

 

https://fusioncopter.eu/

G-CMTC - first Aviation Artur Trendak Tercel in the UK

On 4th July 2023 the first Aviation Artur Trendak Tercel gyrocopter was registered in the UK as G-CMTC with serial number T&S K32021RSTI - ie gyro #320.

The Polish built Tercel two seat side by side ( SxS ) gyro has been registered to Forward Aviation Ltd of Princes Risborough, UK. 

Hopefully the first of many other Tercels to come to the UK.

 

 

Fusioncopter JK-3 Juan

The first flight of the new JK-3 Juan took place in late January 2023. This is an ultralight tractor style gyrocopter, in the Polish 115kg category. Tractor gyros ( ie with the engine at the front ) are rare beasts and this design and the name "Juan" is a tribute to the gyrocopter pioneer Juan de la Cierva and his tractor designs of the 1920's. The JK-3 Juan is powered by a Hirth F23 engine ( 50 HP ) and has a 7m rotorblade.

 

 

The JK-3 Juan was test flown with the Fusioncopter factory test registration SP-ZNAN - photo courtesy Fusioncopter  

Argon GTL

The Argon GTL is an enlongated development of the well known Xenon family of gyrocopters offering a lot of luggage space and an extended range for the pilot who wants to tour by gyrocopter. The Argon GTL is powered by a Rotax 915iS engine and is built by Manufaktura Lotnicza at Sobienie airfield ( EPSJ ) south east of Warsaw. 

 

 

 

The first GTL ( orange ) was registered as SP-XOZE in December 2021 with the second example ( dark green and gold ) becoming SP-XSON in April 2022. A blue and silver GTL was shipped to the USA in December 2022.     

Web Link for more information about the Argon GTL

JK-2 Nano - Ultralight gyrocopter

Manufactured by Fusioncopter the JK-2 Nano is a very light weight gyrocopter, designed for the UL 115 Kg class ( MTOW 200 kg ). Aircraft in this category can be flown without a pilots licence. The Nano is powered by a Polini Thor 250DS engine producing 36 HP ( Polini engines are often used on powered paragliders PPG )

The prototype Nano ( SP-NANO ) first flew in September 2019 with early production examples ( SP-ZNAN and SP-ZNAX ) flying by Spring 2020 - the first customer delivery is said to be imminent.

Visit to Aviation Artur Trendak - AAT

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Aviation Artur Trendak ( AAT ) factory at Jaktorow-Kolonia which is approx 35 miles SW of Warsaw, Poland.

The factory here has been building gyrocopters since 2007, initially as Celier Aviation building the Xenon. In late 2011 the business partners split leaving Artur Trendak to establish his own company AAT and further develop this gyro as the Zen1 and now as the Tercel. The three seat version is also in production now known as the Taurus. AAT have delivered approximately 60 gyrocopters since 2012.

At the time of my visit several three seat Taurus gyrocopters were being prepared for delivery to China as quick build kits.

 

AAT is also providing some support for the new Fusioncopter FC-4 four seat twinned engined gyrocopter. The first prototype is shown below being prepared for its initial flight.

I'd like to thank Artur Trendak and Michal Trendak for their help with this visit.


Steve

Zen1 gyrocopter 560kg testing

Earlier in 2013 the EASA increased the maximum take off weight for two seater gyrocopters from 450kg to 560kg.

To meet the new standards Aviation Artur Trendak ( AAT ) have been working with the Czech CAA - back in Feb 2013 Czech engineers visited the AAT factory to perform load and stress tests , see link below


http://www.autogyro.eu/news/proby_obciazeniowe_3

On the 19th June AAT flew a new Zen1 gyro to the Czech Republic for flight testing by the Czech CAA - the revised undercarriage has been tested to 600kg.

Flight trials took place at Milovice, Czech Rep.

More images on the link below


http://www.autogyro.eu/news/milovice_czech_republic_type_certificate




Steve

Celier Aviation 2012 delivery their first new Xenon G2

At the end of 2011 the two key business partners at Celier Aviation ( the manufacturers of the Xenon gyrocopter ) went their separate way. They both wanted to continue building gyrocopters and so two new separate companies were formed - "Aviation Artur Trendak" and "Celier Aviation (2012)".

