Specifications:
| Crew: | 1 |
| Length: | 11 ft 4 in (3.45 m) |
| Weight: | 247 lbs (112 kg) |
| Maximum takeoff weight: | 500 lbs (227 kg) |
| Engine: | 1 × McCulloch Model 4318AX 4-cylinder air-cooled 2-stroke piston engine. |
| Power: | 72 hp (54 kW) |
| Take-off run: | 300 ft (91 m) |
| Maximum speed: | 85 mph (137 km/h) |
| Cruise speed: | 60 mph (97 km/h) |
| Range: | 100 mi (160 km) |
| Service ceiling: | 12,500 ft (3,800 m) |
Aircraft Information
At first glance the Benson looks like a helicopter. But if it were a helicopter the engine would drive the rotor. In a gyrocopter the forward motion of the aircraft turns the rotor end producing lift. A gyrocopter uses an aft-mounted propeller to move forward across the field.
As the gyrocopter moves forward and picks up speed the rotating blades move and produce lift. The control stick moves to tilt the blade mechanism to direct lift in the direction the pilot wishes to go. Add power to increase propellers rpm and use the stick to raise the nose to produce a climb attitude. Reduce power and adjust the attitude to descend. The rudder controls yaw.
Most gyro pilots stay low, but high enough to miss buildings and cows.
In the early 50’s the Benson was heavily advertised in magazines like Mechanics Illustrated and Popular Science.
The small four cylinder air-cooled Continental engine was reliable, cheap to operate and it seemed a great way to get into flying.
