Super Rotor Andorinha

AC.4 Andorinha
Role Sport autogyro
National origin Brazil
Manufacturer Super Rotor/Montalva
Designer Altair Coelho
First flight 1960 (as AC.1)
Number built ca. 450

The Super Rotor AC.4 Andorinha ("Swallow") was a sport autogyro first produced in Brazil in the 1960s.[1] The prototype was built by Altair Coelho and flown in 1960 as the AC.1,[2] a typically minimalist autogyro design consisting of an open framework supporting the pilot's seat, rotor mast, engine mounting and tail fin.[3] Power was supplied by a converted Volkswagen engine driving a pusher propeller.[3] Francisco Mattis purchased the prototype and manufacturing rights and founded Super Rotor (now Montalva) of São Paulo to produce the aircraft.[3] Refinements for serial production as the AC.4 included an extra reinforcing strut for the rotor mast and a larger tail fin.[2] According to Altair Coelho, the AC.4 first flew in 1964, and gained type approval and certification in 1972. 314 were built.

Super Rotor went on to produce a two-seat version with dual controls as the M.1 Montalva,[1][4] a turbo-charged two-seater as the M.2 Trovão Azul ("Blue Thunder"),[4] and an agricultural version with spray bars as the Agricóptero.[4]

Variants

[edit]
  • AC.1 - single-seat prototype with Volkswagen engine
  • AC.4 Andorhina - single-seat production machine with Volkswagen engine. According to Altair Coelho, 314 were built.
  • M.1 Montalva - two-seat trainer version of AC.4 with Volkswagen engine
  • M.2 Trovão Azul - two-seat high-performance version with turbocharged Santana engine
  • Agricóptero - agricultural version

Specifications (AC.4)

[edit]

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1987–88, p.20 (except as noted)

General characteristics

  • Crew: One pilot
  • Empty weight: 166 kg (366 lb)
  • Gross weight: 280 kg (617 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Retimotor RMV-1 , 60 kW (80 hp)
  • Main rotor diameter: 7.60 m (24 ft 11 in) [2]

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 160 km/h (100 mph, 87 kn)
  • Range: 400 km (250 mi, 220 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft) [4]
  • Maximum glide ratio: 6:1
  • Rate of climb: 3.0 m/s (590 ft/min) [2]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Taylor 1989, p.945
  2. ^ a b c d Altair Coelho website
  3. ^ a b c Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1987–88
  4. ^ a b c d Montalva website

References

[edit]
  • "AC 01". Altair Coelho website. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  • "Girocóptero". Montalva website. Archived from the original on 2008-12-07. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  • Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1987–88. London: Jane's Publishing. 1987. ISBN 9780710608505.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
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