It's a good loitering speed, and the school I'm flying with will use these lower speeds when circling for photos or to observe a fire when they're flying on a government contract. Unlike most light airplanes, 30 knots in a gyroplane feels very controlled and comfortable. Apparently many accidents have occurred because pilots didn't understand this concept, and they tried to pull their way out of danger. And recovery can only happen when the nose comes down and some of the drag is reduced. The rotor creates so much drag that pulling up more decreases airspeed and will soon result in a descent. In fact, this condition is behind the power curve, just like an airplane. Add power to climb and reduce it to descend, just like in an airplane. If you add power the ship stays in a very comfortable 30-knot, straight-and-level condition. In a gyroplane you'll descend, but the rotor won't stall. The difference being that if you maintain that in an airplane, the wing will stall. When level, bring off the power, maintain altitude, and below 40 knots you can start to feel the bottom drop out a bit. Slowing down feels very much like entering slow flight in an airplane. In the MTOsport that I'm flying, the book lists a minimum forward speed of about 19 knots. In both cases, the pusher configuration of the engine means adding power will often bring back control authority. Similarly, the lack of airflow over the rudder can cause a lack of rudder authority, and a somewhat unpleasant yawing motion. Close to the ground it's more of a problem. At altitude this isn't a big deal, and can be easily corrected. The tail can stall, with a resulting nose drop. But there's a strong caveat: Because modern gyroplanes feature a conventional tail, the lack of airflow over the horizontal stabilizer can cause pitch control issues. Pilots can and do make vertical descents. Technically there is no bottom limit to the gyroplane's airspeed range. It's also an acceptable speed in a gyroplane-sort of. Of course, we didn't stall, and 30 knots is a perfectly acceptable speed in a helicopter. My lizard brain was convinced we were about to stall. Slowing from 80, down through 50, and then to 30 knots, still 300 feet above the ground, I had obnoxious alarm bells going off in my head. From my transition to helicopters I'll never forget the first time we were approaching the airport and slowed down to perform a steep approach.

My photo player videos are choppy