the.com/autogyro
the helicopter's stubborn cousin that flies on faith, freewheeling blades, and zero engine help up top.
unpowered rotorTop blades spin from airflow alone, never engine-driven.
invented 1923Juan de la Cierva built it before helicopters existed.
near-impossible stallAutorotation keeps it flying when engines quit cold.
royal crashJames Bond flew one in You Only Live Twice.
short takeoffSome leap airborne in under fifty feet.