Pitcairn Autogiro: Making News while Breaking News
Share
share
The autogiro is just what it looks like – a technological halfway step between the airplane and the helicopter. The engine only powers the front propeller. The overhead rotor spins freely, but that autorotation generates significant additional lift. The Detroit News used its 1931 Pitcairn-Cierva autogiro to rush reporters and photographers to breaking stories, and to take aerial photos. Most of these photographs show this aircraft in action.
THF2996
1931 Pitcairn-Cierva Autogiro
Like an airplane, the autogiro is moved by an engine-powered propeller, but like a helicopter, lift is provided by a rotor. The rotor is not powered, and while the aircraft can land vertically, it cannot take off vertically. The Detroit News purchased this autogiro to gather news. The novel aircraft probably was better at making news!
View ArtifactTHF285311
Log for the Detroit News No. 2 Autogiro, 1931-1933
Airplanes require careful monitoring and maintenance, and each flight must be thoroughly documented in a logbook. This log, for the autogiro operated by the Detroit News, records information like takeoff and landing times, flight locations, miles traveled, and fuel consumption. Additionally, the autogiro's overall flight and engine operation hours are noted in a running total after each trip.
View ArtifactTHF239956
Detroit News--Autogiro--Over Downtown Detroit--Item 8
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF240081
Detroit News--Autogiro--At Scripps Hangar--Item 11
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF239933
Detroit News--Autogiro--Over Downtown Detroit--Item 1
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF240092
Detroit News--Autogiro--Carrying Judge during Harmsworth Regatta Near Yacht Club
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF239997
Detroit News--Autogiro--Over Scripps Farm--Item 14
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF239964
Detroit News--Autogiro--Over Downtown Detroit--Item 16
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF240085
Detroit News--Autogiro--Over City Airport--Item 2
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF240086
Detroit News--Autogiro--Crowds at City Airport Demonstration--Item 1
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF238498
Detroit News--Autogiro--Kuenzel and Byerley--Item 4
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF239958
Detroit News--Autogiro--Over Downtown Detroit--Item 10
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF239998
Detroit News--Autogiro--At Scripps Hanger--Item 1
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF238502
Detroit News--Autogiro--Over WWJ Towers
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF239952
Detroit News--Autogiro--Over Downtown Detroit--Item 4
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF240089
Detroit News--Autogiro--Close-up Views on Ground--Item 1
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF240083
Detroit News--Autogiro--Over Scripps Farm--Item 16
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF238507
Detroit News--Autogiro--Item 5
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF239999
Detroit News--Autogiro--At Scripps Hanger--Item 2
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF239962
Detroit News--Autogiro--Over Downtown Detroit--Item 14
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF240000
Detroit News--Autogiro--At Scripps Hanger--Item 3
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF240093
Detroit News--Autogiro--Carrying Judge during Harmsworth Regatta Showing Yacht Club
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF238488
Detroit News--Autogiro--Over Scripps Farm--Item 6
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF238497
Pilot Frank Byerley and Photographer William Kuenzel aboard the Detroit News Autogiro, April 6, 1931
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF239934
Detroit News--Autogiro--Over Downtown Detroit--Item 2
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View ArtifactTHF240087
Detroit News--Autogiro and Plane, "Detroit News," in City Airport Hanger
The Detroit News operated an autogiro from 1931 to 1933. The novel aircraft carried a large, swiveling camera to take aerial photos of newsworthy events and transported reporters for quickly developing stories. However, it ultimately proved more useful as an advertisement for the paper. The autogiro made over 700 flights before it was donated to Henry Ford's museum in Dearborn.
View Artifact
