Skyworks Aeronautics Marks a Century of Gyroplane Innovation with the Forthcoming Flight of its Hawk 5 Gyro Demonstrator and Advancement of VertiJet™

A depiction of Skyworks Aeronautics’ VertiJet™, a revolutionary new gyroplane capable of speeds of up to 400 miles per hour, displaying the capabilities of gyronautics today. 

A New Chapter in Aviation History

Chicago, IL, U.S.A., November 14, 2023/ —  Skyworks Aeronautics Corp. (“Skyworks”), the leading innovator in gyroplane technology, is thrilled to announce the celebration of a historic milestone: the 100th anniversary of the invention of the gyroplane. In honor of this pioneering spirit, Skyworks is excited to reveal the forthcoming flight of a demonstrator for its state-of-the-art Hawk 5 Gyroplane in early 2024 with deliveries expected later that year, marking a new chapter in aviation history.

Since the first gyroplane took to the skies in 1923, the aviation world has seen tremendous advancements. One hundred years ago, the first successful gyroplane was just an airplane fuselage completed with an engine and a forward-mounted propeller, a mast rotor, and horizontalnd vertical stabilizers. Its mission back then was simple: to fly safely at low speeds. 

   A photo of an early gyroplane in the U.S. Navy from the 1930s.

Now, a century later, Skyworks Aeronautics has been at the forefront, relentlessly pushing the envelope of what these unique aircraft can achieve. The Hawk 5 Gyro, with its unmatched efficiency, safety, and versatility, is a testament to the century’s worth of innovation and commitment to excellence in gyroplane technology.

Celebrating the Hawk 5

The Hawk 5 Gyroplane goes above and beyond the potential of the earliest gyroplanes. Offering runway-independent operations with class-leading payload, the Hawk 5 combines the safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of fixed-wing aircraft with the primary benefit of a helicopter: runway independence. The Hawk 5 achieves this impressive feat via a rotor pre-rotation system that spins up the rotor while on the ground, just prior to takeoff. 

Even better, the Hawk 5 offers five-seat comfort and unsurpassed safety. Its rotor is always in autorotation during flight, even if a rare engine failure does occur, allowing the pilot to always stay in complete control of the aircraft.

The Hawk 5 is the economical workhouse

that early aircraft engineers only dreamed of. With no powered rotor in flight, no transmission, and no antitorque equipment, the Hawk 5 has none of the periodic maintenance associated with these typical helicopter systems. Thus, Foregone are the lost business days due to overwhelming maintenance, and while achieving lower costs and higher reliability. Coupled with the flying simplicity of fixed-wing aircraft, the Hawk 5 removes several barriers that limit the utilization of runway-independent aircraft.

Paving the Way Forward

The celebration does not end with the Hawk 5 Gyro. Skyworks Aeronautics is also making significant strides with the VertiJet, its revolutionary gyroplane that promises to combine the simplicity of a gyroplane with the vertical takeoff capability of a helicopter, all in a jet powered aircraft capable of  400 mph cruise speeds. The continued development of the VertiJet embodies Skyworks Aeronautics’ vision to commercialize gyro technology on an unprecedented scale.

Only costing slightly more than a six- or eight-seat business jet, the VertiJet’s utilization of vertical takeoff and landing technology sets it apart from other aircraft. Its extraordinary performance includes greater speed, lower cost of maintenance, and greater safety. Moreover, its impressive 1,000-mile range offers a previously unseen level of versatility for a variety of missions.

An image displaying gyroplane technology from the 1950s.

“Today, we stand on the shoulders of the giants who pioneered gyro technology,” remarked John E. Michel, CEO and Co–Founder of Skyworks Aeronautics. “Our Hawk 5’s forthcoming first flight is not just a milestone for us but a tribute to a century of gyroplane heritage. And with the VertiJet, we are paving the way for the next 100 years, as we aim to bring the reliability and versatility of gyroplanes to everyday travel.”

Executive Chairman and Skyworks Co–Founder Steve Stevanovich added, “The gyroplane has been a cornerstone of aviation ingenuity, and as we celebrate this centennial, Skyworks Aeronautics is looking to the skies with the Hawk 5 and beyond with the VertiJet. Our vision has always been to bring the reliability and efficiency of gyroplane technology to the global market, and these aircraft are the keystones in achieving that goal.”

About Skyworks

Skyworks Aeronautics is the world leader in the science and technology of gyronautics, focusing on the design and development of high-performance gyroplanes. Skyworks gyroplanes provide more affordable, safer, and higher performance alternatives for runway-independent aircraft. 

Skyworks has more than 45 patents with several more underway, all obtained in an effort to radically change not only the way gyroplanes are perceived, but also the way they are utilized. From mass personnel transportation, agriculture, defense, police and border protection to changing the economies of developing nations, Skyworks’ goal is to change the nature of vertical flight. For more information about the company, its products, and individual members of the Skyworks team, visit www.skyworks–aero.com

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