Pitcairn's chief test pilot Jim Ray sitting in the PA-22 prototype, the company’s first wingless Autogiro.

[PA-22] NEARER STILL: This Pitcairn Autogiro, ordered by the U.S. Bureau of Air Commerce, has a Pobjoy engine. The Bureau of Air Commerce, it will be remembered, has been studiously fostering the fool-proof private owner type of machine.

FOR SKYWAYS AND HIGHWAYS: The new American "roadable" Autogiro which has folding blades, enabling it to be driven on normal roads and parked in no more space than a medium-sized car, and is fitted with a special Pobjoy engine installed in the fuselage, where it is cooled by air admitted through scoops.

Eugene Vidal, director of the US Bureau of Commerce, hits the road in the AC-35 roadable Autogiro.

DUAL PURPOSE: The much-talked-of Pitcairn "Roadable" Autogiro in its latest form. The Pobjoy Niagara which powers the machine is installed "on its side" in the fuselage and is cooled by special air-ducts. Curiously enough, the machine does not appear to be quite as fast as it was when the engine was mounted conventionally in the nose. Probably the air-duct system introduces new air-flow problems.

PARKING: A park adjacent to the U.S. Treasury Building in Washington, D.C., was chosen as the demonstrating ground for the new roadable Autogiro with internal British Pobjoy engine. This picture was taken on its arrival for delivery to the Bureau of Air Commerce, which will conduct tests. The estimated maximum speed, with two airscrews revolving in opposite directions, Macchi fashion, is 115 m.p.h. At the moment a single screw is fitted. On the road, the maximum speed is about 25 rn.p.h.

A Pitcairn AC-35 with contra-rotating propellers. Note the enclosed tailplane.

PA-22

AC-35