The Rotorcraft.

Rotorcraft are again listed in a separate section of our kit aircraft directory, which is growing every year. Sixty-two helicopters and gyroplanes are displayed, up from 46 two years ago.

There are basic differences between helicopters and gyroplanes. Both are rotorcraft, but the helicopter powers its rotors, and it can takeoff and land vertically. Helicopters produce lift by blowing a column of air downward--except during autorotation when the pitch of the main rotorblades is flattened and air moves up through the disk to keep the blades turning during a controlled, power-off descent.

On gyroplanes, the blades are free-wheeling, and the pitch of the rotor …