The new Celier Aviation have recently built a small batch of three Xenon G2 gyroplanes at their facility in Biskupice. The first test flight took place in May 2013 with the first customer delivery going to an owner in Germany in June.

New Celier Aviation Xenon G2 arrives at Muritz Airpark, Germany 6.13  - photo Celier Aviation

Celier Aviation will now focus on the development and test flying of the first Xenon G4 model whilst rival Aviation Artur Trendak continue with production and development of their own Zen1 gyrocopter.

UPDATE 18.6.13 - Celier Aviation have now delivered the second and third new Xenon G2 ( from a batch of 3 ) - these two machines are both painted black and were delivered to Germany on 13.6.13. 

Steve

ULC approves ELA 07 gyrocopter

The ULC ( Polish CAA ) has recently given type certificate approval to the ELA 07 Cougar two seat open cockpit gyrocopter.

This is major step forward for the liberalisation of the gyro market in Poland as previously the only type certified was the Polish built Xenon/Zen1.

Half a dozen of the Spanish built ELA 07 gyros have been operating in Poland since 2008 with most registered on the American "ASC" register and one with a Czech ( OK ) registration.

The first ELA 07 with a Polish registration is SP-XELA - this gyro had previously flown with the ASC registration "A21-KAC".

The local agent "Wiatrakowce" recently imported an agricultural version of the ELA 07 equipped with spray bars  - this was exhibited at a recent farm equipment trade show in Poland.



Find more info about the ELA gyrocopter in Poland on the web link below

http://wiatrakowce.org/

Polish aviation at Berlin ILA aero trade show September 2012

This years Berlin ILA aviation trade show took place in September rather than the usual exhibition in May. Several Polish aviation companies displayed their aircraft at this years show including



Aero-Kros - exhibited a MP-02 Czajka high wing single engine light aircraft

SP-YPR MP-02 Czajka


Aviation Artur Trendak - the company exhibited a Zen1 gyrocopter fitted with surveillance equipment and marked with "Police" titles

Zen1 gyrocopter - "Police" titles


Janowski - exhibited the J-6 Fregata SP-8057



Marganski - exhibited the twin engined EM-11C Orka aircraft and the Fox acrobatic single seat glider

SP-MAR EM-11C Orka
SP-3794 MDM 1 Fox glider

Photo Link to Fox SP-3794 at Berlin ILA 


Politechnic Warszawa  - the aviation faculty at this university has design several gliders in recent years - the latest is the AOS-71 - more info on this new glider on the link below


SP-8071 AOS-71 glider

Link to PW AOS-71 webpage


PZL Mielec - exhibited a Sikorsky S-70i Blackhawk helicopter built at Mielec  - over a dozen have now been built in Poland

SP-YVC S-70i Blackhawk c/n 763840

I-28 Tractor Gyroplane

Poland has a long history of designing new and innovative aircraft  / helicopters / gliders - the Instytutu Lotnictwa ( IL ) aviation academy in Warsaw is currently working on a new gyrocopter, the I-28.

The I-28 is a two seat tractor gyrocopter, ie the powered propeller is at the very front of the aircraft rather than the more conventional ( in modern terms ) pusher type gyro where the powered propeller is behind the cockpit cabin.

The concept of tractor gyrocopters is not new with several designs flying in the 1930s ( Cierva designs )  - the  Instytutu Lotnictwa project brings this concept into the 21st century using the latest design techniques and materials. The design features a very sleek carbon epoxy aerodynamic fuselage with a two wheel undercarriage and a novel tail down design. At the moment the only tractor gyros being built are made in the USA by Little Wing Autogyros.

The first prototype is now nearing completion and the first test flight is due in late 2012.


