Cavalon Sentinels for Aerial Surveillance in Benin – West African authorities proudly present their AutoGyro Sentinel fleet

With the participation of two Cavalon Sentinels in the National Day Aerial Parade on August 1st, the West African country of Benin officially presented their AutoGyro Sentinel fleet for the first time.

Aerial surveillance in Benin – West Africa

Hildesheim, August 20, 2024 – In June AutoGyro GmbH, the world-leading gyroplane manufacturer from Germany, handed the first batch of specialised Rotax 916 iS powered Cavalon Sentinel gyroplanes to the government representatives of the West African Republic of Benin. These are the first of a major order for a large fleet of AutoGyro Sentinels which will soon be performing aerial surveillance tasks and ensuring safety from the air. These Cavalon Sentinels and Calidus Sentinels are equipped with the powerful Rotax 916 iS engines and fitted with a customised package of police systems, including state-of-the-art avionics and autopilot. Some of the gyroplanes also carry a specialised 4K and infrared camera with live downlink to mission control. Benin officially presented their AutoGyro Sentinel fleet for the first time within their National Day aerial parade on August 1st by including the Cavalon Sentinels as part of the airborne display. In August the first of the Calidus Sentinels was also released to service in Cotonou airport, Benin.

During the June handover process the joint acceptance team was very pleased with the execution and outcome of the acceptance trials at AutoGyro headquarters in Hildesheim, Germany. AutoGyro-CEO Gerald Speich states: “The flight characteristic of these new gyroplanes met and exceeded the expectations of our new customers. These Cavalon Sentinels are planned to be the first aircraft in daily law enforcement use, equipped with the latest Rotax 916 is engine.”

AutoGyro is supporting the operation for several months in Benin. This contains flight crew training and building up the associated infrastructure for the new gyroplane fleet. Maintenance courses for the aircraft service team took place at AutoGyro facilities in Hildesheim as part of a full turn-key package.
“By working closely together with these international authories, we have been able to realise an aircraft precisely equipped to meet their surveillance task requirements. With AutoGyro Sentinels, they have opted for a solution that is not only characterised by easy and cost-effective operation and maintenance, but also by maximised safety, cabin comfort and sustainability,” Gerald Speich continued.

The successful completion of this first handover marks AutoGyro’s growing establishment in the market for professional use of gyroplane. Proven made-in-Germany quality, the deep AutoGyro expertise, as well as individual customisation have led to several new projects and customers within the police and law enforcement sectors.

Key Features

• The Cavalon Sentinel is a premium side-by-side seat model
• Powered by the new state-of-the-art and fuel-efficient Rotax 916 iS engine
• Operational range of four hours or approximately 600 kilometers
• Maximum speed up to 225 km/h / 120 Kt / 140 mph.
• Customer-defined equipment including a high-res day-, night- and infrared camera system with real-time data downlink to mission control. This system provides a best-in-class solution in day and night conditions.
• UK Civil Aviation Authority approved autopilot
• Customised avionics with a capability to operate in IFR conditions
• The State-of-the-Art avionics can manage three independent radios simultaneously

AutoGyro UK is excited to see the first Rotax 916iS equipped aircraft coming to the UK this year. The Cavalon will be packed with features, hosting a full Garmin glass cockpit and 3-axis autopilot.

What makes a Cavalon 916 special?
Well, a Cavalon is an astonishing aircraft already. Superbly comfortable, autopilot enabled, even IFR ready.

So, what benefit does the 916 give?
It gives another 20hp of fun factor…

Take off distance is a little shorter, but it is remarkably short already so that isn’t it… It is the immense boot of power that the aircraft gets as the engine spins past 5,500rpm.
140hp at 5,500… 160 at 5,800. And the climb rate? Reach for the stars! 1,150fpm at max take-off weight really puts a smile on your face, not to mention that when flying solo, you can reach 12,000ft in around 6 minutes.

Of course, full power climbs burn through fuel, and surely the engine is a gas-guzzler? No! Rotax have their latest lean burn technology fitted, and in lean cruise the engine burns a little less than the 915, which burned in turn less than the 914.

This Cavalon will be seen all over the UK, visiting shows, fly-ins, and powering through demo flights

Get ready to spot the Cavalon 916iS gracing the skies all across the UK, making appearances at shows, fly-ins, and captivating audiences during demo flights. Are you ready to be the proud owner of the 916iS? This powerful engine is available for new Cavalon and Calidus orders. Explore more details in the brochure or submit your inquiry via the contact form – your next aviation adventure awaits!

