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/

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

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