The aircraft was designed to provide viable heavy load lifting capability for commercial operations. It employed 3 main rotors all rotating in the same direction. Torque offset was provided by thrust components from the 3 rotors through built-in shaft tilt. The aircraft had a semi-monoquoque structure, a single engine, and a long-stroke undercarriage (5ft) to cope with high rates of descent.  A description of the aircraft and its characteristics can be found in the following references,

Source: "The Cierva W-11 Air Horse", J. Gordon Leishman, VERTIFLITE Spring 2003, Page 52

Source: "Discussing the Helicopter", FLIGHT Staff, FLIGHT, December 2nd 1948, Pages 665-668

Overview

Data on design, manufacture and status

Parent type: Cierva Air Horse

Aircraft status: No longer flying

Configuration

Primary flight and mechanical characteristics

VTOL type: Helicopter

Lift devices: 3 in Multi-rotor configuration

Crew required: 2 in Side-by-side arrangement

Landing gear: Wheels (non-retractable)

Key Characteristics

Data on key physical features

Aircraft Details

Data on aircraft configuration, weights, flight performance and equipment

References

References and sources used

Discussing the Helicopter
FLIGHT Staff
Flightglobal Archive, December 2nd, 1948 (page 667)
Periodical
The article is a summary of a paper presented by Mr. Shapiro from the Cierva Autogiro Company at an all day meeting of the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Helicopter Association of Great Britain on 20 Nov 1948

The Cierva W-11 "Air Horse"
J. Gordon Leishman
VERTIFLITE, Spring 2003 (page 54)
Periodical
An excellent description of the aircraft, its configuration and technical characteristics

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