Eich JE-2 Tractor Gyroplane

[okikuma]

Here's a video of an Eich JE-2 tractor gyroplane accident on El Mirage Dry Lake Bed some years ago. The condition of the lake bed wasn't very dry in the video. Jim's original prototype crashed due to limited rudder authority because of the short moment arm between the rotor axis and rudder. I was told that Jime's JE-2 got into a situation whereas P-factor caused the fuselage to rotate around the rotor axis ans the rudder was not effective enough to stop the rotation. At minimum a three foot extension of the fuselage behind the aft cockpit would most likely solve the problem.

Note what appears to be an independent pre-rotator engine just above the passenger's head.

Wayne

 

[Aerofoam]

When was this?
Did a successful version fly?
And yes, the rudder and stabilizer look woefully undersized for that short moment arm.
They are flying in turbulent flow too, I would think any combination of lengthening the tail boom, using tiplets on the stab and a longer control surface on the rudder would take care of yaw issues...