Calumet Snobird Explorer

The Calumet Snobird Explorer is an American autogyro produced by Calumet Motorsports of Lansing, Illinois, introduced in May 1997. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1]

Snobird Explorer
Role Autogyro
National origin United States
Manufacturer Calumet Motorsports
First flight May 1997
Status Production completed
Number built at least 14 of all manufacture

Design and development

Calumet Aeronautics acquired the Snobird Explorer design when it purchased the assets of the SnoBird Aircraft Company. Putting the Snobird design back into production, the company name was changed to Calumet Motorsports. The gyro design was later sold to another owner and then back to Calumet Motorsports, although the design remains out of production.[2]

The Snobird Explorer was designed as a low-cost, entry-level autogyro, to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 244 lb (111 kg). It features a single main rotor, a single-seat open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a twin-cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, single-ignition 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447 engine in pusher configuration. Alternate engines used include the twin-cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 and the twin-cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, single-ignition 40 hp (30 kW) 2si 460-F40 engines.[1]

The aircraft fuselage is made from a combination of composite material and aluminum and features a tall tail design to reduce engine-induced pitch. The kit was supplied with jig pre-drilled holes and was powder coated. Its two-bladed rotor has a diameter of 23.0 ft (7.0 m). Full fuel is 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal).[1]

The standard day, sea level, no wind takeoff with a 40 hp (30 kW) engine is 100 ft (30 m) and the landing roll is 20 ft (6 m).[1]

Operational history

By 1998 the company reported that one aircraft had been completed and was flying, with customer deliveries to commence later in 1998.[1]

In April 2015 six examples of Snobird autogyros of all manufacture were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration, although a total of 14 had been registered at one time.[3]

Specifications (Snobird Explorer)

Data from Purdy[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Empty weight: 244 lb (111 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 447 twin cylinder, air-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 40 hp (30 kW)
  • Main rotor diameter: 23 ft 0 in (7.01 m)
  • Main rotor area: 415 sq ft (38.6 m2)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed wooden, fixed pitch

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 60 mph (97 km/h, 52 kn)
  • Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s)

See also

References
  1. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 348. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  2. "Calumetair - Gyroplanes & accessories". CalumetAir. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  3. Federal Aviation Administration (19 April 2015). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 19 April 2015.
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