Talk:Autogyro

Theory of operation and diagram needed
I feel the article lacks the theory of operation of an autogyro, i.e what causes the rotor to rotate when the prop drives the machine forward on the ground, in the air, and what causes the rotor to provide lift. Also a bit could be said about the effect on forward motion on the lift provided by the advancing and retreating rotors and the consequences for stable flight. I would love to contribute these myself but sadly am too ignorant. Mike Avison, 11/12/10 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.14.13.8 (talk) 08:58, 11 December 2010 (UTC)
 * Autorotation is noted toward the end of the opening sentence of this article, and that article would be the place to discuss the various physical properties of that operation. LessHeard vanU (talk) 13:22, 11 December 2010 (UTC)


 * I read autorotation and it's actually rather confusing, since that article talks about autorotation in helicopters only. They use powered rotors normally, but autorotation when making an emergency landing if the engine has failed.  That article actually refers to this one in its intro.  The principle of operation is somewhat different, because an autogyro uses a separate propeller for forward thrust, which a helicopter never has.


 * It would be useful if this article had a diagram showing how autogyro airflow works, like File:Airflow in auto-2.jpg but incorporating forward thrust. I'm not sure whether File:Autorotational regions.jpg applies to both types of rotorcraft, or if autogyros and helicopters are different from this perspective, or there is variation among autogyro designs. -- Beland (talk) 16:08, 19 April 2015 (UTC)
 * FAA has an old autogyro section (16MB), from here. But the images are free TGCP (talk) 18:13, 19 April 2015 (UTC)

Three questions
First, what is the normal takeoff distance for a modern autogyro, and what is considered a short takeoff? Also, how noisy is an autogyro, compared to a helicopter? JDZeff (talk) 18:00, 25 March 2023 (UTC)
 * I can now answer my own questions: I learned at https://aircommand.com/pages/gyroplane-faq# that a one-man autogyro can take off in as little as 75 to 200 feet (25 to 60 meters) under standard conditions at https://aircommand.com/pages/gyroplane-faq# and that an autogyro can operate with a noise level below 65 dB.Now to decide just where in the article this belongs, as it suggests that a large enough machine, with room for three passengers could work as an air taxi, taking off from side streets and landing at an appropriate place either downtown or at an airport.  JDZeff (talk) 19:47, 13 September 2023 (UTC)

Popular culture
W. C. Fields flies an autogyro in the movie International House. If any more appearances of this machine are in movies, books, comics, etc. there can be a section for that. I am reluctant to add only one item. Wastrel Way (talk) 14:53, 27 July 2023 (UTC)
 * I can tell that they appear in several of the Doc Savage novels, which is where I learned about them. Also, during the original, 1982 version of the movie Annie, when Annie and Daddy Warbucks visit the White House, they land on the White House lawn, using an autogyro.  JDZeff (talk) 19:26, 12 September 2023 (UTC)