Bensen B-8

what is it?

The Bensen B-8 is a small, single-seat autogyro developed in the United States in the 1950s. Although the original manufacturer stopped production in 1987, plans for homebuilders are still available as of 2025. Its design was a refinement of the Bensen B-7, and like that aircraft, the B-8 was initially built as an unpowered rotor-kite.

🔎How to recognise it: 1 piston engine · 6.1 m main rotor

base stats

• speed 137 km/htop speed
• size 227 kgmax take-off weight

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 71 years ago, in 1955.

piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.

spec sheet

first flight

1955-12-06

number built

—

role

recreational autogyro

origin

🇺🇸 United States

makers

Bensen Aircraft

engines

1× McCulloch Model 4318AX

crew

1

length

3.5 m

rotor diameter

6.1 m

height

1.9 m

max take-off weight

227 kg

top speed

137 km/h

cruise speed

97 km/h

range

—

ceiling

3,810 m

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.