AutoGyro USA Gyroplanes - MidWest LSA Expo September 10, 11, 12th.

Wings that go around in circles enjoy their own special niche in American Light-Sport aviation. Yankees can buy ultralight helicopters — including the Mosquito that can fit into Part 103, which is amazing in itself — and Americans can buy kit-built gyrocopters or gyroplanes (the terms are used interchangeably). 

The good news is Americans do indeed buy and build; AutoGyro USA sold some 30 examples in the last couple years.

However, due to an apparent (and somewhat mysterious) intraagency dispute, fully built Special LSA gyroplanes were never allowed by FAA. 

Some say it was a turf war between the Small Aircraft Directorate and the Rotorcraft Directorate; though others disagree this was the problem. 

Whatever the explanation, no ready-to-fly LSA gyros are available in the USA despite years of effort by ASTM committee members, which has a standard ready. 

This is a shame as I rediscovered for myself on a flight at Sebring.

German producer AutoGyro GmbH is said to be the world's largest buyer of Rotax 912 engines.

On a pretty day at the Sebring U.S. Sport Aviation Expo 2014, I finally went aloft with Robert Snyder of AutoGyroUSA. 

We talked about flying together at AirVenture and my chance finally came. I have one other such experience with ASTM gyro chairman, Greg Gremminger in the Magni Gyro.

The Mount Vernon Outland Airport, serving pilots from Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Nashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Montgomery, Dallas, Fort Work Oklahoma City, Kansas City Wichita Des Moines, and Oshkosh during the Midwest LSA Expo.