What are the applications, advantages and limitations of Gyrodyne rotorcraft?
The compound helicopter similarly has a separate propulsor for thrust. The gyrodyne differs from it in allowing the lift rotor to autorotate without power during forward flight.

Both are capable of flying faster than a conventional helicopter, while retaining its VTOL abilities. It is thus an attractive idea wherever both high speed and VTOL/hover are required such as military, rescue and executive in-city applications.

However the extra weight and complexity of the thrust system make the already limited, complex and expensive helicopter even more so. Moreover the speed increase over a conventional helicopter is not great enough to be game-changing. Various programmes have led to several prototypes flying, of both gyrodynes and compound helicopters, but there are few if any applications where the high costs and reduced payload justify the modest extra speed over a helicopter.

The Fairey Rotodyne city commute gyrodyne flew but was then cancelled by the UK government.

Several compound helicopters such as the Lockheed Cheyenne have been developed for the US military but then cancelled.

When the USA wanted a fast VTOL military transport, they opted instead for a convertiplane, the Boeing V-22 Osprey. Its speed increase over a conventional helicopter has also turned out to be disappointing.

Maybe one day.