Autogyro.
Although I must say I didn’t know such things exist now. But the design is completely different. Still looks mostly like a helicopter, not at all like a plane which was the point of autogyros in days past.
‘Although I must say I didn’t know such things exist now. But the design is completely different. Still looks mostly like a helicopter, not at all like a plane which was the point of autogyros in days past.’
Autogyros are more like airplanes, than helicopters by aerodynamic principles but their capabilities and limitations are somehow in between two mainstream types of aircraft.
Their rotors are unpowered, driven by airstream instead of engine (unless there is a ‘jump’ capability) and it basically serves to maintain lift the way airplane wing does while it is controlled in airplane fashion.
It is by far the easiest to fly type of aircraft and it is much more affordable to buy and maintain than helicopter.