Taggart GyroBee
{{Short description|American gyroplane}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=GyroBee | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Autogyro | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Star Bee Gyros | designer=Ralph E. Taggart | first flight=1990 | introduced=1990 | retired= | status=Free documentation available (2013) | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | developed from= | variants with their own articles=Midwest Hornet }} |
The Taggart GyroBee is an American autogyro that was designed by Ralph E. Taggart of Michigan State University and made available as free documentation. The aircraft is also produced in kit form by Star Bee Gyros of Worcester, Massachusetts for amateur construction.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 184 and 187. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
Design and development
The GyroBee was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. The aircraft has a standard empty weight of {{convert|247|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. It features a single main rotor, a single-seat open cockpit without a windshield, tricycle landing gear and a twin-cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition {{convert|45|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Zanzottera MZ 201 engine in pusher configuration.
The aircraft fuselage is made from bolted-together 6061-T6 aluminum tubing. Its {{convert|23|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} diameter Sport Copter rotor has a chord of {{convert|7|in|cm|1|abbr=on}}. With its empty weight of {{convert|247|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|550|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, it has a useful load of {{convert|303|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.
Variants
;Taggart Gyro Bee
:Plans-built version introduced in 1990.
;Star Bee Light
:Kit-built version of the GyroBee, produced by Star Bee Gyros. Mounts a {{convert|23|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} Sport Copter rotor, Ivoprop propeller and a {{convert|45|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Zanzottera MZ 201.{{cite web|url = http://www.starbeegyros.com/productdetail.asp?ID=306&kits=1|title = Star Bee Light|accessdate = 8 January 2013|last = Star Bee Gyros|date = n.d.}}
;Star Bee Total Bee
:Kit-built version of the GyroBee, produced by Star Bee Gyros. Mounts a {{convert|23|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} Dragon Wings rotor, Ivoprop propeller and a {{convert|60|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Zanzottera MZ 202.{{cite web|url = http://www.starbeegyros.com/productdetail.asp?ID=177&kits=1|title = Total Bee|accessdate = 8 January 2013|last = Star Bee Gyros|date = n.d.}}
Specifications (Star Bee Light)
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|empty weight kg=112
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|gross weight kg=250
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|fuel capacity={{convert|5|u.s.gal}}
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|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Zanzottera MZ 201
|eng1 type=twin cylinder, air-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=45
|prop blade number=3
|prop name=Ivoprop
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|rot number=1
|rot dia m=7.31
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|max speed kmh=110
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|cruise speed kmh=85
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|climb rate ms=3
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See also
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20130313070615/http://taggart.glg.msu.edu/gyro/gbplans.htm}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110107094429/http://taggart.glg.msu.edu/ftproot/gbeer50.pdf Design documentation]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130313070615/http://taggart.glg.msu.edu/gyro/gbtour.htm Photos of the Gyro Bee]
- [http://www.starbeegyros.com/gallery.asp Photos of Star Bee Gyros]
Category:1990s United States sport aircraft