Gyrodyne YRON-1 Rotorcycle
The Gyrodyne Rotorcycle was originally designed for the U.S. Navy but was adapted to a Marine Corps requirement for a small one man helicopter that could be used for battlefield observation. The possibility of dropping the Rotorcycle to downed airmen behind enemy lines so that they could fly themselves to safety was also considered. The craft’s first flights occurred in 1955. The program was terminated by 1959 after the Marine Corps determined that the YRON was too heavy and too hard to fly to suit their needs. However the coaxial rotor design, which allows the elimination of a stabilizing tail rotor was of interest to the Navy. This led to the development of the remote controlled QH-50 DASH anti-submarine drone which served for several years on smaller Navy escort ships that could not support a full size helicopter.

Rotor Diameter20 ft
Length11 ft 6 in.
Weight906 lbs (loaded)
Maximum Speed78 mph
Service Ceiling12,400 ft
Range55 miles
EngineOne Porsche YO-95-6 piston engine with 72 horsepower
Crew1
ManufacturerGyrodyne
MarkingsU.S. Marine Corps, Marine Experimental Helicopter Squadron 1 (HMX-1,) Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, 1958
DesignationYRON-1