Bensen B-7W Hydro-Gyroglider

Bensen B-7W Hydro-Gyroglider

Home-built sport aircraft

This hydro-gyroglider was built from a kit by donor Gene Anderson, who first flew it in 1957. The plans came from Igor Bensen, a leading proponent of lightweight, home-built rotorcraft. A boat towed the rotor-kite into the air at 20-35 mph. The landing speed was 7 mph and the rotor speed was 350 rpm. Lift was obtained by the flow of air through the rotor.

During World War II, German U-boats towed rotor-kites as aerial observation platforms. Then, during the 1950’s, rotor kites were developed as recreational aircraft, largely due to the efforts of Igor Bensen in the United States. His Bensen Aircraft Corporation produced a series of such aircraft, which he dubbed “gyrogliders.” He marketed them as plans or kits for building at home, beginning with the B-5 and culminating with the B-8 by the end of the decade.

“We were looking for something more fun than water skiing and had read about rotor-kites, so we wrote to Igor Bensen for plans. We built the aircraft in a garage from locally purchased supplies,” said builder/pilot Gene Anderson.

“We had great fun flying at tree top level along the Meramec and Mississippi Rivers near St. Louis, MO. We taught ourselves to fly since little flight guidance was provided. We learned from the sound of the rotor and the feel of the controls when the rotor-kite was ready to take off. The overhead control stick worked in the opposite direction to other aircraft, so to roll right, you moved the stick to the left.”

“We gradually lengthened the tow rope to around 200 feet, and the power of the rotor was able to lift the tail end of the tow boat so as to cause propeller cavitation.”

This B-7W hydro-gyroglider provides a unique example of a water-borne rotorcraft and complements the Museum’s B-8W wheeled aircraft.

Aircraft Specifications
Rotor Diameter21 ft
Fuselage Length12 ft
Height7 ft
Empty Weight150 lbs
Acquisition SourceDonation by Gene Anderson

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