The M4 autogyro is one the first homebuilt aircraft of Italian design and construction. It is the forerunner of the gyroplanes currently built by the Magni Gyro company from its factory at Besnate, near Varese. Vittorio Magni entered the rotary wing world in 1956 at Agusta and then moved onto Montedison, Elitaliana and Silvercraft, where he earned a helicopter pilot license. In 1967 he purchased a set of plans for the B-8 Gyro-Glider created by the Russian-American engineer Igor Bensen. From these he built the first two Italian gyroplanes, both single and two-seat. The third one was a B-8M Gyro-Copter fitted with a modified Volkswagen automobile engine. Based on this experience Magni created his own M-4 Eligiro, still fitted with a Bensen rotor. The design had aluminum structure, rotor, landing gear and V tail, with a fiberglass cockpit. A 65 HP Franklin engine drove a two-blade wooden propeller. The small aircraft could take off in 100 meters and, with its 40 km/h minimum speed, would land in 30 meters. The Eligiro made its public debut on 1 June 1972 as a static display at the Turin air show, where it was the smallest aircraft on view. In September 1973 it took part, on the ground and in the air, in the First Italian Homebuilt Aircraft Day organized at Vizzola Ticino (VA) on the occasion of the gatherings of the Club Aviazione Popolare and the Voloclub Italiano Ultraleggeri, which Magni had founded with Giancarlo Zanardo. Eventually retired from flying and preserved by its builder, it was last displayed at the Magni Day held in September 2003 at Cameri airfield (near Novara). It was placed on loan to the Museum in May 2010.

Thanks to: Magni Gyro.