SUCCESSFUL HANDOVER OF THE FIRST BATCH OF CAVALON SENTINELS FOR AERIAL SURVEILLANCE IN BENIN

West African authorities proudly present their AutoGyro Sentinel fleet

With the participation of two Cavalon Sentinels in the National Day Aerial Parade on August 1st, the West African country of Benin officially presented their AutoGyro Sentinel fleet for the first time.

Aerial surveillance in West Africa

Hildesheim, August 20, 2024 – In June AutoGyro GmbH, the world-leading gyroplane manufacturer from Germany, handed the first batch of specialised Rotax 916 iS powered Cavalon Sentinel gyroplanes to the government representatives of the West African Republic of Benin. These are the first of a major order for a large fleet of AutoGyro Sentinels which will soon be performing aerial surveillance tasks and ensuring safety from the air. These Cavalon Sentinels and Calidus Sentinels are equipped with the powerful Rotax 916 iS engines and fitted with a customised package of police systems, including state-of-the-art avionics and autopilot. Some of the gyroplanes also carry a specialised 4K and infrared camera with live downlink to mission control. Benin officially presented their AutoGyro Sentinel fleet for the first time within their National Day aerial parade on August 1st by including the Cavalon Sentinels as part of the airborne display. In August the first of the Calidus Sentinels was also released to service in Cotonou airport, Benin.

During the June handover process the joint acceptance team was very pleased with the execution and outcome of the acceptance trials at AutoGyro headquarters in Hildesheim, Germany. AutoGyro-CEO Gerald Speich states: “The flight characteristic of these new gyroplanes met and exceeded the expectations of our new customers. These Cavalon Sentinels are planned to be the first aircraft in daily law enforcement use, equipped with the latest Rotax 916 is engine.”

AutoGyro is supporting the operation for several months in Benin. This contains flight crew training and building up the associated infrastructure for the new gyroplane fleet. Maintenance courses for the aircraft service team took place at AutoGyro facilities in Hildesheim as part of a full turn-key package.
“By working closely together with these international authories, we have been able to realise an aircraft precisely equipped to meet their surveillance task requirements. With AutoGyro Sentinels, they have opted for a solution that is not only characterised by easy and cost-effective operation and maintenance, but also by maximised safety, cabin comfort and sustainability,” Gerald Speich continued.

The successful completion of this first handover marks AutoGyro’s growing establishment in the market for professional use of gyroplane. Proven made-in-Germany quality, the deep AutoGyro expertise, as well as individual customisation have led to several new projects and customers within the police and law enforcement sectors.

Key Features

• The Cavalon Sentinel is a premium side-by-side seat model
• Powered by the new state-of-the-art and fuel-efficient Rotax 916 iS engine
• Operational range of four hours or approximately 600 kilometers
• Maximum speed up to 225 km/h / 120 Kt / 140 mph.
• Customer-defined equipment including a high-res day-, night- and infrared camera system with real-time data downlink to mission control. This system provides a best-in-class solution in day and night conditions.
• UK Civil Aviation Authority approved autopilot
• Customised avionics with a capability to operate in IFR conditions
• The State-of-the-Art avionics can manage three independent radios simultaneously

A gyroplane is not a helicopter or a traditional winged aircraft, it provides a vehicle platform complimentary to both. They are inherently safe aircraft, with a very broad speed range. They can be flown very slow, even to zero kilometers per hour. That makes them an excellent observation platform, perfect for border or highway patrols or wildfire spotting. Gyroplanes have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to helicopters. In general they offer a cost-efficient and environment-friendly alternative for commercial aerial tasks.