Gyro-Copter question

[culiv]

I'm not a helicopter flyer, but have a question about gyro-copters. I know that the power is usually provided by a pusher prop and that the overhead rotor is free wheeling. What exactly is it that makes them go up or down?

Could you take a conventional helicopter, say a Huey Cobra and put a small electric motor on the front and convert it into a gyro-copter?

[donlynn]

Gidday
My guess would be the prop pushes autorotating disk faster trough the air causing rotating speed increase producing more lift( twice the speed four times the lift).
You probably could put a motor on the front and call it a gyro
drag of the disk and optimising the blade shape for auto may be the tricky bit,also I think they roll by delflecting the airflow from the prop blast with a large rudder right behind the pusher prop
(I'm not sure why they roll)
I have seen single seat gyos operating and it sounds/seems they need a fair amount of grunt to keep aloft and control during ta keoff and landing roll is apparently a bit of a hoot

http://www.autogyro.com/homepage.htm

Good luck and let us know how you go
Regards
Don