We were commissioned to build a specialised Autogyro for Glasgow University Department of Aerospace Engineering as a test vehicle to enable them to carry out studies on the Aerodynamics of Gyroplanes. The Aircraft used is G-UNIV and is based on the Montgomerie Twin Seat Airframe with the No. 2 seat removed to facilitate the complex computerised processors which analyse the data obtained from the additional instrumentation and sensors fitted to the Aircraft.

These highly sensitive measuring devices include an air data probe (airspeed, sideslip and angle of attack), rotorspeed sensor, an inertial measurement pack consisting of roll and pitch angle gyros, roll, pitch and yaw rate gyros, and linear accelerometers aligned with the aircraft body axes. Displacement transducers are fitted to roll, pitch and rudder controls, and all measurements are recorded at 10 Hz. Frequency sweep.  Multi-step control inputs are injected in all axes throughout the speed range, and measurements are also taken in steady heading sideslip tests.

The information received can also be recorded using telemetry transmitting back to a ground station which then allows the technician to observe the results and confer with the Test Pilot during the exercise.

The results obtained from these flight tests can then be used to validate and tune the computer generated simulation model developed by Glasgow University.