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'La Cierva C-6' was the sixth autogyro constructed by engineer Juan de la Cierva, and the first one to travel a "major" distance. De la Cierva, the engineer responsible for the invention of the autogyro, spent all his funds in the research and creation of his first five prototypes. Therefore, in 1923, he turned to the Cuatro Vientos Aerodynamics Laboratory chief, Commander Emilio Herrera, who succeeded in persuading General Francisco Echagüe, the director of the Military Aviation Aeronautics Department, to take over the second stage in the research and development of La Cierva's Autogyros.
After several wind tunnel tests, Military Aviation built an La Cierva C-6 autogyro in an Avro 504 frame. This machine, piloted by Captain Joaquín Loriga Taboada, performed three flights, all of them in March 1924. One of those flights, the eight minute trip from Cuatro Vientos airfield to Getafe airfield (10.5 km / 7 miles), was considered a giant's step and the "leap into glory" of La Cierva's autogyros.
The La Cierva C-6 prototype was fitted with ailerons mounted in two small wings, elevators and rudder. This complete three-axis control scheme was needed because the pilot had only limited control over the rotor (See Helicopter rotor).
Only the front propeller was powered, so this aircraft could not hover, and could lose control at low speed. The vertical axis rotor span freely, and the faster the autogyro flew, the faster the rotor span, and the greater lift it produced.
Later La Cierva autogyros had a powered vertical axis rotor (only at low airspeed), which enabled them to hover in a helicopter-like fashion.
A replica of the La Cierva C-6 was built to be shown in Murcia pavilion in Seville Expo '92 World's Fair. That replica can be now be seen in Museo del Aire, Cuatro Vientos, Madrid, Spain.

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Specifications (C-6)

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Specifications (C-6)

References

★ Original pictures and data of this article were taken from "Museo del Aire", Cuatro Vientos, Madrid, Spain

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