The Most Unique and Fun Aircraft Ever Invented

Back in 2009, after dabbling in gyrocopter flying for a bit of fun, the Arrow burst onto the aviation scene. Intrigued, I flew to Austria to see it in person. After taking it for a spin over the breathtaking Austrian Alps, I was sold. I bought one on the spot and had it shipped to Australia — packed in a giant crate and flown inside an Airbus A380. The ArrowCopter team even flew down to help assemble it on arrival.

Fifteen years later, the ArrowCopter remains the most advanced gyrocopter in the world. With its full carbon fibre body, mast, and rotor blades, every component is built to the highest global aerospace standards — the same level of precision you'd find at Bell, Boeing, Airbus, and Eurocopter.

Its design is extraordinary: the carbon fibre monocoque structure is baked at high temperature and pressure inside a giant autoclave by Carbo-Tech in Austria — the same company that builds carbon bodies for Formula 1, MotoGP, and the world’s top supercars. The result? A lightweight, incredibly strong aircraft that performs as beautifully as it looks.

Flying the ArrowCopter is pure joy. The open-top convertible cockpit delivers an unmatched sense of freedom, while its stability, safety, and ease of handling make it incredibly user-friendly — most new pilots can take off and land confidently on their first day of training.

And the performance? Outstanding. The ArrowCopter can reach speeds of 200 km/h flat out, cruise comfortably at 12,000 feet, and carry enough fuel for a range of around 600 kilometres — making it one of the most capable personal rotorcraft ever built.

After five years of flying my ArrowCopter across Australia, I was invited to become one of Arrow’s R&D pilots, helping adapt the aircraft to Australian conditions. Our brutal summers demanded some key upgrades: larger oil coolers, bigger radiators, and redesigned fairings to boost airflow through the engine bay and improve cooling.

The ArrowCopter isn’t just a machine — it’s a flying work of art. And even after thousands of hours in the air, I can confidently say there’s nothing else like it.

By Sohn Herbert.