As you have probably noticed, we have published a Service Bulletin on the topic of “Dual Generator Failure” of the Rotax 915iS and 916iS engines and informed the DULV* and other supervisory authorities.
The DULV* has turned this service bulletin into an LTA* and prohibited the flight operations of the affected aircraft in Germany.
To rectify this problem, Rotax have published Service bulletin SB-912 i-016iS_SB-915 i-016iS_SB-916 i-006iS (accessible via: https://www.flyrotax.com/p/service/technical-documentation Technical documentation | Manuals | Rotax Aircraft Engines). Please contact your service partner to organise the inspection required. We are happy to answer any questions you may have via email: airworthiness@auto-gyro.com.
Another five AutoGyro gyroplanes have been accepted by the Government of Benin
Hildesheim, 10 October 2024 – AutoGyro GmbH, the world-leading gyroplane manufacturer from Germany, handed over three Cavalon Sentinels and two Calidus Sentinels fully equipped with a unique package of law enforcement systems and camera-ready to the Benin Government. The first batch of aircraft are already deployed in Cotonou, from where these AutoGyro aircraft will support border monitoring and aerial surveillance in rural and urban areas. AutoGyro also provided a turn-key package of pilot training, with the first four Beninese pilots already exploring the capabilities of these aircraft in service. The training program extends into 2025 to cope with the number of pilots and skills required, including night and mountain operations.
AUTOGYRO AIRCRAFT AT THE CEREMONY OF TURKISH GENDARMERIE
At the same time, another three Cavalon Sentinels were handed over to SkyOlympos, the AutoGyro Turkish partner, in readiness for camera fitment and Jandarma deployment. The Jandarma already has huge success with this cost-effective policing solution, providing an excellent real-world use case by a major police service.
Turkish Jandarma is very proud of their Sentinels and displayed them recently in the official Ceremony of Commissioning of their 7204 new vehicles.
Because of this success, AutoGyro products are now part of the NATO parts catalogue, available to all NATO services.
data source | YouTube
data source | YouTube
Gerald Speich, CEO of AutoGyro GmbH, commented: “These Cavalon and Calidus Sentinels represent the current peak of gyroplane integration, blending solid, reliable and well proven aircraft platforms with the latest avionics, communications and surveillance technologies. AutoGyro is immensely proud that our aircraft will be supporting the Turkish Jandarma and Government of Benin for many years to come, providing an effective, low-cost solution to their policing needs.”
“This successful dispatch of a batch of another 8 Sentinels marks a step change in the future of AutoGyro, as the company diversifies to provide products in both recreational and commercial market sectors. The reliability and robustness demand of the commercial market with associated pilot and maintenance training needs greatly benefits the recreational market in providing resources and demand for pilots and instructors. The synergies created will benefit all our customers.” Gerald Speich continues.
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 that can manage three independent radios simultaneously
AutoGyro aircraft are now listed within the NATO catalogue, and available to all NATO member states.
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.
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.
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.
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.
AutoGyro, the global leader in gyroplane manufacturing, proudly presents the world’s first hybrid flying car, the GyroMotion. This revolutionary vehicle marks a new era in personal transportation, combining the freedom of flight with the convenience of driving.
INTRODUCING THE GYROMOTION | THE FUTURE OF MOBILITY
The GyroMotion seamlessly transitions between flying and driving modes, offering unparalleled versatility and efficiency. With a flying range of 600 kilometers and a driving range of around 50 kilometers, the GyroMotion is designed to meet the diverse needs of modern travelers.
KEY FEATURES
Hybrid Functionality: GyroMotion offers the ability to switch between driving and flying, providing a flexible and innovative transportation solution.
Extended Range: Capable of flying up to 600 kilometers and driving up to 50 kilometers, GyroMotion ensures completing long journeys and short trips with ease.
Czech Registration: Currently, the GyroMotion can be flown and driven with a Czech Republic registration and can be operated anywhere where permitted. AutoGyro is actively pursuing certifications to enable registration in many more countries around the globe.
Proven Performance: Over 30 GyroMotions are already registered in the Czech Republic and are actively flying and driving across the world, demonstrating the vehicle’s reliability and practicality.
WORLD’S FIRST HYBRID FLYING CAR | A NEW DIMENSION IN TRAVEL
AutoGyro’s GyroMotion is set to transform personal transportation by providing a seamless solution for both flying and driving. Whether commuting to work, attending appointments, or reaching a hotel, the GyroMotion ensures driving the ‘last miles’ to the final destination after landing.
“We are excited to present the GyroMotion, a vehicle that embodies the future of personal transportation,” said Pavel Brezina, founder and owner of AutoGyro Nirvana (AGN) who developed the GyroMotion technology of the world’s first hybrid flying car, supported by AutoGyro. “This innovation not only showcases our commitment to technological advancement but also provides a practical solution to modern mobility challenges. When traveling with our GyroMotion aircraft through Europe, Africa, The Middle East and the USA these past few months, we were excited to experience the need and high demand for our solution.”
