Cierva C.12

The Cierva C.12 was an experimental autogyro built by the Cierva Autogiro Company in England in 1929, in association with Avro. Like most other Cierva designs it was based on an existing aircraft fuselage, in this case an Avro Avian. After initial tests the Avian's second cockpit was removed and the undercarriage was replaced by the same floats used on standard Avian seaplanes. In this configuration, named the Hydrogiro, the C.12 flew from Southampton Water in April 1930 and became the first rotary-wing aircraft to take off from water. The article describes it only as an experimental machine and gives no engine, mass or performance figures for it, so none are stated here.