Ikenga 530Z - (scan - 1996)

The Ikenga (means "man's life force" in Nigerian mythology) is a homebuilt autogiro designed by David Gittens of Albuquerque, NM. He built the machine as a prototype vehicle with good range and speed for use in developing countries. It would be built of primarily off-the-shelf components and would cost less than $10,000. Ikenga is powered with a 95-hp, 2-cycle engine which drives a ground-adjustable prop. Gittens won the 1988 EAA Reserve Grand Champion Rotorcraft Award at Oshkosh for his efforts. Small autogiros are the most numerous types of homebuilt aircraft. (Smithsonian caption)


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