Breguet-Richet Gyroplane

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breguet-Richet_Gyroplane

The Breguet-Richet Gyroplane was an early French experimental quadcopter
rotary-wing aircraft developed by Breguet Aviation.

The Gyroplane No.I was one of the earliest attempts to create a practical
rotary-wing aircraft. It was designed by the Breguet brothers with help from
Professor Charles Richet. The aircraft had an uncovered open steel framework
with a seat for the pilot and a powerplant at the centre. Radiating from the
central structure were four wire-braced tubular steel arms, each bearing a
superimposed pair of four-bladed rotors. To eliminate the torque effect, two
rotor sets were driven clockwise and two counter-clockwise.


Role
Rotary-wing test vehicle

Manufacturer
Breguet

Designer
Louis Breguet

First flight
29 September 1907

Number built
2

On 29 September 1907, the Gyroplane No.I was flown for the first time, albeit to
an elevation of only 0.6 metres (2.0 ft). It was not a free flight, as four men
were used to steady the structure. It was neither controllable nor steerable,
but it was the first time that a rotary-wing device had lifted itself and a
pilot into the air. It later flew up to 1.52 m (4.99 ft) above the ground. The
design was improved and the Gyroplane No.II appeared the following year. No.II
had two two-blade rotors of 7.85 m (25.75 ft) diameter and also had fixed wings.
Powered by a 41 kW (55 hp) Renault engine, it was reported to have flown
successfully more than once in 1908. No.II was damaged in a heavy landing and
was rebuilt as the No.IIbis. It flew at least once in April 1909 before being
destroyed when the company's works were badly damaged in a severe storm.

Specifications (No.I)

General characteristics
Crew: one
Height: 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in)
Empty weight: 500 kg (1,102 lb)
Gross weight: 578 kg (1,274 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Antoinette water-cooled piston engine, 34 kW (46 hp)
Main rotor diameter: 4× 8 m (26 ft 3 in)
Main rotor area: 402.2 m2 (4,329 sq ft) biplane rotors

Performance
Endurance: 1 minute
Service ceiling: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)




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