North American Rotorwerks LLC ( en, North American Rotorworks) is an American
aircraft manufacturer
An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing, building, testing, selling, and maintaining aircraft, aircraft parts, missiles, rockets, or spacecraft. Aerospace is a high technology indust ...
based in
Tukwila, Washington
Tukwila ( ) is a suburban city in King County, Washington, United States, located immediately to the south of Seattle. The population was 21,798 at the 2020 census.
Tukwila is a community of communities, with residents of many diverse origi ...
, founded by John Vanvoorhees. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of
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 ...
s in the form of kits for
amateur construction.
[Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 184. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X]
The company's
Pitbull Ultralight and SS models as well as their
Pitbull II are intended to resemble the
tractor configuration
In aviation, the term tractor configuration refers to an aircraft constructed in the standard configuration with its engine mounted with the propeller in front of it so that the aircraft is "pulled" through the air. Oppositely, the pusher co ...
radial engine
The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders "radiate" outward from a central crankcase like the spokes of a wheel. It resembles a stylized star when viewed from the front, and is ...
-equipped autogyro designs that were popular in the 1930s. The designs utilize Dragon Blade rotors made by
Rotor Flight Dynamics
Rotor Flight Dynamics Inc was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Wimauma, Florida and owned by Ernie Boyette. The company was founded in 1986 and specialized in the design and manufacture of autogyros in the form of plans and kits for ...
.
By December 2014 the US
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic ...
had six Pitbull autogyros on its
aircraft registry, although eight had been registered at one time.
Founded circa 2008, by February 2013 the company website carried a note indicating that production had been suspended "due to changing circumstances".
Aircraft
References
External links
*
{{North American Rotorwerks aircraft
Aircraft manufacturers of the United States
Autogyros
Homebuilt aircraft