WORLD'S FIRST HYBRID FLYING CAR | THE GYROMOTION 15WORLD'S FIRST HYBRID FLYING CAR | THE GYROMOTION 16WORLD'S FIRST HYBRID FLYING CAR | THE GYROMOTION 17WORLD'S FIRST HYBRID FLYING CAR | THE GYROMOTION 18
Do you share our passion for gyroplane flying and would like to actively contribute to spreading it around the world?
Let’s grow the global market together and drive the AutoGyro business forward in your country.
As market leader with more than 20 years of production experience we are continuously expanding our global AutoGyro partner network. Take the chance and join our partner family now!
We are looking for new sales partners all over the world, especially in Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Benefit from the operating with gyroplanes built by the world’s leading gyroplane manufacturer, with 3.100 gyroplanes in service, made-in-Germany quality and excellent service support.
At the start of this year AutoGyro GmbH won two major contracts for professional gyroplanes. A total of 18 „Sentinels“, most camera-equipped, were ordered by international police forces and law enforcement agencies to perform aerial surveillance tasks. Following the successful initial deployment in 2023, the Turkish Jandarma Havacilik has decided to expand its fleet by six more specialised Rotax 916 iS powered Cavalon Sentinels. In addition, another key authority has ordered seven Cavalon 916 iS Sentinels as well as five Calidus 916 iS Sentinels accompanied by a package for flight crew training and the associated infrastructure.
Effective performing of aerial monitoring tasks – Why Turkish Jandarma relies on AutoGyro gyroplanes
As a camera-carrying platform for day and night aerial surveillance, the AutoGyro Cavalon Sentinel has successfully proven to be highly cost-effective, practical and sustainable for tasks such as traffic monitoring, aerial search and border patrol.
The Director of Gendarmerie Aviation at Jandarma Havacilik Turkey, Major General Ali DOĞAN, explains what was decisive for the initial choice of gyroplanes: „We needed a cost-effective aerial vehicle capable of performing helicopter tasks and transmitting images from the air (…) because flight and maintenance costs of our helicopters are quite high.” After extensive testing and successful deployment in 2023, the gyroplanes proved to be the right solution for their tasks. New mission cases have been added and the gyro fleet is now being expanded.The new six Cavalon Sentinels will be delivered in summer 2024.
Milestone for the professional use of gyroplanes
Gerald Speich, CEO of AutoGyro, explains the significance of both the major order to the new customer and the follow-up order to the Turkish Jandarma: „These multi-million euro orders are not only an important milestone for AutoGyro as a company, but also strengthen our footprint within the global professional market. Gyroplanes have become an attractive addition or alternative vehicle in many areas of aerial surveillance. Airborne security is being rethought in many countries – not only in terms of cost-effectiveness, but also from an environmental perspective, arenas that our aircraft excel in.“
Aleksandra Witkowska, Co-CEO, commented „These professional market successes that have led to these new orders are the result of exceptional teamwork and also of AutoGyro’s standing as the only manufacturer in the gyroplane sector to comply with all major national safety and airworthiness regulations. These new orders have enabled us to look forward to the future with huge confidence”.
The professionally used Sentinel models are characterized not only by easy and cost-effective operation and maintenance, but also by maximised safety, cabin comfort and sustainability. With operating costs of less than 200 EUR per hour and a low consumption of only 25 litres super unleaded fuel per hour (57,5 kg CO2/h emissions), a gyroplane can carry out many tasks of other aerial vehicles whilst achieving the same or better levels of task accomplishment at vastly reduced costs. Thanks to a flight duration of up to four hours at a maximum speed up to 225 km/h, the gyroplanes can reach the operational areas fast, and can remain there on task for a considerable time at very slow speeds, enabling excellent observation results. The Sentinel can carry a range of task specific equipment, including special customer-defined equipment such as an integrated 4K and/or Infrared camera with a live downlink to ground personnel. Equipped with a UK Civil Aviation authority approved autopilot and customized avionics the AutoGyro Sentinel has the capability to operate even in IFR conditions. This equipment also reduces pilot fatigue workload in normal flight conditions.
AutoGyro made-in-Germany gyroplanes have many applications such as monitoring of pipelines, energy distribution networks, borders or traffic infrastructure, coasts, wildlife, disaster relief, and aerial mapping.
Further major orders for AutoGyro 20
The leading gyroplane manufacturer AutoGyro will supply 18 professional use Sentinels for various surveillance missions – such as traffic monitoring for the Turkish Jandarma.
Learn first-hand from Turkish Jandarma Havacilik about the economic advantages and their experience when using AutoGyro gyroplanes instead of helicopters for aerial surveillance tasks. Equipped with cameras and autopilot, our AutoGyro Cavalon Sentinels are successfully used for traffic monitoring and other missions – in a very cost-effective, practical and green way.
On the occasion of its 55th anniversary, the Gendarmerie Aviation Department provides impressive insights, including the procurement process, experience and expansion plans for their fleet and use cases.
Read the excerpts or the complete interviews with the Jandarma responsibles in the special issue of „Defence Turkey“ | Volume 17 | Issue 125, 2023 | Aerial Photos: Cem DOĞUT.
