Taggart GyroBee

Last updated

GyroBee
Role Autogyro
National origin United States
Manufacturer Star Bee Gyros
DesignerRalph E. Taggart
First flight1990
Introduction1990
StatusFree documentation available (2013)
Kits in production (2013)
Variants Midwest Hornet

The Taggart GyroBee is an American autogyro that was designed by Ralph E. Taggart of Michigan State University and made available as free documentation. The aircraft is also produced in kit form by Star Bee Gyros of Worcester, Massachusetts for amateur construction. [1]

Contents

Design and development

The GyroBee was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 247 lb (112 kg). It features a single main rotor, a single-seat open cockpit without a windshield, tricycle landing gear and a twin-cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 45 hp (34 kW) Zanzottera MZ 201 engine in pusher configuration. [1]

The aircraft fuselage is made from bolted-together 6061-T6 aluminum tubing. Its 23 ft (7.0 m) diameter Sport Copter rotor has a chord of 7 in (17.8 cm). With its empty weight of 247 lb (112 kg) and a gross weight of 550 lb (249 kg), it has a useful load of 303 lb (137 kg). [1]

Variants

Taggart Gyro Bee
Plans-built version introduced in 1990. [1]
Star Bee Light
Kit-built version of the GyroBee, produced by Star Bee Gyros. Mounts a 23 ft (7.0 m) Sport Copter rotor, Ivoprop propeller and a 45 hp (34 kW) Zanzottera MZ 201. [1] [2]
Star Bee Total Bee
Kit-built version of the GyroBee, produced by Star Bee Gyros. Mounts a 23 ft (7.0 m) Dragon Wings rotor, Ivoprop propeller and a 60 hp (45 kW) Zanzottera MZ 202. [1] [3]
Midwest Hornet
Free plans-built version, based on the GyroBee. [1]

Specifications (Star Bee Light)

Data from Bayerl [1]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bensen B-8</span> Small, single-seat autogyro

The Bensen B-8 is a small, single-seat autogyro developed in the United States in the 1950s. Although the original manufacturer stopped production in 1987, plans for homebuilders are still available as of 2019. Its design was a refinement of the Bensen B-7, and like that aircraft, the B-8 was initially built as an unpowered rotor-kite. It first flew in this form in 1955, and on 6 December a powered version, designated B-8M first flew. The design proved to be extremely popular and long-lasting, with thousands of sets of plans sold over the next thirty years.

The Wings of Freedom Flitplane is an American single-seat, high-wing, single-engine ultralight aircraft that is available as a kit aircraft or as plans for amateur construction from Wings of Freedom of Hubbard, Ohio.

The Zanzottera MZ 201 and MZ 202 are a family of twin-cylinder, in-line two-stroke, dual ignition aircraft engines designed for ultralight aircraft and motor gliders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AutoGyro Calidus</span> German autogyro

The AutoGyro Calidus is a German autogyro, designed and produced by AutoGyro GmbH of Hildesheim. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belite Aircraft Superlite</span> Type of aircraft

The Belite Superlite, originally the product of Belite Aircraft, is a single-seat, high-wing, single-engine ultralight aircraft developed from the Kitfox Lite aircraft especially for the United States FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category.

The North Wing ATF is an American single-seat ultralight trike designed and produced by North Wing Design of East Wenatchee, Washington. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mosquito Aviation XE</span> American homebuilt helicopter

The Mosquito Aviation XE is a single seat homebuilt helicopter.

The Air Command Commander Side-By-Side is an American autogyro designed and produced by Air Command International of Caddo Mills, Texas. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Air Copter A3C is a French autogyro, designed and produced by Air Copter of Lherm, Haute-Garonne. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airbet Girabet</span> Type of aircraft

The Airbet Girabet is a family of Spanish autogyros, designed and produced by Airbet of Barcelona. They are all supplied as complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The Butterfly Monarch is an American autogyro, designed and produced by The Butterfly LLC of Aurora, Texas. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The ArrowCopter is a series of Austrian autogyros, designed and produced by FD-Composites GmbH of Zeillern. When it was in production the ArrowCopter AC20 series was supplied as complete, factory built, ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The Gyro-Kopp-Ters Midnight Hawk is an American autogyro, designed by Bob and Arden Kopp and produced by their company, Gyro-Kopp-Ters of Lake City, Florida. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The Gyro-Kopp-Ters Twin Eagle is an American autogyro, designed by Bob and Arden Kopp and produced by their company, Gyro-Kopp-Ters of Lake City, Florida. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GyroTec DF02</span> German autogyro

The GyroTec DF02 is a German autogyro, designed and produced by GyroTec Michael Obermaier of Wörth am Rhein. The DF02 is supplied as complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The Magni M-18 Spartan is an Italian autogyro, that was designed and produced by Magni Gyro srl of Besnate. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft

The Midwest Hornet is an American autogyro that was designed by Don Shoebridge and made available by Midwest Engineering & Design in the form of free plans for amateur construction.

The Niki 2004 is a family of Bulgarian autogyros, designed and produced by Niki Rotor Aviation of Pravets. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trixy G 4-2 R</span> Type of aircraft

The Trixy G 4-2 R is an Austrian autogyro, designed and produced by Trixy Aviation Products of Dornbirn. The aircraft was introduced at the Aero show held in Friedrichshafen in 2011 and when it was available it was supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Innovator Mosquito Air</span> Canadian homebuilt helicopter

The Innovator Mosquito Air is a Canadian helicopter produced by Innovator Technologies of Rockyview, Alberta. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 184 and 187. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. Star Bee Gyros (n.d.). "Star Bee Light" . Retrieved January 8, 2013.
  3. Star Bee Gyros (n.d.). "Total Bee" . Retrieved January 8, 2013.