August 1957 - Igor Bensen and the "Gyrocopter"

[JimSp.]

The Bensen Gyrocopter was developed just down the road from my hometown.
Below is a short excerpt from a short biography on the UNC Website.
Google 'bensen gyrocopter' for other sources.

'In August 1957 Igor Bensen landed a "roadable" gyrocopter at the state
fairgrounds in Raleigh and then drove it to Cameron Village to do some
shopping. Later his wife met him in a station wagon. They then packed
the gyrocopter in the back and went home. The unusual flying machine was
designed and manufactured by Bensen Aircraft Corporation, located near
the Raleigh-Durham Airport, and the colorful stunt was typical of
Bensen—scientist, engineer, inventor, test pilot, and priest.'

http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/nchistory/aug2010/index.html

JimSp.

[DonK]

On Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:36:12 -0500, "JimSp." <cmorenobl...@aol.com> wrote:

>The Bensen Gyrocopter was developed just down the road from my hometown.
>Below is a short excerpt from a short biography on the UNC Website.
>Google 'bensen gyrocopter' for other sources.
>
>'In August 1957 Igor Bensen landed a "roadable" gyrocopter at the state
>fairgrounds in Raleigh and then drove it to Cameron Village to do some
>shopping.

Thanks Jim, that brings back many memories for me. In about 1959/1960 my father bought plans to
build a Benson Gyrocopter. As I recall, they were advertised in the back of all kinds of magazines:
"Flying", "Popular Mechanics", etc.

I remember that the plans came as a big roll of many sheets of paper but I can't remember, with
certainty, if they were blue print style printing or not. Also, I don't think the plans were
particularly cheap in 1960 terms.

My father had a J-3, Piper Cub, but he died when he was 39 without having begun his Gyrocopter
project.

I'm sure that I saw one, or more, modified Bensons in Viet Nam. Unlike the civilian model, the Air
Force model had a bubble canopy. When they flew overhead they made such an unusual sound (2 stroke)
that they immediately caught your attention. I did find a website that mentions the Air Force use of
the Benson.

I would love to find a nice Benson for FS9/FSX.
--

Don
Bothell, WA

The world unfolds according to its own inner algorithms of cause and effect, probability and chance without any regard for human feelings.

[Walt_M]

On Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:36:12 -0500, "JimSp."
<cmorenobl...@aol.com> wrote:

Interesting. Thanks for the post.

Now that we've got all manner of microlight a/c in use, can anyone
here explain why a rotary wing (gyro) concept might be better than a
fixed (or foldable/removable for transport) wing a/c? i.e. is the
gyro an obsoletec concept or does it still have advantages over other
kinds of microlights?



Walt
* * *
Offence freely given to those who wish to take it.

[Guy]

"JimSp." wrote in message news:jb86t8$3a8$1...@news.albasani.net...

Jim,

I had a stock certificate for 100 shares in the "Bensen" company which
I believe I discarded last year!

GuyR