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

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

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