Cierva, the engineer responsible for the invention of the autogyro, had spent all his funds on the research and creation of his first five prototypes.

Therefore, in 1923, he turned to the Cuatro Vientos Aerodynamics Laboratory chief, Commander Emilio Herrera, who succeeded in persuading General Francisco Echagüe, the director of the Military Aviation Aeronautics Department, to take over the second stage in the research and development of Cierva's autogyros.

After several wind tunnel tests, Military Aviation built a Cierva C.6 autogyro in an Avro 504 frame.

But so long as there was sufficient airflow to turn the rotor the aircraft could safely descend, even at low airspeeds where a conventional airplane would stall and possibly crash.

A replica of the Cierva C.6 was built to be shown in Murcia pavilion in Seville Expo '92 World's Fair.