Sport Copter Lightning
The Sport Copter Lightning is an American autogyro, designed and produced by Sport Copter of Scappoose, Oregon. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction. Design and development
The base model Lightning was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of . The aircraft has a standard empty weight of . It features a single main rotor, a single-seat open cockpit without a windshield, tricycle landing gear and a twin cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, single-ignition  Rotax 503 engine in pusher configuration. The aircraft fuselage is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing. Its  diameter rotor is supplied ready-made and constructed from bonded dural aluminum by the company's subsidiary Sport USA LLC. The landing gear includes telescopic spring suspension. A semi-enclosed cockpit fairing with windshield is optional. The basic Lightning design has been developed into the heavier Vortex. Reviewer Andre Cliche said of the Lightning: "In flight, the Lightning is forgiving and easy to maneuver, with light, geared-down controls. It is responsive but not tricky. It is a good choice for beginners." Variants
Lightning
Base model powered by a  Rotax 503 engine. Can accept engines from . Optional cockpit fairing. 53 examples had been completed and flown by 2005. Vortex
Improved model powered by a  Rotax 582 or  Rotax 912UL engine. Can accept engines from . Empty weight is  and gross weight is . Cockpit fairing is standard. 124 examples had been completed and flown by 2005. Vortex M912
A strengthened rough-field version originally designed for Australian cattle mustering, (the M stands for Mustering), equipped with a Rotax 912 ULS engine. Specifications (Lightning)

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1990s United States sport aircraft
Homebuilt aircraft
Single-engined pusher autogyros