Airventure 2009: Pitcairn PA-18 Autogyro Flight

In this video you see the world's only flying example of the 1932 Pitcairn PA-18 Autogyro. This video comprises of both evening demonstration flights of this aircraft during Airventure 2009. There is one other example of this aircraft that is currently being restored to flying condition. The rest of the Pitcairn PA-18's that were built now rest on the bottom of the Atlantic after the boat transporting them to England was sunk by a German vessel during World War Two.

This particular PA-18 finally made it to Oshkosh after being damaged prior to it's planned visit in 2007. The rotor blades were destroyed on takeoff about a month prior to Airventure 2007. They were rebuilt, and the aircraft made the two day flight from Dayton, Ohio this year. Enjoy!

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Airventure
• EAA
• Oshkosh
• Pitcairn
• PA18
• PA-18
• Auto
• Gyro
• Autogyro
• Demonstration
• Flight
• Canon
• HV30
• HV-30
• Wisconsin

[bldeagle]

It's a Kinner R-55, same as on a Ryan PT-22. The original engine was a slightly different model, a Kinner R-5, which are practically non-existant, but very very similar. Thanks for posting the video, and glad we got to fly it so people could see it go. It is supposed to fly again at Oshkosh Pioneer Field August 29 and 30. Next year we'd like to do a European tour with it, if we can find sponsors.

[slickhutto]

Awesome, thanks a lot for the correction! Don't want any misinformation for this bird! Thanks also for flying her at Oshkosh! It was magnificent.

[seatfool]

Hey man thanks for putting this up. I always wondered how these damned things worked. Did it have a Kinner K5 or an R56?

[slickhutto]

You're very welcome! It was a Kinner K/R-5...not sure which version "K" or "R".

[Silke1207]

cool landing

[FlyinRyans35]

Thanks for sharing. This was cool. What a lucky pilot to have the privilage to fly one of those. It's one of my dreams to atleast be at the control of an autogiro someday.

[Samjapa]

Nice landing!

Beautiful aircraft.

[synman95]

thats my uncles plane he is the one starting it

[adooma1984]

A wonderful peice of rotorcraft history!

[Rocknranchman]

Wow! I was not able to go to Oshkosh but thru this very excellent video I feel like I was transformed there! I have always wanted to see and know how an Autogyro would fly. I watched a model once but it was not very "under contol- probably the r/c pilot" but this aircraft can fly nice!

Thank you for sharing this with us! And the sound is so neat!

[bldeagle]

Aero New Network did an interview about flying it that is also on youtube

[terraverte]

slick is right!

bldeagle- can you tell us about what it's like to fly the autogyro?

thanks!