Turkey Jandarma Report - Cavalon Sentinel Fleet Aerial Surveillance use case 23
COST-EFFECTIVE SEARCH & MONITORING
“Flight and maintenance costs of our helicopters are quite high. We needed a cost-effective aerial vehicle capable of performing helicopter tasks and transmitting images from the air.
The time for aerial search can be 10x longer than the time for the rescue phase using the helicopter. So we split the search and rescue mission into 2 parts. The aerial search includes for example:
Searching for accident victims, drug cultivation areas, illegal immigration, tracking and locating criminals
Providing aerial security for VIPs
Ensuring security of natural gas & oil pipelines.”
Major General Ali DOĞAN Director of Gendarmerie Aviation┃Jandarma Havacilik Turkey
OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS AND EXPANDED USE
“As a result of the efforts of our R&D Department, we decided that AutoGyro gyroplanes could fulfill this role. We quickly integrated this system into our inventory, not only incorporating the electro-optical capabilities that a few of our helicopters possess but also enabling the transmission of these images to our personnel on the ground.
Subsequently, by coordinating with our units, we explored other potential areas of utilization: We expanded the inventory of AutoGyro gyroplanes by adding tasks such as: public safety, search & rescue, reconnaissance, surveillance, border security, wildfire monitoring and illicit crop monitoring.
With many more projects, we remain committed to enhancing our operational effectiveness with our approach.”
Senior Colonel Arif HAKERLER Chief of the Gendarmerie Aviation Division┃Jandarma Havacilik Turkey
REDUCED FLIGHT AND MAINTENANCE COSTS
“The maintenance and sustainment activities for our AutoGyro gyroplanes are carried out by our own technicians. The use of regular gasoline significantly reduces flight costs, making operational expenses incredibly economical. While the hourly flight cost for a helicopter is approximately US$ 3.000, for a AutoGyro gyroplane, this cost reduces to around US$ 35.”
Gendarmerie Pilot Colonel Ruhi YÜKSEL The Commander of the Support Group at the Gendarmerie Aviation Department┃Jandarma Havacilik Turkey
Turkey Jandarma Report - Cavalon Sentinel Fleet Aerial Surveillance use case 24
AutoGyro looks back on a great fly-in weekend at the end of August 2023: Numerous AutoGyro gyroplane, pilots and partners from Germany and abroad as well as several hundred visitors from Hildesheim accepted the invitation to the fly-in and open house.
After an official reception by the AutoGyro management and the mayor of Hildesheim, Dr. Ingo Meyer, on the occasion of the 20th production anniversary, the guests were able to take a tour of the company, participate in workshops and try out flights with the AutoGyro team and experience the world of gyroplanes.
The HR team at a career stand informed about the numerous entry possibilities at AutoGyro. Also a child program as well as food and drinks has been provided. The visitors enjoyed the insights and the exchange in a relaxed atmosphere and stayed until the highlight: the joint sunset flight in best weather.
A celebration in the evening with customers, partners, friends & family as well as the pilot breakfast rounded off the event weekend.
We are looking forward meeting you at our AUTOGYRO FLY-IN 2023 on August 26! Let’s celebrate our 20 year production anniversary…. and unite as many AutoGyro gyroplanes as possible. But of course any other aircraft types are welcome, too!
Schedule at AutoGyro GmbH, Dornierstr. 14 , 31137 Hildesheim, Germany
25-08 Arrival
26-08 Fly-in Program
Factory tours
Trial Flights
Workshops
Networking
Music, BBQ & drinks
27-08 Departure
A camping area is available.
The event is also open to the public as an open day from 10 am to 4 pm. For day visitors no registration is necessary.
Only pilots and co-pilots arriving with an aircraft have to register through the following form. AutoGyro pays the airport fees for Fly-In attendees.
The acceptance procedure and handover of the AutoGyro Cavalon 915 to the representatives of the Czech Office of Surveying and Cartography was successfully completed in June 2023.
This is the result of a multi-year effort to use the AutoGyro gyroplane as a carrier for scanning and digitizing the relief of the earth’s surface. This aircraft met all the conditions of the tender and will carry a professional scanner from Riegel, in cooperation with the German company IGI, and it will be installed and subsequently used professionally by the Geodetic Survey. Our friend at company WEKU Fly from Germany has been using Cavalon gyroplanes and Riegel scanners for more than 5 years for work for the public and private sector in the field of digital surface mapping.
The owner of AGN Systems Pavel Březina together with the Director of the Geodetic Office Mr. Karel Brázdil conducted two days of tests and perfectly checked all flight and ground modes of the gyroplane equipped with the scanner carrier. The Cavalon perfectly met all the specified requirements and after the crews are trained, it will be included and used as a full member of the fleet of scanning aircraft and drones in the Czech Republic.
The handover event is the culmination of this teamwork and confirms the fact that AutoGyro is the only manufacturer in the gyroplane sector that meets all major national regulations, whilst also meeting the highest global safety requirements. This successful delivery not only highlights AutoGyro’s innovative qualities, it also marks the huge step AutoGyro has taken in the design, configuration and delivery of gyroplane aircraft for commercial and government use.
