Gyroplanes can offer recreational rotorcraft flying at a lower purchase price than some helicopters, but the available price evidence does not establish that 15 models are cheaper than a comparable helicopter. More importantly, a gyroplane is not a helicopter: its rotor spins freely in flight, so it cannot provide sustained helicopter-style hover. Here are six recognizable two-seat models, with current U.S. price-guide figures where available and the practical differences buyers should weigh.
Is an autogyro a helicopter, and can it hover?
The FAA calls this aircraft a gyroplane; autogyro and gyrocopter are common alternative names. In the FAA’s description, the rotor is free-spinning in flight rather than driven by the engine, while a separate engine and propeller provide thrust. The propeller may be mounted in a tractor or pusher configuration, and propulsion can be by propeller or turbine. The FAA explains the distinction in its March–April 2026 Safety Briefing.
A helicopter’s engine drives its rotor; a gyroplane’s rotor autorotates as air moves through it. That difference means a gyroplane cannot hold a sustained hover like a helicopter. If hovering is essential to the mission, a gyroplane is the wrong comparison regardless of its price.
The FAA Rotorcraft Flying Handbook describes gyroplanes as offering “inherent safety, simplicity of operation, and outstanding short field point-to-point capability.” That is the handbook’s characterization, not a quantified finding that gyroplanes are safer than helicopters. The handbook’s discussion is in Chapter 15.
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How much does a two-seat gyroplane cost?
The following figures are U.S. guide estimates from FlyTheSkies’ index, accessed October 8, 2026. Used figures are asking-price ranges, not verified sale prices or appraisals; new figures are factory-price guides. Actual quotes vary with options, delivery, jurisdiction, and timing. No directly comparable helicopter baseline is established here, so these numbers do not prove that each model is cheaper than a particular helicopter.
| Model | Configuration noted | Used asking-price guide | New factory-price guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| AutoGyro MTOsport / MT-03 | Two-seat tandem, open | $48,000–$80,000 | $110,000–$135,000 |
| Magni M-16 Tandem Trainer | Two-seat tandem | $55,000–$85,000 | $120,000–$145,000 |
| SilverLight American Ranger AR-1 | Two-seat tandem | $60,000–$95,000 | $95,000–$130,000 |
| AutoGyro Calidus | Two-seat tandem, enclosed | $75,000–$115,000 | $150,000–$175,000 |
These price ranges are from the FlyTheSkies Gyroplane Price Index. They are guide values, not guaranteed transaction prices; aircraft condition and equipment can move an individual example outside a typical range.
Six two-seat models to put on a shortlist
The four models in the table have current model-specific price guides above. Two additional models appear in a separate FlyTheSkies used-price guide. They broaden the shortlist, but their prices should not be blended with the first guide’s general summaries as if both sources used one consistent market method.
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AutoGyro MTOsport / MT-03
An open, two-seat tandem option in the index. Its used asking-price guide is $48,000–$80,000 and its new factory guide is $110,000–$135,000.
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A two-seat tandem aircraft with used asking prices guided at $55,000–$85,000 and new factory estimates at $120,000–$145,000. Magni describes the M16 as a tandem two-seater. Its official page states UK CAA approval under BCAR Section T and says further approvals have been obtained in other countries; that does not establish approval for every jurisdiction or every gyroplane. See Magni’s M16 page.
SilverLight American Ranger AR-1
A two-seat tandem model with the lowest new factory guide among these four examples: $95,000–$130,000. The used asking-price guide is $60,000–$95,000.
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AutoGyro Calidus
This enclosed, two-seat tandem model has used asking-price estimates of $75,000–$115,000 and new factory estimates of $150,000–$175,000.
AutoGyro Cavalon
A separate FlyTheSkies used guide lists Cavalon asking prices at $105,000–$165,000. The cited guide does not provide a comparable new factory figure in the available material.
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The same separate used guide lists M-24 Orion asking prices at $110,000–$170,000, without a comparable new factory figure in the available material.
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That separate guide also describes used two-seat factory machines as typically $45,000–$95,000. Because the guides give different broad summaries, treat the model-specific figures as rough shopping references rather than combining them into a precise market average. See the FlyTheSkies used gyroplane price guide.
Which configuration fits your flying?
Open or enclosed cockpit
Open aircraft such as the MTOsport / MT-03 prioritize an exposed cockpit; enclosed designs such as the Calidus provide a cabin enclosure. The enclosure affects comfort and can affect price, but a buyer should compare the specific aircraft’s equipment and condition rather than assume every enclosed machine is worth more.
Tandem or side-by-side seating
Tandem seating places one occupant behind the other; side-by-side seating places them next to each other. AutoGyro USA’s comparison covers MTOclassic, MTOsport 2017, Calidus, and Cavalon, with differences in seating layout, cockpit enclosure, and factory-built versus kit options. Consult its gyroplane comparison for the company’s model configurations.
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Factory-built or kit
Kit aircraft can change both the purchase-cost calculation and the regulatory path. AutoGyro USA says its kits require assembly and builder assistance, with builder-assist fees starting at $4,500. It describes an assembly process typically taking 8–14 days and says its kits are registered as Experimental Amateur-Built. These are company-specific statements, not universal rules: confirm current fees, eligibility, registration requirements, and the rules that apply where the aircraft will be registered and flown.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What drives the value of a used gyroplane?
A low asking price is only useful if the aircraft’s condition, records, and support make sense for your intended use. Compare the aircraft and its history, not just the model name.
Quick Recap
- Rotor condition and remaining blade life: Establish the condition, service history, and any applicable replacement limits. A 2022 FAA airworthiness-directive estimate put rotor-system replacement compliance at $5,628 per affected gyroplane; that was an estimate for the directive, not a current general maintenance quote. See the FAA airworthiness directive.
- Engine time and records: Review time in service, maintenance documentation, and the condition of the engine and propeller.
- Avionics and equipment: Confirm what is installed, functional, and included in the sale rather than assuming a listed model has a standard package.
- Enclosure and cockpit: Cabin condition and configuration affect comfort and may influence asking price.
- Training use and operating history: A trainer’s hours and use pattern deserve scrutiny alongside maintenance records.
- Parts and technical support: Identify who can supply parts and provide qualified service in your area before committing to an aircraft.
What should a buyer verify before choosing one?
- Define the mission. Decide whether you need sustained hover, short-field point-to-point flying, open-air recreation, or an enclosed cockpit. If the mission requires hover, do not substitute a gyroplane for a helicopter.
- Confirm the legal category. Verify the aircraft’s registration and build category, operating limitations, and pilot qualification requirements with the aviation authority in the country where it will be operated. A company’s description of one kit or model does not determine another aircraft’s status.
- Arrange an independent pre-buy inspection. Have a qualified gyroplane technician review the rotor system, engine, propeller, airframe, instruments, and required records.
- Check service and ownership records. Reconcile engine and rotor time, blade life, repairs, damage history, and any applicable airworthiness directives with the aircraft’s documentation.
- Ask about training and insurance. Confirm that instruction is available for the exact aircraft type and that an insurer will cover the aircraft and your intended use.
- Estimate total operating costs. Obtain aircraft-specific estimates for maintenance, parts, storage, fuel, insurance, training, and any required inspection or compliance work. The available price guides do not establish a harmonized lifecycle-cost comparison with helicopters.
- Get a current quote and compare like with like. Ask what the price includes, then compare aircraft with similar seating, enclosure, condition, equipment, build category, and delivery terms. For a helicopter comparison, use a dated quote for a mission-appropriate model rather than a generic claim that one category is cheaper.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
