Layzell Merlin

{{Short description|British gyroplane}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}} {{Use British English|date=November 2016}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Merlin | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Autogyro]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[United Kingdom]] | manufacturer = [[Layzell Gyroplanes]] | design_group = | designer = Jim Montgomery | builder = | issuer = | status = Production completed (2011) | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Layzell Merlin''' is a British [[autogyro]] that was designed by Scottish designer Jim Montgomery and produced by [[Layzell Gyroplanes]] of [[Quedgeley]], [[Gloucester]]. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for [[Homebuilt aircraft|amateur construction]].<ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 182. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref>

The type remained in production by Layzell through 2011, although by July 2012 the company website had been removed from the internet.<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref name="Layzell">{{cite web|url=http://www.gyrokits.com/ |title=Gyro Kits |accessdate=5 January 2013 |last=Layzell Gyroplanes |date=n.d. |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117042115/http://www.gyrokits.com/ |archivedate=17 November 2011 }}</ref>

==Design and development== The Merlin features a single main rotor, a single-seat open cockpit with a [[Aircraft fairing|fairing]] and a windshield, [[tricycle landing gear]] with [[wheel pants]] and a twin cylinder, air-cooled, [[two-stroke]], single-ignition {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]] engine in [[pusher configuration]].<ref name="WDLA11" />

The aircraft [[fuselage]] is made from bolted-together square [[aluminum]] tubing. Its {{convert|7.01|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} diameter Rotor Flight Dynamics rotor has a chord of {{convert|18|cm|in|1|abbr=on}}. The aircraft has an empty weight of {{convert|145|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|295|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|150|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="WDLA11" />

After taking over Montgomery's design, company owner Gary Layzell expressed an interest in further developing the Merlin, but initially produced it unchanged.<ref name="WDLA11" />

==Operational history== By January 2013, 28 examples had been [[Aircraft registration|registered]] in the United Kingdom with the [[Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom)|CAA]] as Montgomerie-Bensen B8MR.<ref name="GINFO">{{cite web|url = http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=summary&aircrafttype=MONTGOMERIE-BENSEN%20B8MR|title = GINFO Search Results Summary|accessdate = 5 January 2013|last = [[Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom)]]|date = 5 January 2013}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Specifications (Merlin GTS) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Bayerl<ref name="WDLA11" /> |prime units?=met  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |width m= |width ft= |width in= |width note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |airfoil= |empty weight kg=145 |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=295 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |fuel capacity={{convert|50|L}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 582]] |eng1 type=twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, [[two stroke]] [[aircraft engine]] |eng1 kw=48 |eng1 hp=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh=120 |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms=4.5 |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |disk loading kg/m2= |disk loading lb/sqft= |disk loading note= |fuel consumption kg/km= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.gyrokits.com/ Layzell Gyroplanes website archives] on [[Archive.org]] *[http://www.chinagabuyer.com/upload/2011819155122705.jpg Photo of a Layzell Merlin GTS] {{Layzell Gyroplanes aircraft}}

[[Category:1990s British sport aircraft]] [[Category:Homebuilt aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined pusher autogyros]] [[Category:Layzell Gyroplanes]]