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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 1478.PDF
588 FLIGHT ARMY HANDMAID Design of the Fairey Ultra-light Helicopter —. ; IRCRAFT designed to operate in the field with a fighting^ army have to fulfil a number of requirements which are rarely met elsewhere. In addition to the obvious need for amachine capable of operation from simple, unprepared plots of ground, Army requirements frequently specify that all equip-ment shall be capable of being uplifted and carried long distances on ordinary Army vehicles. Superimposed on all other require-ments is the fact that it has to be of an essentially simple and rugged nature, capable of standing up to arduous conditions in allparts of the world with the minimum of expert attention. At present, the principal aircraft used by the British Army arethe various types of Auster, of which the A.O.P.9 is the most efficient. This aircraft, which was fully described in our issueof June 11th, 1954, is steadily being delivered for use in a variety of roles. Notwithstanding the proven capability and versatility ofthis type of machine, however, there are certain duties which it cannot tackle; yet these duties would be quite straightforwardundertakings for a helicopter. Only the U.S.A. has been able to buy army helicopters on alarge scale. This Service employs many hundreds of helicopters for duties which include front-line resupply and casualty evacua-tion, logistic support and a variety of combat procedures, some highly unconventional. Our own Army cannot afford such equip-ment and has bought its helicopters (Dragonflies and Sycamores) one or two at a time. It has long been appreciated, however,that a rotating-wing aircraft could be developed specifically for Army requirements which would be invaluable in certainimportant r6Ies, while representing a considerably smaller financial outlay than do the types of helicopter previouslymentioned. During 1953 the War Office collaborated with the Air Ministryand the Ministry of Supply in the formulation of a comprehensive specification for a simple Army helicopter. The principal rolewas to be that of an air observation post with provision for equipment for secondary roles of casualty evacuation, trainingand other miscellaneous functions. A moderate endurance was deemed acceptable, but arduous requirements for an outstandingvertical performance were laid down, both for temperate and for tropical operation. The specification called for an operating crewof two and required that the aircraft should be capable of being quickly dismantled and transported in a standard three-ton lorry. Put out to general tender by the industry, the specification drewforth six or seven designs, dial submitted by die Fairey Aviation Co., Ltd., of Hayes, Middlesex, winning the contract in Julylast year. In that month the order for a small batch of proto- types was placed by the Ministry of Supply and design workstarted in earnest. From the outset the Fairey designers had strongly inclinedto the view diat tip drive was highly desirable for such an aircraft. Obviously, a very simple machine could be designed, driven byramjets or pulsejets; but exhaustive studies suggested that, at the present overall state of development of such power units, sucha helicopter could not be made compatible with the specification. On the other hand, die Army's requirements were ideally 'suitedto the pressure-jet helicopter, with which Faireys already had considerable experience as a result of their long-term research(principally carried out widi the Jet Gyrodyne) in the field of large transport helicopters. Preliminary studies showed_ diat apressure-jet helicopter could be designed to meet the specification fully. KEY TO DRAWING 1 Mesh-guarded intake on each side. 2 Blackburn-Turbomeca Palouste. 3 Lagged air duct to rotor. 4 J«t efflux impinging on rudder. 5 Fuel tank box (bag inside). - 6 Fuel filler (SO f Imp. gal). 7 Temporary fuel pump mounting. 8 Seat for pilot facing forward. 9 Collective pitch/throttle lever. 10 Cyclic pitch to tilting head. 11 Rudder pedals and cables. 12 Fly-bar and bob weights on rotor. 13 Fuel lines co tip burners. 14 Wood-filled metal-clad skids. 15 Boom transport joint (bolted). 16 Airspeed pressure head. 17 Ground-handling wheel axle holes. 13 '• J0 '• 5.: ;\ /•'•' ' FAIREY ULTRA-LIGHT HELICOPTER (Blackburn-Turbomeca Palouite BnPe.2, with 258 gas horse-power * available) Principal dimensions: rotor diameter, 28ft 3^in; overall height, 7ft 11 in; overall width (rocor blades fore-and-aft), 6ft 3in. Weights and performance details not yet available for publication. 14
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