From the makers of the MT03: the Calidus!

[ckurz7000]

On September 20, during the annual fly-in in Hildesheim, where the manufacturer of the MT03 (HTC Autogyro) resides, they reveiled their latest addition: the Calidus.

Otmar Birkner, the owner and "mastermind" behind HTC has kept this project a well guarded secret. So it was with quite some surprise when he introduced the Calidus in a well orchestrated (show (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6fd-5dxSz4)).

Some photos of the newcomer (taken by Norbert, D-MPCV):

49675

49676

49677

There's no official information available as of yet, regarding technical specs, performance data or price. According to circulating rumors the empty weight is less than the open 2 place machine, MTOSport (243 kg). Cruise 200 km/h, tank 100 liters. The airspeed indicator visible in the interior shot has apparently still markings taken from the MTOSport.

According to a private talk with Otmar this summer he said that specific attention has been paid to stability and thrust line in conjunction with the HS. He doesn't believe in side-by-side seating because of aerodynamic reasons (drag, weight, yaw stability).

Until we get more -- and official -- data from actual flights, that's all. Personally, I think this is great news! I never was happy with the performance of the available (in Europe) side-by-side gyros. And I know that Otmar is a performance freak.

-- Chris.

[XXavier]

It has very nice and futuristic looks... Will probably sell quite well in this small market. I hope they have solved the problem of rotor shake, that have plagued almost every gyro since the days of Cierva. I myself don't like the enclosed cockpit, but a partial windshield (or a sliding one) is not impossible, either.

Anyway, it's unlikely that it may get a type certification here in Spain... For the time being, I'm very happy flying with my new ELA, but time flows unstoppable, and one never knows... We have a saying, here in Spain: 'Nunca digas que de esta agua no beberé' = 'Never say you won't drink from that water'...

But... there are still news that will come from old Spain. Stunning news, if all goes well. A matter of months... Just wait and see...

Regards

XXavier

[ckurz7000]

Got a bit more information from the German forum. Here's the link for some more and informative pictures: http://gyrocopterforum.de/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=371 -- just scroll down almost all the way to the bottom.

One picture shows the prototype of the Calidus which was used for flight testing. So the flight data are not based on simulations only but were tried out in real flight testing. However, the nice looking Calidus is not flyable yet. There are no control linkages (neither rudder nor rotorhead), the canopy cover is not yet transparent and some more stuff. This will be completed in the coming weeks. And if you know Otmar Birkner then you know that he will meet or beat his schedule.

This gyro is slated to sell for just shy of 50,000 €.

-- Chris.

[helipaddy]

Not too sure of the name though, Sounds like a STD!

[Gyro_Kai]

Some more pictures on the German homepage of the company:

http://www.auto-gyro.com/

Kai.

[Resasi]

I was thinking it sounded like Collide Us.

Must mean something or come from language. Latin? German?

Other than a technology company didn't find anything else.

[ckurz7000]

Must mean something or come from language. Latin? German?

You're right. Calidus is Latin for "warm". I guess it must have a good heating system ;-)

-- Chris.

[C. Beaty]

Also sounds a little like chlamydia or calliope. The first is an STD, the second is a musical instrument.

[Gyro_Kai]

International branding is a really exciting business.

Toyota "MR2" is pronounced in French "merde"="Sh...".
The Whiskey brand "Irish Mist" didn't sell well in Germany as Mist means dung.

There are countless examples of poor name-choice, but I guess, I would at least check English before going public.

"Collide us" is really hillarious.


Kai.

[Resasi]

All in a name. Warm sounds right, after an open MT-03 it has to be.

Calliope, that brings to mind those fairground rides with horses that went up and down Chuck . Did the music that played from them come from a Calliope then? Sort of mechanical steam organ thingamebob.

A Restaurant in Mombasa is called Topeka. Unfortunately topeka in Swahili means to vomit. Hasn't seemed to have effected it's popularity though, always full.

[helipaddy]

Would an emergency evacuation from this aircraft be called "Calidus interruptus"?!

[C. Beaty]

There are consulting firms that do name research.

When the Japanese first entered the US automobile market, some of the names sounded a little weird to English speakers.

I recall a Datsun Bluebird. Now Bluebird might be a perfectly appropriate name in Japanese but it has a wimpy, effeminate connotation in English. Birds of prey are fine names for automobiles; Hawk, Eagle, Falcon, etc but never Bluebird.

[bpearson]

The Datsun Bluebird had to be about the worst car ever made.

