Doing more with less is the order of the day for many law enforcement agencies, and limited budgets may not leave room for extras such as an aviation unit or asset. The increasing demands of a growing public and ever expanding public services can test the resources of even the best funded agencies. Law enforcement organizations that do have aviation assets are usually relegated to purchasing surplus military equipment from government warehouses or buying well-used equipment from the private sector. Fixed wing aircraft purchase costs can reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars and helicopters can run into the millions. The annual fuel and maintenance required to operate most aircraft can be five or six figures and put further strain on already tight budgets. What if there was something cheaper, more effective, and safer? Here is where we enter into the realm of Gyrocopters!
What is a gyrocopter one might ask? Although they are closely related, a gyrocopter is not a helicopter. Gyrocopters (also referred to as “Autogyros”) were first designed by aeronautical engineer, Juan de la Cierva, in 1920 after an unfortunate airplane accident due to a loss of lift wing stall, which is a characteristic common to fixed wing aircraft. Stalls are a loss of lift when airflow is disrupted over an airfoil such as the wing of an airplane. Many pilots have been killed or injured by being caught unware in unrecoverable low altitude stalls. Juan was convinced that a stall-proof aircraft could be designed that would prevent such accidents. In 1923 he achieved his first successful flight of an autogyro. Since that time gyrocopters have been used for decades in European countries.
What’s so good about gyrocopters one might ask? Gyrocopters have the best flight characteristics of both fixed wing and rotary wing craft with minimal operating costs and are inherently safer. The inherent safety of the gyrocopter comes from the aerodynamic principle by which it flies and generates lift. This principle is called “autorotation”. The top rotor of a gyroplane is unpowered, unlike that of a helicopter that has a very complicated and expensive transmission. As the gyrocopter moves through the air with a pusher engine (rear-mounted engine) air is forced through the main rotor causing it to spin. The spinning of main rotor blades creates the lift needed to keep it aloft. Think of it as a horizontal mounted windmill. This autorotation of the main rotor has some benefits uniquely its own and superior to fixed wing or other rotary aircraft. First, a gyrocopter is constantly flying in “autorotation” and cannot stall because of how lift is generated.
Even with a complete engine failure, gyrocopters can land safely under full flight control and simply float down. A space slightly larger than the size of the aircraft is all that’s needed for landing. Helicopters can land using auto rotation too, however, the complicated transmissions, varied pitch rotors and counter torque of control forces make landing a helicopter a more complicated and burdensome task for the pilot.
Additionally, buffeting and turbulence common to airplanes is greatly reduced in a gyrocopter because of the ability of the main rotor blades to cut through the air and to flex as turbulence is encountered. This makes for a much more stable viewing and surveillance platform. Since gyrocopter engines are mounted to the rear, this gives pilots and aircrews an almost completely unobstructed view of their surroundings. Gyrocopter flight characteristics are such that they only need a very short takeoff distance; they can land like a helicopter if needed, are naturally stable in flight, are highly maneuverable, and cannot stall.
Purchasing and operational cost of gyroplanes are significantly less than most airplanes or helicopters. Gyroplanes can be purchased and operated for a fraction of the cost of general aviation aircraft and for about 10 percent of the acquisition cost of a helicopter. (reference: Plane & Pilot Magazine Buyers Guide 2015). Helicopters are famous for their vast mechanical complexity with their host of moving parts that rely on each other to operate properly. A gyroplane, however, will provide 90 percent of the capability of the helicopter for 1/10th of the price.
High end models of gyrocopters generally run in the range of $100,000 to $150,000. New models have fully enclosed cockpits, computer instrumentation, and environmental controls, and can carry heavy loads. There are many other models available in the ranges of $30,000-$80,000 depending on the needs and demands of agencies and their pilots and tactical flight officers. The per hour operational cost of most gyrocopters is between $10-$20. Speed ranges on average minimum 20 mph up to 100+ mph (in some instances with a headwind they can hover.) It’s a flying technique called “kiting” where forward speed equals= headwind speed and effectively allows the gyro to hover.
As noted earlier, airplanes can run into hundreds of thousands and helicopters into the millions of dollars. For agencies that get free or reduced cost military surplus aircraft, the maintenance cost can be too much to bear. All too often high maintenance costs keep much needed assets grounded and ineffective, therefore negating any benefit to their acquisition.
The components of gyrocopters are not as complicated as those found in helicopters. In regard to fuel cost, most gyrocopters use regularly available automotive gas and not the more expensive aviation specialty fuels found at an airport that are generally three to five times higher. It’s not uncommon for larger gyrocopters to carry 25 gallons of fuel and use four to five gallons an hour. Comparably, helicopters have a significantly higher rate of fuel consumption that translate to less flight duration and less time over target than available in a gyrocopter. Gyrocopter engines need an overhaul at roughly 2,000 hours of operation. Fortunately gyrocopter engines are simple, readily available and easy to service by well-established engine manufacturers at reasonable costs.
The compact fliers have been used by law enforcement and rescue service operations in European countries for decades. The Tomball, Texas Police Department; Somerset Police Department; Kentucky and Queen Anne’s County, Maryland are law enforcement agencies in the United States who have chosen to purchase gyrocopters and found them to be exceptional for patrol operations. These agencies report that their gyrocopters have been effective in pursuits, operational surveillance, search and rescue operations and event security. A former chief of Tomball Texas was noted as saying that their gyrocopter was worth more than 20 patrol cars on the ground. i
Ancillary equipment that can be fitted to gyrocopters include fixed/movable infrared cameras, search lights, patrol radio equipment and even have the ability to carry officers armed with rifles.
A number of gyroplane manufactures have purpose built aircraft for law enforcement operations with all necessary equipment already installed. Many manufactures also offer flight instruction for agencies needing to transition already certified airplane or helicopter pilots or new pilots. It has been the experience with many gyrocopter pilots that the learning to fly them was easier and more enjoyable as compared to other aircraft.
Financial resource assistance for purchasing gyrocopters can be obtained by way of the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Institute of Justice Aviation Technology Programs. Links to funding sources, demonstration videos, list of agencies using gyro copters and further information can be found at: http://www.sccja.sc.gov/Other%20Files/Law%20Enforcement%20Gyrocopter%20Information.pdf
If you’re looking to take your investigations and patrol to the sky… but the budget looks cloudy… think small. Gyrocopters tend to offer the best of both worlds in terms of affordability and capabilities (and let’s face it … they look pretty cool, too.)
Bio:
Brian Bennett has 18 years’ experience as a police officer and instructor at the South Carolina Justice Academy. He is a primary instructor in the areas of domestic violence and elder/vulnerable abuse at the Criminal Justice academy, in addition to being a tech enthusiast. Bennett was recognized by the Metropolitan Police Force—New Scotland Yard, England and the U.S. Marshals for locating and providing information which let do the capture of an international fugitive wanted by Scotland Yard for the murder of a 19-year-old girl in England.
