A small, rugged, low-cost, organic airborne partner.

Based on a proven existing ultralight autogyro airframe with a fully enclosed cabin, our autogyro offers the flexibility of a helicopter, the endurance of a UAV, and the performance of a human observer.
It has been ruggedized to handle military/law enforcement work. It provides an eye in the sky for the commander, it is ideal for convoy security and area surveillance.

Major Arthur D. Davis in his Air Command and Staff College thesis described the ideal aircraft solution for counter insurgency (COIN) operations (Back to the basics : An Aviation Solution to Counter Insurgent Warfare). Such an aircraft should have the following characteristics:

  • Off-the-shelf technology,
  • Long range and loiter capability,
  • Short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability,
  • Ability to operate from austere airfields,
  • Diverse weapons and cargo carrying capability,
  • Good navigation,
  • Good pilot visibility,
  • Speed and maneuverability at low-to-medium altitudes, and
  • A high degree of survivability.

"Of special importance, the aircraft should be inexpensive and suited to the type of support expected of it. As a corollary, it should lend itself well to training pilots from "lesser-developed" nations that will eventually assume responsibility for internal security against insurgent factions ... " - Major Davis, USAF.

Enclosed cabin autogyro prototype

TOAD Specifications

Crew
1, 2, 1+2
Loiter capability
up to 6 hours+
Payload
700 pounds
Maximum speed
195 km/h
Climb rate
1000 ft/minute
Take off distance
50 to 100m
Landing distance
5 m

Specifications and performances subject to change depending on legislation, temperature, barometric pressure and models.

The TOAD (Tactical Organic Airborne Demonstrator) answers most of these requirements.

  • Its foundation is off the shelf technology, based on an proven autogyro platform ruggedized for hard use,
  • It has a long range and long loiter : 5 to 6 hours of loiter time, 600 miles + range,
  • STOL capability : 100 yard take off roll, can land vertically ,
  • Diverse weapons and cargo potential : this is an ultralight so this is somehow limited, but machine guns or light cargo are possible,
  • Good navigation : it comes equipped with a full glass cockpit with GPS, speed is up to 120 mph and maneuverability is excellent thanks to the autogyro design,
  • And finally high degree of survivability : very little heat and noise generated by the Rotax engine, radar signature is minimum with the fiber hull.
It can carry a crew of 3 with a modified cabin.

Featuring enhanced avionics (GPS and full glass cockpit), a titanium/composite airframe and improved ergonomics, it is suitable for observation and border control like mission rather than pure armed reconnaissance role but is less than $300,000 for acquisition and $50 an hour of flight.
Pilot training can be done in about 20 hour to be certified to fly solo (Ultralight/ LSA classification).

More information about mission capabilities in the mission page.

C-LVL