More information on the link below

I-28 Gyrocopter



Steve

Sky Guards - Xenon gyrocopter

The Sky Guards have recently taken delivery of their first Xenon gyrocopter, registered as SP-XESP - this gyro was built by Aviation Artur Trendak at Jaktorów - Kolonia, Poland.

The Xenon will be used by the volunteer fire service to help patrol Polands many large forests and road network to coordinate the emergency service response to fires and vehicle accidents and other incidents.

Eight local volunteer firemen have now been trained to fly the gyrocopter - the Xenon will soon be fitted with a FLIR turret to assist with the observation task.

With thanks to Darek Szymanczak for the photo and to Paul Komander for info.



Steve

New Xenon - Aviation Artur Trendak

Aviation Artur Trendak will soon deliver a new Xenon G3 gyrocopter to a customer in Turkey. The gyro has been painted and is ready for dispatch - this will be the second Xenon in Turkey.

 
The photo shows the new forward opening doors which are a feature of the G3 model and the revised windscreen / nose profile.

The Aviation Artur Trendak factory continues Xenon production at Jaktorów - Kolonia, Poland, located at the site of the former Celier Avation facility.
 

Steve

The Xenon gyrocopter

Over the past 5 years "Celier Aviation" having been building the successful Xenon gyrocopter at their Jaktorów-Kolonia factory ( just south west of Warsaw, Poland ).  By the end of 2011 approximately 140 examples had been built and delivered to customers all over the World.

The company was owned by the Xenon designer Raphael Celier and his business partner Artur Trendak.

In December 2011 a statement on the "Celier Aviation" website made mention of a major re-structuring at the company. A brief message from Mr Celier suggests that he is currently in Russia ( I understand he is part of  French Aviation Technologies ( F.A.T ) which is in Moscow, Russia ).

At the same time a new company and a new website has appeared relating to "Autogyro.eu" - this appears to be managed by Artur Trendak and offers Xenon gyrocopters - the company is also located at Jaktorów-Kolonia.

The new Autogyro.eu website can be found on the link below
 
Autogyro.eu website



The F.A.T website can be found on the link below

French Aviation Technologies website


The Celier Aviation website can be found on the link below

Celier Aviation website



UPDATE - on the 3rd January 2012 I received a copy of a press release from Raphael Celier confirming the separation of the business between the two partners.  Raphael Celier confirms his intention to build Xenon gyrocopters at a near location near the centre of Warsaw, Poland.

So at this moment ( 3.1.12 ) it appears that there are two separate companies both offering to build new Xenon autogyros in Poland. 

In addition I wonder what will happen to the KISS gyrocopter that was under development.



Steve

Virtus - Gyrocopter designed by Jan Romaniak

A new design from Poland is the Virtus gyrocopter designed and built by Jan Romaniak. The Virtus is an enclosed two seater gyro powered by a Honda CBR 1000 engine. This gyrocopter first flew in December 2009. The prototype Virtus is shown in the photo below

Mr Romaniak has previously built and flown two kit built gyrocopters in Poland  - his first gyro was an AX-02 Gepard which initially operated as F-WTYD before being re-registered as LA-0461.

In 2004 he built an Averso Aviation Delta gyrocopter which was initially registered as AP-MSWQ before being re-registered as SP-MSWO.


For more information about the Virtus and other gyros built by Jan Romaniak please see the web link below


http://www.wiatrakowce.net/


Steve in UK

New Xenons for South Africa

Celier Aviation of Poland recently delivered two new build Xenon 2 gyrocopters to South Africa.

The fully enclosed gyro is popular in South Africa with at least 7 examples registered locally. The latest examples are both Xenon 2 RST models,


ZU-RGA c/n CAH 11974S registered on 21st September 2010

ZU-RGB c/n CAH 11874S registered on 21st September 2010

The Xenon is built at the Celier factory at Jaktorow - Kolonia approx 30 miles south west of Warsaw.


External Link to Celier Xenon 2 RST web page below


http://www.celieraviation.eu/view/131-xenon-2-rst.html


For more information about the Xenon gyrocopter fleet listing see



http://xenongyroblog.blogspot.com/




Steve