The Taggart GyroBee is an American
autogyro
An autogyro (from Greek and , "self-turning"), also known as a ''gyroplane'', is a type of rotorcraft that uses an unpowered rotor in free autorotation to develop lift. Forward thrust is provided independently, by an engine-driven propeller. Whi ...
that was designed by Ralph E. Taggart of
Michigan State University and made available as free documentation. The aircraft is also produced in kit form by
Star Bee Gyros of
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester ( , ) is a city and county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, the city's population was 206,518 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the second-List of cities i ...
for
amateur construction.
[Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 184 and 187. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X]
Design and development
The GyroBee was designed to comply with the US
FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles
Ultralight aircraft in the United States are much smaller and lighter than ultralight aircraft as defined by all other countries.
In the United States, ultralights are described as "ultralight vehicles" and not as aircraft. They are not req ...
rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of . The aircraft has a standard empty weight of . It features a single main rotor, a single-seat open cockpit without a windshield,
tricycle landing gear
Tricycle gear is a type of aircraft undercarriage, or ''landing gear'', arranged in a tricycle fashion. The tricycle arrangement has a single nose wheel in the front, and two or more main wheels slightly aft of the center of gravity. Tricycle g ...
and a twin-cylinder, air-cooled,
two-stroke
A two-stroke (or two-stroke cycle) engine is a type of internal combustion engine that completes a power cycle with two strokes (up and down movements) of the piston during one power cycle, this power cycle being completed in one revolution of ...
,
dual-ignition
Dual Ignition is a system for spark-ignition engines, whereby critical ignition components, such as spark plugs and magnetos, are duplicated. Dual ignition is most commonly employed on aero engines,Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, ...
Zanzottera MZ 201
The Zanzottera MZ 201 and MZ 202 are a family of twin-cylinder, in-line two-stroke, dual ignition aircraft engines designed for ultralight aircraft and motor gliders.Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page G ...
engine in
pusher configuration.
The aircraft
fuselage
The fuselage (; from the French ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an engine as well, although in some amphibious aircraf ...
is made from bolted-together
6061-T6 aluminum
6061 ( Unified Numbering System (UNS) designation A96061) is a precipitation-hardened aluminium alloy, containing magnesium and silicon as its major alloying elements. Originally called "Alloy 61S", it was developed in 1935. It has good mechani ...
tubing. Its diameter Sport Copter rotor has a chord of . With its empty weight of and a gross weight of , it has a useful load of .
Variants
;Taggart Gyro Bee
:Plans-built version introduced in 1990.
;Star Bee Light
:Kit-built version of the GyroBee, produced by Star Bee Gyros. Mounts a Sport Copter rotor,
Ivoprop
Ivoprop Corporation, founded in 1984 by Ivo Zdarsky, is an American manufacturer of composite propellers for homebuilt and ultralight aircraft, as well as airboats. The company's headquarters are in Long Beach, California.Purdy, Don: ''AeroCraf ...
propeller and a
Zanzottera MZ 201
The Zanzottera MZ 201 and MZ 202 are a family of twin-cylinder, in-line two-stroke, dual ignition aircraft engines designed for ultralight aircraft and motor gliders.Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page G ...
.
;Star Bee Total Bee
:Kit-built version of the GyroBee, produced by Star Bee Gyros. Mounts a Dragon Wings rotor,
Ivoprop
Ivoprop Corporation, founded in 1984 by Ivo Zdarsky, is an American manufacturer of composite propellers for homebuilt and ultralight aircraft, as well as airboats. The company's headquarters are in Long Beach, California.Purdy, Don: ''AeroCraf ...
propeller and a
Zanzottera MZ 202.
;
Midwest Hornet
:Free plans-built version, based on the GyroBee.
Specifications (Star Bee Light)
See also
References
External links
*{{Official website, https://web.archive.org/web/20130313070615/http://taggart.glg.msu.edu/gyro/gbplans.htm
Design documentationPhotos of Star Bee Gyros
1990s United States sport aircraft
Homebuilt aircraft
Single-engined pusher autogyros
Aircraft first flown in 1990