Here is Donald Campbells Bluebird. Nothing wimpy here.

[ckurz7000]

I agree, the choice of name still leaves something to be desired...

Who the hell wants to fly a "warm" gyro? I want a HOT gyro!

-- Chris.

[Racer]

I think the Datsun 280 Z was called the "Sky Bird" in Japan. Not a very macho name for the USA

[jcarleto]

I dunno...warm or hot has that "stolen" connotation.

I want a gyro to be "cool!" To say that it is warm does imply that it is NOT cool.

*JC*

[Joe Pires]

The Nova didnt sell well in South America No Va means doesnt go. Or at least thats the way I heard it.

[Red Bird]

It is a DF02 by another name. These tiresome people obviously have no scruples. Beware of Germans bearing cameras.

[Gyro_Kai]

It is a DF02 by another name. These tiresome people obviously have no scruples. Beware of Germans bearing cameras.

Well, no. Several good customers (I'm just chartering) have seen the first designs on the drawings before the DF02 became public.
All gliders have a nose-section exactly like the DF02 or the Calidus. I guess it is the Boeing effect: All jetliners look the same.

Kai.

[Timchick]

Would an emergency evacuation from this aircraft be called "Calidus interruptus"?!

Good one. Funny.

[Hognose]

If you've ever flown a ship with a bubble canopy, "warm" is a pretty good description. Minus good air vents you'll broil in the sun.

On the other hand, when I lived in Bavaria in the 1980s, if a guy was "warm" it meant he was gay... same thing in Czech. Not, as Seinfeld would say, that there's anything wrong with that.

cheers

-=K=-

[Arnie Madsen]

Talk about names .......

What is black and white and yellow and ugly and glows in the dark and cannot fly .........



.



.... it's a BLUEBIRD .....



.

[ckurz7000]

On the other hand, when I lived in Bavaria in the 1980s, if a guy was "warm" it meant he was gay... same thing in Czech. Not, as Seinfeld would say, that there's anything wrong with that.

cheers

-=K=-

Funny you'd mention that. I had the same association :-) Your German must have been/still is pretty good to pick up on that.

-- Chris.

[tomhall]

And then there was the Chevy Nova.......When introduced in Mexico, it failed; in Spanish " no va " means " no go " ! Tom T.

[troed@aon.at]

Was a little bit disappointed when I saw the first photos ..........

Autogyro had patended the design below in Germany so I was expecting something like this.......

All in all it´s just a shorter MT0sport fully enclosed, but let´s see first how it´s going to fly. The serial model wasn´t up in the air till now.

Angelo

(Hi Birdy, hi Mike: another HTL-deathtrap from good ol´Europe :eek:)

[Xavier AVERSO]

Angelo,Joli dessin.

Angelo, Pretty drawing.

[Arnie Madsen]

Well, no. Several good customers (I'm just chartering) have seen the first designs on the drawings before the DF02 became public.
All gliders have a nose-section exactly like the DF02 or the Calidus. I guess it is the Boeing effect: All jetliners look the same.

Kai.

Not sure if I understand you correctly Kai , but it sounds like you are saying some aircraft look the same .....

..... because aerodynamics determine the look and shape of an aircraft and thus a designer in Europe or elsewhere will end up with something similar to a USA design ....

.... not because it was a copy , but rather , because two seperate engineers using essential aerodynamics end up with similar models because aerodynamic design is the same in Germany , Russia , Brazil , and Winnipeg .... thus the similarities....


Hope that makes sense. Aerodynamic design speaks the same language around the world thus the similar designs show up and not because somebody copied someone else.

Is that what you were trying to say ? .... because I agree ....

Arnie

[XXavier]

Evolutive convergence... That's the name...

But the first jetliners weren't American, IIRC.

The 'Comet' was British, and the 'Caravelle' was French, from Sud-Aviation, again IIRC.

The 'Comet' had a peculiar design, concerning the placement of the turbines, in particular, but the 'Caravelle' was quite 'standard'...

Rgds

Xavier

[Mike G]

Xavier (Averso)

Le papier ne refuse pas l'encre.

Mike G

[Gyro_Kai]

Arnie,

that is exactly what I was trying to say, thank you.

I believe gliders are the prime of aerodynamic optimization in this size/speed region we are moving in, so the nose and cabin shape of this type of aircraft is probably very well optimized for the purpose.

Of course the same applies for jetliners. Airbus, Boeing, McDonnel-Douglas are hard to tell apart, then you are not an expert.

Kai.