Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Super Rotor Andorinha

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Top speed
  
160 km/h

Manufacturer
  
Super Rotor

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

Contents

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

Variants

  • AC.1 - single-seat prototype with Volkswagen engine
  • AC.4 Andorhina - single-seat production machine with Volkswagen engine
  • 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)

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

    General characteristics

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

    • Performance

  • Maximum speed: 160 km/h (100 mph)
  • Range: 400 km (250 miles)
  • Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
  • Maximum glide ratio: 6:1
  • Rate of climb: 3 m/s (590 ft/min)

    • References

    Super Rotor Andorinha Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA