Within Airwatch, Wagtail Aviation has the advantage of very intense Commercial operation of the Gyroplanes with machines each accumulating around 70 - 100+ Operational hours per month. Wagtail specialises in designing Gyro related components like: * Rotor blades * Rotor heads * Pre-rotators * Undercarriages * Cooling systems * Various instruments developed to display things like the rotor vibration ( 3-axes ) IN REAL TIME and the actual (In Flight ) teeter angle of the disk. * Flight Training on gyro’s * Specialized Maintenance of the gyro's. Our History The history of our present day Gyroplanes can be traced back to Juan de la Cierva who build the first successful Autogyro in 1923. The success of the Autogyro lies in the rotor head and the way in which differential lift is handled. It is important to understand that virtually none of the concepts around Fixed wing aircraft could be Patented, but the specific way in which Cierva solved the differential lift issue with his Rotor head design was however Patented. Cierva was thus very much in control of the autogiro (this is the way Cierva spelt it on his early Patent applications) development in the early years. One of our Proof of Concept Gyros eventually earned the nickname "Springkaan" ( in English = Locust ) because it was designed to operate in the open field and all the test flying were carried out in fields with some long grass. The "Springkaan" would then eat a path out through the grass and the whole gyro, inside and outside would be covered with bits of chopped off grass after the flight. The Springkaan was also used to evaluate what happens when you go overboard with horsepower, rotor diameter and low disk loading. The "Springkaan" evolved from a tame 160 Hp machine to its current status of a 300+ Hp beast. There is also a model named "Kriek" in the family, which in English = Cricket, or in French, Le Cri-Cri It makes a lot of noise, but is difficult to catch or to determine where it is actually situated :~) This quote is very relevant to our Gyro Surveillance operations at night with our applied Variable Focus Lighting Technology.	We are proud to attest that all requirements and standards of ICAO and CAA are complied with We find ourselves in the very privileged position of being part of the Airwatch operation focusing on Commercial operation of Gyroplanes. At present, the biggest portion of the hours are flown for aerial surveillance / intimidation in the security Industry. Wagtail Aviation has three clearly defined operational divisions each with their own focus. Wagtail Rotorcraft Technology Wagtail Flying Academy Wagtail Commercial Corporate Commitment Wagtail Aviation (Pty) Ltd is committed to manufacture Gyroplane Components compliant with the airworthiness requirements as described in SA-CATS-MORG and/or any other requirements prescribed by the Commissioner for Civil Aviation. Our Mission Wagtail Aviation provides safe, reliable and very cost effective products to the world wide Gyroplane fraternity. Our Vision We will revolutionize Aviation with the advantages of informatively designed Gyroplanes. Our Motto Our people, Our innovations, Our products, Our future. Values and Norms Integrity -; We are honest towards clients and ourselves, and we apply ourselves constantly with credibility. Professionalism We adhere to sound engineering principles and standards. Total Quality Policy We will deliver products and services to our customers, which will always conform to the required airworthiness standards. We will execute the concept of "Do it right the first time" in an atmosphere of transparency, integrity and trust. We will reduce safety, health, environmental and other risks related to our design, production and support operations. We will promote personal and organizational competence, innovation and productivity through the provision of continuous learning and sharing of knowledge.	Featured in: African Pilot (link) NOTE: From Webmaster. Not all PDF versions display the same, so twiddle with your settings to get the desired effect for viewing or printing. Haven"t got PDF? Its free. ED'S NOTES: APRIL 2008 Air Watch from Gyrocopters Text and Photography by Athol Franz The ever increasing need for airborne surveillance of strategic installations such as railway lines to prevent cable theft and other damage is an ongoing problem in South Africa. A company known as Air Watch has come up with a cost effective method of observing criminal activity as a preventative measure in the fight against organised crime. READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE Featured in: Popular Mechanics (link) ED'S NOTES: AUGUST 2008 PM writer Sean Woods, shown here in the observer’s seat of an Airwatch gyroplane (see page 54), rarely misses an opportunity to leave the ground, preferably in a flying machine. Starting his working life as a South African Air Force photographer in the early 1980s, he developed a taste for adrenaline that never went away. READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE