Cierva C.24

This article is about the conventional, cabin autogyro based on the de Havilland Puss Moth that some sources say was redesignated C.26. For the unbuilt 1931 design for an autogyro and helicopter hybrid that definitely had this designation, see Cierva C.26.

The de Havilland C.24 was a two-seat autogyro built by de Havilland at its Stag Lane works in England in 1931

C.24 in flight

C.24
de Havilland C.24 in flight
Role	Utility autogyro
Manufacturer	de Havilland
Designer	Juan de la Cierva
First flight	September 1931[1]
Status	Museum exhibit
Produced	1931
Number built	1

Design and development

The C.24 was built in 1931 using a Cierva rotor head coupled to the cabin of a de Havilland DH.80A Puss Moth, and driven by a 120 hp Gipsy III engine. It was withdrawn from use by December 1934.^[2]

A single example (G-ABLM) was produced and is part of the Science Museum collection. In 1932, it was redesignated C.26 (not to be confused with the unbuilt C.26 twin-engine autogiro design) when a two-blade rotor system was installed.^[3] Since 2008 it has been on loan to the de Havilland Aircraft Museum at Salisbury Hall, near London Colney in Hertfordshire. In flight, it had a maximum speed of about 115 mph (185 km/h; 100 kn).

Specifications

Data from Jackson 1978 p.524^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 20 ft 0 in (6.10 m)
• Empty weight: 1,280 lb (955 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,800 lb (1,343 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × de Havilland Gipsy III 4-cylinder inverted air-cooled inline , 120 hp (90 kW)
• Main rotor diameter: 34 ft 0 in (10.36 m)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kn)
• Cruise speed: 100 mph (164 km/h, 87 kn)
• Range: 350 mi (563 km, 300 nmi)