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.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 184 and 187. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
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 . The aircraft has a standard empty weight of . 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 Zanzottera MZ 201 engine in pusher configuration.
The aircraft fuselage is made from bolted-together 6061-T6 aluminum tubing. Its diameter Sport Copter rotor has a chord of . With its empty weight of and a gross weight of , it has a useful load of .
Variants Taggart Gyro Bee Plans-built version introduced in 1990. Star Bee Light Kit-built version of the GyroBee, produced by Star Bee Gyros. Mounts a Sport Copter rotor, Ivoprop propeller and a Zanzottera MZ 201. Star Bee Total Bee Kit-built version of the GyroBee, produced by Star Bee Gyros. Mounts a Dragon Wings rotor, Ivoprop propeller and a Zanzottera MZ 202. Midwest Hornet Free plans-built version, based on the GyroBee.
Specifications (Star Bee Light)
See also
References
External links
Design documentation Photos of the Gyro Bee Photos of Star Bee Gyros