Rotortec Cloud Dancer Light

The Rotortec Cloud Dancer Light is a German autogyro, designed and produced by Rotortec of Görisried, Allgäu. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.^[1]

Cloud Dancer Light
Role	Autogyro
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Rotortec
Status	In production (2013)
Developed from	Rotortec Cloud Dancer I

Design and development

Based on the enclosed cockpit Rotortec Cloud Dancer I, the Cloud Dancer Light was designed as a lower cost model for the German 120 kg ultralight class. It features a single two-bladed rotor, a single-seat open cockpit without a windshield, tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a twin cylinder, liquid-cooled 70 hp (52 kW) Hirth 3503 two stroke engine mounted in pusher configuration.^[1]

The aircraft fuselage frame is made from aluminum, while the tail is Kevlar composites. Its 7.10 m (23.3 ft) diameter rotor has a chord of 17.5 cm (6.9 in). The instrument panel is mounted in a simple pod. The aircraft has an empty weight of 120 kg (265 lb) and a gross weight of 300 kg (661 lb), giving a useful load of 180 kg (397 lb).^[1]

Specifications (Cloud Dancer Light)

Data from Bayerl^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Empty weight: 120 kg (265 lb)
• Gross weight: 300 kg (661 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 25 litres (5.5 imp gal; 6.6 US gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Hirth 3503 two stroke liquid-cooled aircraft engine, 52 kW (70 hp)
• Main rotor diameter: 7.10 m (23 ft 4 in)
• Propellers: 3-bladed composite Helix-Carbon propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 155 km/h (96 mph, 84 kn)
• Cruise speed: 120 km/h (75 mph, 65 kn)
• Rate of climb: 5 m/s (980 ft/min)