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Aviation History
1956
1956 - 1205.PDF
•K. Powerplant . Two Alvis LeonidesRotor diameter .. 48ft 6.7in Fuselage length . 55ft 2inGross weight 10,600 1b Cruising speed . . 85 m.p.h. Above, Type 173 Powerplant ... Two Alvis LeonidesMajor or Napier Gazelle Rotor diameter . . 48ft 6inFuselage length 50ft 3in Gross weight (Gazelles) 18,000 lbCruising speed ... 138 m.p.h. Data above, drawing below and photograph on left are for Type 792 Type 171 Sycamore. When it was announced this month that the Sycamore helicopterhad been selected for service with the German Defence Forces, it was claimed that over a hundred of these 4/5-seat machines had been built and delivered and that aircraft of thetype had logged some 20,000 flying hours in a dozen countries. The German contract was stated to be worth several million pounds. Numerous variants of the Sycamore have beendeveloped to meet specific needs, but the basic machine has all the fixed fittings necessary to convert it to any of the four roles for which it is most commonly used. For searchand rescue operations a hydraulically driven winch is attached to the starboard side of the fuselage. A crewman is lowered by winch to pick up a casualty and there are hand-grips to make re-boarding the helicopter easier. For ambulance duties Perspex blisters are fitted to enable two stretchers to be carried on special attachments within the cabin.Lashing-down points for cargo are standard fittings, so that the only modification needed for aerial crane duties is the attachment of a beam with a quick-release hook to the strong-points in the fuselage. For passenger transport a comfortable bench-type seat for three is installed along the rear cabin bulkhead and a single seat beside the pilot. Twenty cubicfeet of stowage space are available in the luggage bay in all versions. Type 173. A twin-engined tandem-rotor helicopter, the Type 173 is the precursor of faster and larger commercial and military types now under development. Two prototypes are in existence and one has been handed over to British European Airways for extensive handling trials. Three additional prototypes are being built and the first of these will be powered by Alvis Leonides Major engines instead of the single-row units installed in the machines now flying. The power installations, transmission systems and rotors of the Type 173 are essentially the same as those of the Sycamore. The individual gear-boxes are connected by a synchronizing shaft running along the roof of the fuselage and by this means the rotors are kept in phase and to afford single-engine safety. Both engines are isolated in steel cowlings, which form fireproof bulkheads. Type 192. This development of the Type 173 was designed to meet a wide variety of Service requirements, and production-type 192s will be delivered to the Royal Air Force. The first production version will be powered by two vertical Alvis Leonides Majors driving inter-connected, four-blade rotors. This type of 192 will weigh 17,200 lb. Particular interest attaches to the landing gear, which consists of four distinct legs, those at the rear being very short and resulting in the 192 adopting a nose-up attitude on the ground. There are no wings, but a very large and thick fin is fitted, together with a fixed tailplane with acute dihedral. In the ambulance role a possible load will be 12 stretcher cases, three "sitting wounded" and an attendant; it will be able to pick up at least ten persons when operating on search/rescue duties and as a freight transport will carry a distributed load of 6,000 lb. On long-range operations 18 fully armed troops will be accommodated; over short ranges the 192 will be able to carry no fewer than 25 persons at an average weight of 200 lb each. In all roles provision will be made for a crew of three. The foregoing relates to the original piston-engined 192, but the basic design has been planned for turbine power and the final standard powerplant will comprise two Napier Gazelle free-turbine engines which will provide approximately double the power for less weight and allow an increase in gross weight to 18,000 lb. -....-,
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