China goes old-tech with gyrocopters
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has begun operating and flying camouflage-painted gyrocopters, pictures to recently emerge on Chinese internet websites have revealed.
The gyrocopters, christened the Hunting Eagle, are manufactured by Shaanxi BaoJi Special Vehicle Manufacturing, a company that primarily concentrates on the production of wheeled armoured vehicles.
A powered propeller gives a gyrocopter thrust, while an unpowered rotor in autorotation develops lift. The 290kg Hunting Eagle employs a Rotax 914 engine that produces 115hp. Its rotor spans 8.4m, and the gyrocopter can carry a payload of 230kg.
The rotorcraft can accommodate two people. The manufacturer lists its cruising
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