Built by Avro at Woodford in 1934. Impressed in World War Two and flown postwar until retirement in 1960. Now displayed at Duxford as HM580. (Skyframe Museum)

At the Imperial War Museum, Duxford

Seen in its early years at Duxford, having previously been part of the Skyfame collection at Staverton. Later it was repainted into RAF colours as HM580.

First time for me to see and photograph an autogiro. Autogiros have rotors instead of wings but unlike helicopters they are not powered so unable to hover. The rotor spins around as the autogiro is driven forward by the propeller and generates lift. Autogiros were used by the RAF to check and/or calibrate radar stations as they were able to fly in very tight circles. Indeed at one point the RAF's Radar Calibration Unit was based at Duxford for some time during WWII. Previously G-ACUU

G-ACUU, seen here marked as HM580, was impressed in 1941 and put into RAF service. Seen in the Imperial War Museum Duxford.

Licence-built by Avro at Woodford in 1934. Impressed into the RAF in WW2 but restored to civil use. Seen here about to leave Auster's airfield at Rearsby, piloted by owner Mr G.S. Baker, to return to base at Birmingham's Elmdon airport. Now preserved at Duxford as HM580.

A number of Avro-built Cierva C-30A autogyros were impressed by the RAF in 1941, and used for radar calibration.