Gyroplane fleets ensure security from the air

In January AutoGyro GmbH won two major contracts for professional gyroplanes. A total of 18 “Sentinels“, most camera-equipped, were ordered by international police forces and law enforcement agencies to perform aerial surveillance tasks. Following the successful initial deployment in 2023, the Turkish Jandarma Havacilik has decided to expand its fleet by six more specialised Rotax 916 iS powered Cavalon Sentinels. In addition, another key authority has ordered seven Cavalon 916 iS Sentinels as well as five Calidus 916 iS Sentinels accompanied by a package for flight crew training and the associated infrastructure.

Effective performing of aerial monitoring tasks – Why Turkish Jandarma relies on AutoGyro gyroplanes

As a camera-carrying platform for day and night aerial surveillance, the AutoGyro Cavalon Sentinel has successfully proven to be highly cost-effective, practical and sustainable for tasks such as traffic monitoring, aerial search and border patrol.

The Director of Gendarmerie Aviation at Jandarma Havacilik Turkey, Major General Ali DOĞAN, explains what was decisive for the initial choice of gyroplanes: „We needed a cost-effective aerial vehicle capable of performing helicopter tasks and transmitting images from the air (…) because flight and maintenance costs of our helicopters are quite high.” After extensive testing and successful deployment in 2023, the gyroplanes proved to be the right solution for their missions. Thus, additional fields of application have been added and the gyro fleet is now being expanded.The new six Cavalon Sentinels will be delivered in summer 2024.

Milestone for the professional use of gyroplanes

Gerald Speich, CEO of AutoGyro, explains the significance of both the major order to the new customer and the follow-up order to the Turkish Jandarma: „These multi-million euro orders are not only an important milestone for AutoGyro as a company, but also strengthen our footprint within the global professional market. Gyroplanes have become an attractive addition or alternative vehicle in many areas of aerial surveillance. Airbone security is being rethought in many countries – not only in terms of cost-effectiveness, but also from an environmental perspective, arenas that our aircraft excel in“.

Aleksandra Witkowska, Co-CEO, adds „The significant references that have led to these new orders are the result of exceptional teamwork that makes us proud. As only manufacturer in the gyroplane sector complying with all major national regulations and highest safety standards we are now looking forward to the future with confidence and are welcoming new employees”.

The AutoGyro Sentinel model as plattform for aerial surveillance

The professionally used Sentinel models are characterized not only by easy and cost-effective operation and maintenance, but also by maximised safety, cabin comfort and sustainability. With operating costs of less than 200 EUR per hour and a low consumption of only 25 litres super unleaded fuel per hour (57,5 kg CO2/h emissions), a gyroplane can carry out many tasks of other aerial vehicles whilst achieving the same or better levels of task accomplishment at vastly reduced costs. Thanks to a flight duration of up to four hours at a maximum speed up to 225 km/h, the gyroplanes can reach the operational areas fast, and can remain there on task for a considerable time at very slow speeds, enabling excellent observation results. The Sentinel can carry a range of task specific equipment, including special customer-defined equipment such as an integrated 4K and/or Infrared camera with a live downlink to ground personnel. Equipped with a fully certified autopilot, according to the specifications of the British CAA, and customized avionics the AutoGyro Sentinel has the capability to operate even in IFR conditions. This equipment also reduces pilot fatigue workload in normal flight conditions.

AutoGyro made-in-Germany gyroplanes have many applications such as monitoring of pipelines, energy distribution networks, borders or traffic infrastructure, coasts, wildlife, disaster relief, and aeri

The leading gyroplane manufacturer AutoGyro will supply 18 professional use Sentinels for various surveillance missions –  such as traffic monitoring for the Turkish Jandarma.

AutoGyro proudly announces the successful market entry in India in December 2023. In collaboration with local partner Manish Saini from Air Safari, the AutoGyro gyroplane models have been launched in India for touristic flights. With the introduction of gyroplanes as compact and agile aircrafts, a new chapter in tourism is beeing opened: soon India’s first-ever Himalayan Air Safaris using AutoGyro gyroplanes will officially start.

The launch was accompanied by major promotional events in the Himalayan region.
The impressive capabilities of the AutoGyro gyrocopters were demonstrated during numerous test flights:

• 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬
• 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐕𝐅𝐑 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

See some video impressions: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C09Sws5RUG4/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

Read one of the press articles (Travel Trade Journal): Uttarakhand launches India’s first Himalayan AirSafari, unveils Gyrocopter Adventure