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Aviation History
1959
1959 - 1429.PDF
698 FLIGHT, 15 May 1959 Vertol Model 44 Vertol Model 107 Helicopters of the World . . . for commercial users in 1961. In the designof the Model 107 particular attention has been given to growth capability, and theprototype which is now flying is said to represent the first of the line in a family ofaircraft of the same configuration which will continue to grow in size and load-carrying ability as engines of higher power become available. The machine has beendesigned from the start for operation under instrument flight conditions. It has beenmade inherently stable by mechanical means and the automatic stabilizationequipment developed for the earlier Vertol 44 is adaptable to the new model. Thisequipment permits hands-off hovering and forward flight. The commercial model would accom-modate 25 passengers in standard airline seats. The cabin is of 795 cu ft capacity,providing nearly a third more space than in the piston-engined Vertol 44. However,although the cabin is longer, higher and wider than that of the former machine, theoverall length is actually 8ft shorter. Vertol's president is quoted as saying: "Like the Model 44, which has made morethan 700 autorotative water landings, the Vertol 107 prototype has amphibious capabi-lity, as will production models. The tandem configuration eliminates the need for a boat-shaped hull because it permits a large range of trim angles at touchdown without the riskof damage to the rear rotor blades. A sealed lower fuselage is standard equipment. . . .The fuselage itself provides most of the buoy- ancy. Lateral stability in the water, and addi-tional buoyancy, are provided by the stub wings and outrigger floats attached to them.Another safety feature is the location of the fuel outside the fuselage. Fuel tanks highlyresistant to impact spillage are contained inside stub wings on either side of the aircraft." Below, Umbaugh Model 18. Below right, Vertol Model 76 The twin engines can be General Elec-tric T58s or Lycoming T53s. • Rotor diam., 48ft 4in; max. length, 81ft 8in; empty weight, 9,100 lb; gross weight, 15,550 lb. YHC-1B Chinook The makers claim thatthis helicopter "will eventually replace the Army's current inventory of obsolescentpiston-engine-powered transport helicop- ters." A notable feature is the rear-loadingramp which can be left open in flight, per- mitting the carriage of elongated cargo orequipment, including certain missiles. There is a side entry to the cabin behindthe cockpit, and the entire fuselage from the cockpit bulkhead to the rear-loadingramp is available for cargo and/or pas- sengers. It is expected that a maximum of40 troops will be accommodated. All- weather operation will be possible and par-ticular consideration has been given to ease of maintenance. For servicing, hingedhatches in the fuselage give ready access to all components and parts. Built-in work-stands are also provided in the fuselage structure. In the ambulance role 15stretchers could be accommodated. Data are essentially as for the Model 107, quotedabove. Model 44 The Model 44 is a civildevelopment of the Piasecki H-21 Work Horse military helicopter. The Model 44Ais intended for passenger/cargo operation and the seating arrangement permits 19passengers (or 20 troops). Cabin area is 600 cu ft and bulky items can be carriedexternally on a 2^-ton cargo sling. The Model 44B seats 15 passengers in "air-liner" comfort and provides 50 cu ft stow- age for mail or cargo. The model 44C isa de luxe executive transport. The engine is a Wright Cyclone with atake-off rating of 1,425 h.p., although tux- 's or y.t±. Vertol YHC-1B Chinook bine conversions are possible. A two-speedsupercharger provides good altitude per- formance, and a Model 44 has taken offfrom a 12,000ft elevation with a 3,000 1b load and carried it for 10 miles, maintain-ing the same altitude. • Rotor diam., 44ft; empty weight, 8,980 lb;gross weight, 14,300 lb; max. speed, 126 m.p.h.; max. rate of climb, 850ft/min; hovering ceil-ing in ground effect, 5,400ft; service ceiling, 8,500ft; range with reserve. 280 n.m. Model 76 A picture on this page, takenlast July, shows this aircraft (known by the U.S. Army designation VZ-2) during tran-sition from vertical to forward flight. The wing, and two counter-rotating propellers,are tilted as a unit through a 90 deg arc and may be moved to any angle betweentwo extremes for short take-off or landing. Two ducted fans in the tail provide addi-tional control in hovering. The power- plant is a Lycoming T53.
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