What Is This Gyrocopter Doing in Loveland, Colorado?

While Loveland, Colorado, is known for its many sculptures, every now and then something entirely different pops up.

Flying Contraption, Gyrocopter, Dates Back to 1920s

According to FlightTest.com, the gyrocopter was developed by a Spanish flying enthusiast, Juan de la Cierva in 1923; it was called the Autogiro. This man was really into planes: he built his first plane at only 17 years of age. At 17, I was more into girls and getting into trouble, more than anything else.

What Exactly is a Gyrocopter?

According to Wikipedia, a gyrocopter (gyroplane, autogiro) is a craft that uses an unpowered rotor in free autorotation to obtain lift. I describe it as a "flyting contraption that I think I saw on 'Gilligan's Island'."

This gyrocopter that I spotted in the middle of Loveland, along Madison Avenue, didn't look like something that you'd purchase from an official manufacturer; more like something that someone with know-how and materials put together themselves.

Again, something that The Professor on 'Gilligan's Island' would come up with; then Gilligan would find a away to make in inoperable.

READ MORE: What is the 'Endless Garage' in Loveland?

I found this video of a gyrocopter taking off. It's the most exiting and scary thing, in my opinion. What kind of person would get into such a "flimsy"-looking aircraft and go for a flight? I guess you have to "want it."

Daring. You'd have to be quite smart and very daring to put a craft like this together and then actually get on it and fly it. I see this being a person who likes skydiving, motorcycles, and hot rods.