The Layzell Cricket is a single-seat autogyro produced in the United Kingdom for homebuilding, although it was first produced in the early 1970s fully factory-built. It was a typically minimalist design, featuring a pilot's seat semi-enclosed within a fairing, and a pusher engine and large tailfin located aft of the rotor mast. Forty-three of the original Crickets were built by Campbell Aircraft, with the type enjoying a brief revival in 2001 when it was marketed in kit form by Mike Concannon of Cricket Gyroplanes, before reaching production again in 2005 by Layzell Gyroplanes as the Mk.6.
| Cricket | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Recreational autogyro |
| Manufacturer | Campbell Aircraft Cricket Gyroplanes Layzell Gyroplanes |
| Designer | Peter Lovegrove |
| First flight | November 1969 |
| Number built | 43 |
The type remained in production by Layzell through 2011, although by July 2012 the company website had been removed from the internet.[1][2]
Specifications (Mk.6) edit
Data from Taylor and Bayerl[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Length: 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)
- Empty weight: 310 lb (141 kg)
- Gross weight: 650 lb (295 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 36 litres (7.9 imp gal; 9.5 US gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 twin cylinder two stroke, liquid-cooled, aircraft engine, 64 hp (48 kW)
- Main rotor diameter: 22 ft 0 in (6.71 m)
- Main rotor area: 380 sq ft (35 m2)
- Propellers: 3-bladed composite
Performance
- Maximum speed: 63 mph (102 km/h, 55 kn)
- Cruise speed: 52 mph (83 km/h, 45 kn)
- Rate of climb: 650 ft/min (3.3 m/s)
- Disk loading: 1.71 lb/sq ft (8.3 kg/m2)
References edit
- ^ a b Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 182. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ Layzell Gyroplanes (n.d.). "Gyro Kits". Archived from the original on 17 November 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- March, Peter R. (October 1970). "Campbell Cricket: Britain's best-selling gyroplane". Aircraft Illustrated. Vol. 3, no. 10. pp. 394–396.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 225.
- Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.
External links edit
