G-RAFZ

G-RAFZ is a RAF 2000 GTX-SE, a single-engine piston aircraft. SkyMeter has tracked 2 flights via ADS-B. The RAF 2000 GTX-SE has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,320 lb, light wake category.

About the RAF 2000 GTX-SE

The RAF 2000 GTX-SE is a Canadian-designed light gyroplane that occupies a unique niche in recreational aviation as one of the few factory-built gyroplanes to achieve widespread amateur operation. Built by Rotary Air Force (RAF) of Canada, the type emerged in the 1990s as a refined evolution of earlier RAF gyroplane designs, offering tandem seating and a pusher-engine configuration that became the template for modern recreational autogyros. Unlike fixed-wing aircraft, the RAF 2000's unpowered rotor provides lift through autorotation while a rear-mounted piston engine drives a propeller for thrust, giving it short-field capability and inherent resistance to stalls.

The design's low operating costs and forgiving handling made it popular with sport pilots seeking an alternative to traditional helicopters, though it lacks the hover capability of true rotorcraft. With a never-exceed speed of 120 knots and a maximum takeoff weight of just 1,320 pounds, the RAF 2000 operates well within the light-sport category, cruising efficiently at modest speeds while offering excellent visibility from its open or enclosed cockpit variants. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.