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From the Files of the Lassen Historical Society: Juan de la Cierva’s Autogiro

Technical drawings of Juan de la Cierva’s Autogiro

by Susan Couso

Once the Wright brothers soared into the air at Kitty Hawk in 1903, thousands of people around the world were inspired to try their hand at flight. The Wrights had proven that it could be done. Soon inventors were ‘tweaking’ the Wright’s designs and making flight safer and simpler. And, with this, the aviation industry was born.

One major dilemma with the early fixed-wing aircraft, was the stall/spin problem, which caused a lot of damage, injury and death. To mitigate this issue, Spanish engineer, Juan de la Cierva, who had designed gliders and aircraft since 1912, worked to create an autogiro.

Cierva insisted that his invention be called an ‘autogiro’ instead of an ‘autogyro’ because it did not employ true gyroscopic forces. The hinged rotors worked separately, as one descended, the other rose. The flapping hinges on the rotors actually overcame the gyroscopic forces and allowed the aircraft to descend vertically with little risk of stalling.

In 1923, Cierva made his first successful flight, and soon moved to England to continue his work. His ‘windmill planes’ were a big hit in Europe, before they ever made a showing in the U.S. They were successfully used by the military in several countries as late as the beginning of WWII.

Harold Pitcairn, U.S. aircraft builder noticed the success of Cierva’s craft, and bought the design in 1929. He soon began production, and autogiros were everywhere. Toy autogiros were even given as children’s prizes when purchasing soap. But the latest fad in aircraft was still an unusual sight.

In 1932, during his campaign to be reelected as California State Senator from the 19th District, dynamic young Tallant Tubbs visited Susanville on the campaign trail. Tubbs had been fascinated with aircraft from an early age and had enlisted in the aviation branch of the U. S. Army to serve our country during WWI.

There was nothing more typical of Tubb’s lifestyle than the autogiro, and, as he hopped from one small town to another, it was the perfect mode of travel.

But, as he left Susanville, something went wrong. His 1931 Pitcairn Autogiro was about 6-miles out of town, on the way to Downieville. At about 6,000 feet high, as they began the climb over Diamond Mountain, one of the supporting strut cables broke.

Cierva’s invention once again proved his theory. Tubbs, his pilot, Hugo Bauhaus, and the amazing autogiro, all made it back to Susanville safely, where it was quickly and easily repaired. Tubbs continued on the campaign trail. Unfortunately, he lost the election to William Gibbs McAdoo in the November 1932 election.

The autogiro, precursor to the helicopter, eventually faded away, but its importance in aeronautics is firmly ensconced.

Jeremy Couso
Jeremy Couso
SusanvilleStuff.com Publisher/Editor
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