The Fundación Infante de Orleans (FIO) has received a full-scale replica of the historic De la Cierva C-4 autogiro from Club ULM Getafe during RACE Fest 2026. This transfer bolsters FIO’s collection of aviation heritage artifacts, highlighting Spain’s pioneering role in rotorcraft development.
The handover occurred at the Real Aero Club de España’s aerodrome in Madrid-Cuatro Vientos, where RACE Fest took place from April 17-19. Club ULM Getafe president Bernardino Rodríguez formalized the donation to FIO president Carlos Valle, marking the replica’s official integration into FIO holdings.
The C-4 replica commemorates the original autogiro’s first successful flight in 1923, achieving its own maiden flight in Ocaña on March 29, 2023—over a century later. Built by the Asociación de Aviación Experimental, it represents engineering dedication to preserving early rotorcraft history.
RACE Fest 2026, centered in the Salón Ibiza, featured free public entry, exhibitions, talks, and displays including SAETA’s 70th anniversary aircraft and other FIO historical planes. This event underscores ongoing efforts to promote aviation education and heritage preservation in Spain’s aerospace community.