Cierva C.24

Summary

The de Havilland C.24 was a two-seat autogyro built by de Havilland at its Stag Lane works in England in 1931

C.24
de Havilland C.24 in flight
Role Utility autogyro
Manufacturer de Havilland
Designer Juan de la Cierva
First flight September 1931[1]
Status Museum exhibit
Produced 1931
Number built 1
C.24 in flight

Design and development edit

The C.24 was built in 1931 using a Cierva rotor head coupled to the cabin of a de Havilland DH.80A Puss Moth, and driven by a 120 hp Gipsy III engine. It was withdrawn from use by December 1934.[2]

A single example (G-ABLM) was produced and is part of the Science Museum collection. In 1932, it was redesignated C.26 (not to be confused with the unbuilt C.26 twin-engine autogiro design) when a two-blade rotor system was installed.[3] Since 2008 it has been on loan to the de Havilland Aircraft Museum at Salisbury Hall, near London Colney in Hertfordshire. In flight, it had a maximum speed of about 115 mph (185 km/h; 100 kn).

Specifications edit

Data from Jackson 1978 p.524[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 20 ft 0 in (6.10 m)
  • Empty weight: 1,280 lb (955 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,800 lb (1,343 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × de Havilland Gipsy III 4-cylinder inverted air-cooled inline , 120 hp (90 kW)
  • Main rotor diameter: 34 ft 0 in (10.36 m)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 100 mph (164 km/h, 87 kn)
  • Range: 350 mi (563 km, 300 nmi)

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b Jackson 1978, pp. 524
  2. ^ "UK Certificate of Registration No. 3138, 22 April 1931" (PDF). UK Civil Aviation Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
  3. ^ "De Havilland - Cierva C.24 - Stingray's List of Rotorcraft".

Bibliography edit

  • Jackson, A.J. (1978). de Havilland Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam Publishing. ISBN 0-370-30022-X.

External links edit

  • Hearst Magazines (March 1932). "This Autogyro Equals Speed of Ordinary Airplane". Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines. p. 389.