Wartime autogyro projects in Australia

[templemechanic]

A long time ago, I found an even older article in Air International(July, 1975) article on an Australian proposal, Project Skywards, which was to test out rotor-dropped equipment into New Guinea for a proposed invasion, glider drops being out of the question, and parachute drops of heavy equipment not even a dream. At this time, the Rotabuggy was being considered, hence the birth of the Fleep, the Australian Rotabuggy, only a lit sexier looking.

Were there other such projects elsewhere?

 

[hesham]

Please, can you send the text ?.

A long time ago, I found an even older article in Air International(July, 1975

 

[Apophenia]

The thread: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/australian-fleep.31779/

 

[templemechanic]

Please, can you send the text ?.

 

[fortrena]

I wonder if people involved in Project Skywards remembered that, back in the spring or summer of 1934, an Australian pilot who used to work for New Guinea Airways and Pacific Aerial Transport had conversations with a gentleman (and fellow pilot?) by the name of Herbert Alfred "Harry" de Kantzow. The time William Charles "Charlie" Gatenby had spent in the Australian-controlled Territory of New Guinea had led him to conclude that the autogyro was the type of flying machine best adapted to the small landing fields that could be carved out of the forests of this mountainous region of the world.

Gatenby boarded a ship to England in October 1934 in order to buy an autogyro. He returned with an Avro-made Cierva C.30A (VH-USQ, formerly G-ACXP). The two of them arrived in Australia in January 1935.

Gatenby and de Kantzow made numerous flights in Australia in 1935 but the C.30A never made it to the Territory of New Guinea. De Kantzow became the sole owner of the autogyro in June 1936. Gatenby seemingly went back to work for various Australian air carriers before joining the staff of Imperial Airways, in July 1939. VH-USQ was withdrawn from use in July 1940.