autogiro

旋翼垂直升降？

As stated before, this is the Cierva C.8W visiting Washington DC Stig

There may be some confusion about the identity of this autogyro. The famous 'Miss Champion' autogyro operated by the Champion Spark Plug Company was PCA-2 NC11609 c/n B-27. It was bought as a promotional machine in 1931 and '32, and was flown over 6,500 miles in the 1931 Ford National Reliability Air Tour. This machine was restored to flying condition in 1982 by Steve Pitcairn, Harold's son. In 2005, he donated it to the EAA AirVenture Museum, where many photos can be found online clearly showing the tail number as NC11609. The aircraft in the above photo was the PCA-2 owned by King Baird, which may be indeed be NC11608 c/n B-26, but the only other photo I could find of Baird's aircraft (damaged) does not clearly show the reg number, nor does the photo above. To further confuse things, the famous Golden Years database lists NC11608 c/n B-26 as Miss Champion, not NC11609 c/n B-27. Further info appreciated.

Another mystery. This Kellett autogyro appears to be marked NC18591, but no such Kellett reg is listed (NC18591 was a Cessna Airmaster). Is it possibly K-3 c/n 16 NC12691? Almost looks like the tail number has been doctored, either on the aircraft or on the photo.

No this is NC12691 that is the linkage for the Elevator that from this angle make the 2 look like a 8. No big Mystery.

Oh, snap. Silly me. Thank you for so politely and eloquently clearing up the "mystery" that I so foolishly stated as such.