Pitcairn PA.38 attack autogyro

Veeeery nice. Hadn't noticed this on Aerofiles before. I've got the most authoritative book on Pitcairn entitled Autogiro — The Story of "the Windmill Plane" by George Townson (Aero Publishers, 1985), but this project is not included there!
 
Was it actually expected to attack or are we looking at a purely defensive armament? I take it that the earliest offensively equipped rotory aircraft to be built was sill the Kamov V-8?

More information on the incomplete Gyroplane G-20 and some possible derivatives from German projects can be seen in this thread: http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,6158.0
 
... And here: http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,4695.0/
 
From 'Cierva Autogiros the development of rotary wing flight',
Peter W.Brooks, Airlife, 1988, page 226,

"Pitcairn PA-38.
Designation of a series of design studies undertaken
for a USAAC design competition (Spec XC-417, circular
proposal 40-260), which closed on April 22, 1940.
These were of a large jump take-off autogiro of 4,200lbs
loaded weight, suitable for military observation or cargo;
mail carriage; insecticide-dispensing of forest fire-fighting.
Kellett submitted studies of two direct-control designs
without jump take-off capability.
None of the studies was proceeded with.
The Army contract went to Platt-LePage for their XR-1
helicopter."


cheers,
Robin.
 
Thanks Robunos!

...and (echoing Borovik) http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,2340.0/highlight,kamov.html
 
Thanks for the text and reference, Robunos! Really helps a lot.
 
It seems to me that the rear gunner would have a very limited arc of fire. Hardly worth the weight of the gun and gunner.
 
I was just thinking the same, Bill! Unless there was some form of interrupter gear, but that would mean a fixed gun...
 
robunos said:
From 'Cierva Autogiros the development of rotary wing flight',
Peter W.Brooks, Airlife, 1988, page 226,

"Pitcairn PA-38.
Designation of a series of design studies undertaken
for a USAAC design competition (Spec XC-417, circular
proposal 40-260), which closed on April 22, 1940.
These were of a large jump take-off autogiro of 4,200lbs
loaded weight, suitable for military observation or cargo;
mail carriage; insecticide-dispensing of forest fire-fighting.
Kellett submitted studies of two direct-control designs
without jump take-off capability.
None of the studies was proceeded with.
The Army contract went to Platt-LePage for their XR-1
helicopter."


cheers,
Robin.

My dear Robunos,

do you have a more Info about Cierva Projects in this book,you can send them here,

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,3396.msg115410.html#msg115410
 

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