The Vortech Shadow is an American autogyro that was designed by Tyler Flight, Inc. and produced by Vortech of Fallston, Maryland. The aircraft is supplied as a kit and also in the form of plans for amateur construction. Vortech also supplies rotor blades for the design.[1]
| Shadow | |
|---|---|
| Role | Autogyro |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Vortech |
| Designer | Tyler Flight, Inc. |
| Status | In production (2014) |
| Number built | 4 |
Design and development
editThe Vortech Shadow was designed to comply with the US Experimental - Amateur-built aircraft rules. It features a single main rotor, a two-seats-in side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit with a windshield, tricycle landing gear, plus a tail caster. The acceptable power range is 150 to 230 hp (112 to 172 kW). The standard engine used is the four cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition 150 hp (112 kW) Lycoming O-320 powerplant in pusher configuration.[1]
The aircraft fuselage is made from tubing and composites. Its two-bladed rotor has a diameter of 29 ft (8.8 m). The aircraft has a typical empty weight of 750 lb (340 kg) and a gross weight of 1,290 lb (590 kg), giving a useful load of 540 lb (240 kg). With full fuel of 12 U.S. gallons (45 L; 10.0 imp gal) the payload for the pilot, passenger and baggage is 468 lb (212 kg).[1]
The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a 150 hp (112 kW) engine is 100 ft (30 m) and the landing roll is 25 ft (8 m).[1]
The manufacturer estimates the construction time from the supplied kit as 250 hours.[1]
Operational history
editBy 1998, the company reported that four kits had been sold, completed, and were flying.[1]
In January 2015, no examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.[2]
Specifications (Shadow)
editData from Kitplanes[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Length: 13 ft 0 in (3.96 m)
- Empty weight: 750 lb (340 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,290 lb (585 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 12 U.S. gallons (45 L; 10.0 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-320 four cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 150 hp (110 kW)
- Main rotor diameter: 29 ft 0 in (8.84 m)
- Main rotor area: 660 sq ft (61 m2)
- Propellers: 2-bladed wooden fixed pitch
Performance
- Maximum speed: 100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn)
- Cruise speed: 70 mph (110 km/h, 61 kn)
- Range: 170 mi (280 km, 150 nmi)
- Rate of climb: 1,500 ft/min (7.6 m/s)
- Disk loading: 2.0 lb/sq ft (9.8 kg/m2)