Rotor Flight Dynamics LFINO
{{Short description|American autogyro}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=LFINO | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Autogyro | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Rotor Flight Dynamics | designer=Ernie Boyette and Dick DeGraw | first flight=February 2006 | introduced=2005 | retired= | status=Prototype only (2011) | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=One | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Rotor Flight Dynamics LFINO (Leap Flight In Normal Operations and pronounced by the designers as "ell if I know") is an American experimental autogyro that was designed by Ernie Boyette and Dick DeGraw, with a single prototype produced by their company Rotor Flight Dynamics of Wimauma, Florida. The aircraft was intended as a proof-of-concept for evaluation for police or paramilitary use.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 185. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X{{cite news|url = http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=ccaa166d-bd39-4995-bf46-59308062a350|title = Bensen Days: LFINO Leaps Into Public View|accessdate = 15 January 2013|last = O'Brien|first = Kevin|date = 5 April 2006| work = Aero News Network}}
Design and development
The LFINO was designed to test out the use of a powered rotor autogyro to allow zero speed take-offs and landings and more efficient forward flight. The design features a single three-bladed main rotor that was built in-house, a two-seats-in side-by-side configuration enclosed bulbous cockpit, tricycle landing gear mounted on stub wings, a triple tail and a single four cylinder liquid-cooled Subaru automotive engine in pusher configuration.{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=37DE|title = N-Number Inquiry Results - N37DE |accessdate = 15 January 2013|last = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 15 January 2013}}{{cite web|url = http://www.rotorflightdynamicsinc.com/lfino.html|title = L.F.I.N.O.|accessdate = 15 January 2013|last = Rotor Flight Dynamics|year = 2006}}
The aircraft's frame is made from aluminium and the cabin is of non-structural fiberglass. The aircraft is equipped with a helicopter-style collective pitch control to allow "jump" takeoffs. Take-offs are accomplished by powering the rotor system to 150% cruise rpm and then increasing collective rapidly to jump the aircraft into the air where it can then fly away.
Operational history
The sole example was built in 2005 and registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration in the Experimental - Amateur-built category on 21 March 2005. It first flew in about February 2006. The aircraft was first shown publicly at Wauchula, Florida during the Bensen Days show in April 2005 as a static display, since it had not then yet flown. It was first flown publicly during Bensen Days in April 2006. The prototype was exported to Spain and its US registration was cancelled on 11 April 2008.{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=LFINO&PageNo=1|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 15 January 2013|last = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 15 January 2013}}
Specifications (LFINO)
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References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.rotorflightdynamicsinc.com/lfino.html}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWjBTROfLMQ Video of the LFINO doing a jump take-off] at Bensen Days 2006 in Wauchula, Florida.
{{Rotor Flight Dynamics aircraft}}
Category:2000s United States experimental aircraft