Definition
A category of rotorcraft in which lift is produced by a freely rotating rotor that is turned by the airflow passing up through it (autorotation), while forward thrust is provided by a separate engine-driven propeller. The rotor is not powered in flight.
Plain English
An aircraft that looks a bit like a small helicopter, but its overhead rotor is not driven by the engine. Instead, the engine drives a propeller that pushes the aircraft forward, and the air flowing up through the rotor spins it, which creates lift.
Context Anchor
Seen in sport pilot certificate discussions when the FAA is describing aircraft category and class privileges for gyroplane operations.
Derivation
Gyro' comes from the Greek 'gyros' meaning 'circle' or 'turning,' referring to the rotor that spins freely overhead. 'Rotorcraft' simply means an aircraft that gets its lift from rotating blades rather than fixed wings. Together: a turning-rotor aircraft.
Why Pilots Care
Gyroplanes are eligible for sport pilot operations and offer short-field landing capability with handling different from both airplanes and helicopters.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “rotorcraft” means helicopter. A rotorcraft gyroplane has a rotor, but its main rotor is normally kept spinning by airflow in flight, not by engine power.
Example Sentence 1
She earned her sport pilot certificate in the rotorcraft gyroplane category and now flies a two-seat gyroplane on weekends.
Example Sentence 2
A gyroplane uses its free-turning rotor for lift while the propeller supplies forward speed.