The Avian Gyroplane was a two-seat autogyro without wings, with a ducted fan pusher propeller driven by a 200 hp (150 kW) Lycoming IO-360 piston engine.

[2] The fuselage was built on a light alloy box beam which carried the cabin, engine mounting, rotor pylon and propeller duct.

[1] Avian Aircraft was started by Peter Payne and colleagues from the Avro Canada company specifically to build a modern autogyro.

The compressed air jump start system was not a success, so the second prototype used the engine, connected via a belt, clutch and gear box.

In December 1964 Avian received a $540,000 Canadian government contract to build a modified Gyroplane that would take the type to Certification.

[2] In 2023, ARC Aerosystems[4] acquired the intellectual property, all rights and type certification of the Pegasus, including the one remaining flying example.