1. Design and development

2. Variants

3. Specifications (Star Bee Light)

4. References

5. External links

The Taggart GyroBee is an American autogyro that was designed by Ralph E. Taggart of Michigan State University and made available as free documentation. The aircraft is also produced in kit form by Star Bee Gyros of Worcester, Massachusetts for amateur construction.^[1]

Design and development

The GyroBee was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. The aircraft has a standard empty weight of {{convert|247|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. It features a single main rotor, a single-seat open cockpit without a windshield, tricycle landing gear and a twin-cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition {{convert|45|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Zanzottera MZ 201 engine in pusher configuration.^[1]

The aircraft fuselage is made from bolted-together 6061-T6 aluminum tubing. Its {{convert|23|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} diameter Sport Copter rotor has a chord of {{convert|7|in|cm|1|abbr=on}}. With its empty weight of {{convert|247|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|550|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, it has a useful load of {{convert|303|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.^[1]

Variants

Taggart Gyro Bee

Plans-built version introduced in 1990.^[1]

Star Bee Light

Kit-built version of the GyroBee, produced by Star Bee Gyros. Mounts a {{convert|23|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} Sport Copter rotor, Ivoprop propeller and a {{convert|45|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Zanzottera MZ 201.^[1][2]

Star Bee Total Bee

Kit-built version of the GyroBee, produced by Star Bee Gyros. Mounts a {{convert|23|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} Dragon Wings rotor, Ivoprop propeller and a {{convert|60|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Zanzottera MZ 202.^[1][3]

//Midwest Hornet">Midwest Hornet

Free plans-built version, based on the GyroBee.^[1]

Specifications (Star Bee Light)

|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=
|length in=
|length note=
|width m=
|width ft=
|width in=
|width note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=112
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=250
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|5|u.s.gal}}
|more general=

|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Zanzottera MZ 201
|eng1 type=twin cylinder, air-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=45
|prop blade number=3
|prop name=Ivoprop
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop dia note=
|rot number=1
|rot dia m=7.31
|rot dia ft=
|rot dia in=
|rot area sqm=
|rot area sqft=
|rot area note=

|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=110
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=85
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=3
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|disk loading kg/m2=
|disk loading lb/sqft=
|disk loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}

References

External links

• {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20130313070615/http://taggart.glg.msu.edu/gyro/gbplans.htm}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110107094429/http://taggart.glg.msu.edu/ftproot/gbeer50.pdf Design documentation]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130313070615/http://taggart.glg.msu.edu/gyro/gbtour.htm Photos of the Gyro Bee]
• Photos of Star Bee Gyros

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