HOW IS A AUTOGYRO / GYROPLANE DIFFERENT FROM A HELICOPTER?
An Autogyro can fly more slowly than airplanes and will not stall, they can fly faster than helicopters but cannot hover. Since rotorblades on a gyroplane are powered only by the air (autorotation), much like a windmill, there is no need for a tail rotor for anti-torque. The autogyro is a stable flying platform unlike a helicopter which pulls the air down through engine powered rotor blades making it possible to hover, but also making the aircraft very complicated and expensive to fly. Due to the autogyro’s inherent simplicity, it is easier to operate and less expensive to maintain than helicopters. Helicopters at low altitude and out of ground effect, avoid hovering whenever possible, to fix surveillance on one spot, proper procedure for all helicopters is to circle in a slow orbit.
