On April 22, the replica of the Cierva C.4 autogyro officially joined the collection of the Infante de Orleans Foundation (FIO) following its recent appearance at RACE Fest. The aircraft has been placed on long-term loan to the Foundation by the ULM Getafe Club, with the agreement signed by Club president Don Bernardino Rodríguez and FIO president Don Carlos Valle.
Constructed by members of the Getafe-based ultralight community to mark the centenary of Juan de la Cierva’s pioneering work, the replica represents the first autogyro to achieve sustained, controlled flight in 1923. The original Cierva C.4 resolved the critical issue of dissymmetry of lift through its articulated rotor system, establishing the foundation for modern rotary-wing aviation.
The project required more than a thousand hours of work and was completed near the historic site of the original flights at Getafe. While externally faithful to the 1923 design, the replica incorporates modern materials and engineering refinements, including an updated rotor system and powerplant, to ensure safe operation.
The aircraft first flew on March 29, 2023, at Ocaña—just over one hundred years after the original C.4’s successful flight. Following an earlier accident, the autogyro was rebuilt by the Centenario del Autogiro team and returned to the air in September 2024, now powered by a 100-horsepower engine.
Now part of the FIO collection, the C.4 replica will be accessible to the public during the Foundation’s monthly flying displays, held on the first Sunday of each month, except January and August. Visitors to Cuatro Vientos will be able to view the aircraft on static display in the “corralillo,” with the prospect of seeing it participate in flight demonstrations in the near future. Many thanks to José Manuel Gil, Aerospace Engineer, light aircraft pilot, blogger, and podcaster at https://blog.sandglasspatrol.com. Please follow José’s blog for more details in Spanish.
