The Last Autogiro: Skyway Engineering AC-35 of 1961 -1966

The Last Autogiros – The Kellett "Cropmaster" : It is generally assumed that the French SNCASE C.302 Autogiro which flew in 1946, was the last Cierva-derived and licensed Autogiro, but there were two other unsuccessful attempts to revive this form of autorotational aircraft. These, the Kellett "Cropmaster" and Skyway Engineering attempt to revive the Pitcairn AC-35 (also known as the PA-35), were truly the last Autogiros. Of these two, the former is the best documented – until now. Kellett Aircraft made one final attempt to revitalize the Autogiro,1 this time involving a reconstructed2 direct control KD-1A, during the 1958-1960 time period. The airframe came from the model originally sold to the Army, called the YG-1B and then reconfigured as the XR-3.