Gyrodyne Company of America
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Gyrodyne is also the name of a class of compound helicopter/autogyro.
The Gyrodyne Company of America was founded in 1946 by Peter J. Papadakos (26 July 1914 –26 May 1992), using the assets he bought from the bankrupt Bendix Helicopter Company that was developing a one-man synchronized co-axial rotor helicopter.
Initially, the company pursued the development of the co-axial system at facilities at Fitzmaurice Field at Massapequa, New York, on Long Island. On 1 July 1951 Mr. Papadakos acquired property, originally known as "Flowerfield," at St. James, New York. It was at this location that he continued development of the co-axial rotor helicopter concept. Having successfully overcome control problems with the concept, the company first built the XRON-1 Rotorcycle that became the basis for the Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter (DASH), first called the DSN-1 before re-designation as the QH-50A. This development began in the mid-1950s and, with production, continued until the late 1960s, through a number of improved models.
The DASH was employed on destroyer-sized ships through the 1960s and into the 1970s until it was replaced by the Light Airborne Multi-Mission-Purpose Ship (LAMPS) based helicopters.
Subsequently, the company engaged in various activities using the QH-50 design and concepts. Following Papadakos' death, in 1999 all QH-50 assets of the company were placed in the care of Aviodyne U.S.A. of Los Angeles, California. Gyrodyne Company of America converted its former manufacturing facilities to rental properties, and its current business is property rental.
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