ENTRY
Ikenga 530Z
Ikenga Cygnus 21
Ikenga Cygnus 21 T
Ikenga Cygnus 21TX
Ikenga Cygnus 21P2
Ikenga E.Z. Bird
Return icon
Ikenga Cygnus 21P/2 - 1990

Bensen Type Autogyro

Commission:
Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Japan

The follow-up concept for the Sumitomo autogyros featured a drop keel design with all composite triple tail empennage and integral fuel tanks. Due to sports flying regulations in Japan the project did not proceed.
The Ikenga Cygnus 21P/2 is the second of two ships ordered by Sumitomo Heavy Industries. Its sister ship, Cygnus 21P/1, was developed and delivered to Asia for debut at the Sky Sports Japan Airshow at the Honda Airport in Ikegawa, Japan in November 1989. It was completed, prior to the airshow, at the Yokohama facility of Sumitomo by Richard Bentley and David Gittens.

Sumitomo Industries outbid the Mitsui group for an Ikenga gyroplane to represent their company at Japan's first sports recreation airshow. A goal was to determine the marketability of a sports gyroplane in Japan and the potential for an airpark on Sumitomo property.

Both gyroplanes were powered by 95 horsepower Suzuki 550 two-stroke motors and flew twenty-four foot aluminium rotors. The five-gallon seat tanks, joy stick control systems, and rotor heads were supplied by Ken Brock manufacturing. This fully instrumented tall tail design also featured a horizontal stabilizer on the thrust line for increased stability in pitch, disc brakes on the main wheels for ground steering control and three blade ground adjustable propellers.

The Ikenga Cygnus 21P2 is presently featured in the G-WIZ science and technology children's museum in Sarasota, Florida.