What a ArrowCopter costs, how far it flies, and what it costs to keep
PlaneFox tracks 3 ArrowCopter aircraft for sale and re-reads every one of them from the broker and dealer sites it watches, so the figures below move when the market moves. Every number on this page is measured from those live listings, not taken from a published price guide.
How far can a FD-Composites ArrowCopter fly?
A FD-Composites ArrowCopter flies about 400 nm, roughly 741 km, which is about 4 h 30 min in still air at typical cruise.
What does a FD-Composites ArrowCopter cost to own?
A FD-Composites ArrowCopter costs about EUR 1,490 a month to run, or about EUR 119 for every flight hour when it is flown 150 hours a year.
More questions about the ArrowCopter
How much does a ArrowCopter cost?
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About the FD-Composites ArrowCopter
Aircraft overview
The FD-Composites ArrowCopter, commonly identified as the ArrowCopter AC20, is an Austrian two-seat gyroplane developed by FD-Composites for the high-end sport and touring gyroplane market. The design appeared in the late 2000s and entered limited-series production in the early 2010s. It is a fully enclosed, composite, pusher-propeller autogyro with a free-spinning main rotor and a powered propeller for thrust. Its importance in the used market comes from its unusually aircraft-like finish for a gyroplane, including a streamlined carbon-composite fuselage, side-by-side seating and, on many examples, retractable landing gear.
Performance & specifications
Typical published figures for the FD-Composites ArrowCopter place cruise speed around 85 to 100 knots, depending on propeller, loading and configuration. Reported range is commonly around 500 nautical miles with long-range fuel, although actual endurance depends heavily on reserve policy and Rotax power settings. The aircraft was designed around the European 560 kg, 1,235 lb maximum takeoff weight category, giving a useful load of roughly 390 lb before equipment and fuel variations. Service ceiling is generally quoted around 10,000 feet. Power is normally from a turbocharged Rotax 914 UL four-cylinder engine rated at 115 hp, driving a rear-mounted pusher propeller.
Cabin & avionics
The cabin has two seats side by side under a large canopy, a notable distinction from many tandem-seat gyroplanes. Visibility is a key part of the design, with a low instrument panel and extensive glazing. Cabin width, baggage allowance and ventilation should be checked on the individual aircraft, as equipment fit can vary. Avionics are not standardized around large certified suites such as Garmin Perspective or G1000. Used examples more typically carry light-sport and experimental-class equipment such as Dynon or MGL electronic flight displays, Garmin portable or panel GPS units, VHF comm radios, transponders and engine monitoring for the Rotax installation.
Buying & value
The FD-Composites ArrowCopter sits in a niche part of the used market: more sophisticated and expensive than many open or tandem gyroplanes, but with a smaller fleet and more limited support base than mainstream fixed-wing light aircraft. Buyers should review build records, airworthiness category, national registration status, maintenance history and any factory or owner-applied modifications. Particular attention should be paid to composite structure, rotor blades, rotor head, pre-rotator system, retractable landing gear, propeller condition, Rotax 914 turbocharger history, cooling system and fuel system. Common value drivers include avionics modernization, engine time, documentation quality, paint and canopy condition, and whether specialist maintenance support is available locally.