# Rotorwing-Aero 3D-RV > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rotorwing-Aero_3D-RV > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rotorwing-Aero_3D-RV.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotorwing-Aero_3D-RV > Source revision: 1321158746 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American autogyro 3D-RV General information Type Autogyro National origin United States Manufacturer Rotorwing-Aero Designer Monte Hoskins Status Production completed Number built Three (1998) History First flight 1989 The **Rotorwing-Aero 3D-RV** is an American [autogyro](/source/Autogyro) that was designed by Monte Hoskins and produced by [Rotorwing-Aero](/source/Rotorwing-Aero) of [Salt Lake City, Utah](/source/Salt_Lake_City%2C_Utah), introduced in 1989. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied in the form of plans for [amateur construction](/source/Homebuilt_aircraft).[1] ## Design and development The 3D-RV was designed to comply with the US [FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles](/source/FAR_103_Ultralight_Vehicles) rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 250 lb (113 kg) when equipped with a [Rotax 503](/source/Rotax_503) or [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582) engine. With heavier engines it can be [registered](/source/Aircraft_registration) in the US *Experimental - Amateur-built* category.[1] The 3D-RV features a single main rotor, a single-seat open cockpit without a windshield, [tricycle landing gear](/source/Tricycle_landing_gear) with hydraulic [disk brakes](/source/Disk_brake), plus a tail [caster](/source/Caster). The acceptable power range is 50 to 65 hp (37 to 48 kW) and the standard engines used are twin cylinder, air-cooled, [two-stroke](/source/Two-stroke), single-ignition 50 hp (37 kW) [Rotax 503](/source/Rotax_503) engine and the twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, single-ignition 64 hp (48 kW) [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582) engine, mounted in [pusher configuration](/source/Pusher_configuration).[1] The aircraft [fuselage](/source/Fuselage) is made from bolted-together [aluminum](/source/Aluminum) tubing and welded [4130 steel](/source/4130_steel) tubing. Its two-bladed rotor has a diameter of 25 ft (7.6 m) and may use either manufactured metal blades or homemade *Gyrotor* wooden blades. The prototype was originally flown with wooden blades of 8 ft (2.4 m) each, with a 5 ft (1.5 m) hub bar, for a diameter of 21 ft (6.4 m). In this configuration the aircraft flew acceptably, but did not climb well on hot days at higher [density altitudes](/source/Density_altitude). The minimum control speed is 10 mph (16 km/h)[1] The initial propeller used was a 64 in (163 cm) two bladed ground adjustable unit, but the plans specify a three-bladed ground adjustable design of 56 in (142 cm) diameter.[1] The prototype used a conventional low landing gear design, but this was later developed into a high landing gear to set the vertical [center of gravity](/source/Center_of_gravity_of_an_aircraft) to the prob hub height to prevent longitudinal stability issues and bunt "push-over" accidents. The final design features a tall aluminium [rudder](/source/Rudder).[1] The aircraft has a typical empty weight of 250 lb (110 kg) and a gross weight of 550 lb (250 kg), giving a useful load of 300 lb (140 kg). With full fuel of 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal) the payload for the pilot and baggage is 270 lb (120 kg).[1] The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off roll with a 50 hp (37 kW) engine is 1,000 ft (305 m).[1] The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied plans as 400 hours.[1] ## Operational history By 1998 the company reported that 35 sets of plans had been sold and three aircraft were completed and flying.[1] One builder reported an eight-month completion time.[1] ## Specifications (3D-RV) *Data from* Purdy[1] **General characteristics** - **Crew:** one - **Length:** 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) - **Empty weight:** 250 lb (113 kg) - **Gross weight:** 550 lb (249 kg) - **Fuel capacity:** 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal) - **Powerplant:** 1 × [Rotax 912ULS](/source/Rotax_912ULS) four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, [four stroke](/source/Four_stroke) [aircraft engine](/source/Aircraft_engine), 100 hp (75 kW) - **Main rotor diameter:** 25 ft 0 in (7.62 m) - **Propellers:** 3-bladed three bladed ground adjustable **Performance** - **Maximum speed:** 75 mph (121 km/h, 65 kn) - **Cruise speed:** 50 mph (80 km/h, 43 kn) - **Range:** 80 mi (130 km, 70 nmi) - **Service ceiling:** 8,000 ft (2,400 m) - **Rate of climb:** 800 ft/min (4.1 m/s) ## See also - [List of rotorcraft](/source/List_of_rotorcraft) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-11) Purdy, Don: *AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition*, page 331. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9636409-4-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9636409-4-1) ## External links - [Photo of a Rotorwing-Aero 3D-RV in flight](http://www.oocities.org/capecanaveral/launchpad/5249/rotorwing.jpg) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rotorwing-Aero 3D-RV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotorwing-Aero_3D-RV) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotorwing-Aero_3D-RV?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.