More autogyro designs

Over Christmas I drew a few more autogyro's for Oleg's Dog star RPG. I've already posted two previous designs here and these continue the concept of larger, more sophisticated auto gyro's than anything actually built and almost comparable to fixed wing aeroplanes. Most of these designs are based on American air craft of the second world war. This is because I've tried to keep to a certain sense of style that defies the low tech capabilities of the engineers. Since the Dwarves in Dog star have certain pre set limitations and capabilities, I've tried as much as possible to stay within those parameters. Naturally, I've also take a few liberties along the way.

These designs are not meant to be anything but fantastical. The aspirations towards a sense of possibility and realism is merely me having fun. I doubt any of these designs would actually work, though I don't see why large autogyros couldn't be built. Modern concepts do exist for big heavy lift autogyros.

The first (image above and schematic below) is the BU-53 based on a Junkers JU-52 and inspired by the opening sequence of the film 'Where Eagles Dare'. The rotor blades are a bit small in the sketch, but this is due to the lack of space in my sketch book. For this reason I usually don't bother drawing the rotor blades (they're also tricky to get right).


The next autogyro (below) is the only one of these desigsn to so far have made an appearance in Dog star (and the first of those posted in the autogyro post). The 'Valkyra' is a converted freight transporter, known as a Mannsfoschen, Type XII Jäger transportvorrichtung, with upgraded engines and a remote controlled gatling gun turret mounted just below the nose canopy. Oleg's Dwarven gatling gun designs are powered by diesel combustion so they're under-powered by conventional black powder standards. The range of its primary weapon limits the 'Valkyra' to close attack, but gravity means it can fire on targets beyond the weapons ordinary range of 1,500 yards. As any one worth their salt can see, 'Valkyra' is an obvious cross breed of the B-25 Mitchell and the P-61 Black Widow. Due to the limitations Oleg has placed on Dwarven technology in Dog star, 'Valkyra' has Victorian/First World War performance, but fairly reliable engineering for all that (Dwarves being excellent engineers but opposed to mass production).


The next is the Hunterwassser Mk 1, a civilian transport/executive air craft, inspired by the tilt rotor prototype Bell XV-3. The idea here is either one engine sits in the rear of the main fusilage with power transfered to the props by means of crank shafts, or propulsion is provided by two small engines. Seven Dwarves can sit in the canopy section with the pilot in the nose.


The next two designs are military gunship variations on the Hunterwasser concept. They are the two seat 'Hornet' type A and the heavier, four seat 'Hornet' type B. Based loosely on a fantastic amalgamation of the Cobra attack helicopter and the B-25 medium bomber, the idea is for a cheap ground attack aircraft using two powerful engines for higher speeds. Additional fuel can be carried in drop tanks under the engines pylons. Note autogyro's don't need wings, but they do need large tail planes for stability. Unlike aeroplanes, they can fly very slowly and would make good gun platforms against primitive ground forces (this is an important factor in Dog star).

Since Sheev'dran Dwarves are not big on industrial scale mass productions, I tend to imagine that each autogyro is hand built and thus different in individual ways. This doesn't mean that popular designs don't exist though, only that designs get modified from aircraft to aircraft.

The Type A is armed with two .75 chain guns in the engine pylons (and powered by the engines) and two gatling guns in a remote controlled belly turret. The Type B has a similar armament, but with an additional gun turret. These autogyro's are designed to circle over a battle field and pour down fire over enemy troops. Larger or hardened targets could be stafed with the chain guns

The last design is the 'Lightning II', and although it is not the only combat autogyro, it is the only such aircraft I have designed with air combat specifically in mind. This design was also posted in my previous autogyro post. It is based on the P-38 Lightning.

The idea of the 'Lightning II' is for an autogyro built for high speed, able to simply out run, and out climb anything it should meet in a dog fight. It has three engines powering two pull and one push propeller and a single .75 chain gun in the nose. It is a large air craft and can carry two Dwarves, though it requires only one to operate. Like the 'Valkyra' it is a unique aircraft.