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Aviation History
1960
1960 - 0726.PDF
726 FLIGHT, 27 May 1960 Bensen B-8M Gyro-Copter HELICOPTERS OF THE WORLD . . . the Allison YT63-A-3 turboshaft engineof 250 h.p. Like the HUL-1, the current US Navy version of the 47J, it will be usedfor reconnaissance, patrol, rescue and general utility work. A four-seater, it willhave metal rotor blades. It is estimated that the hovering ceiling will exceed15,000ft, that the maximum rate of climb Bensen B-9 Little Zipster empty weight, 2471b; normal gross weight,5001b. B-9 Little Zipster The Little Zipster,unlike the Gyro-Copter, is a true helicop- ter. The makers' promotional literaturereads: "Ready-to-fly fully assembled B-9 'copters are priced for export at $6,995—F.O.B. factory. One can build a B-9 for a fraction of this cost in the US from factory-supplied kits and plans. Basic construction drawings sell for $5.00. Until it is 'typecertificated' by FAA, the Little Zipster will Brantly B-2 Doman Whippet Cessna CH-1C Doman LZ-5-2 will be more than l,300ft/min, and the vertical rate of climb more than l,000ft/min. Bensen Aircraft Corporation PO Box 2746, Raleigh, N.C. B-8M Gyro-Copter The Gyro-Copteris offered for amateur construction. The makers claim that it can be built for aslittle as $400-500, using surplus materials available on the used-aircraft market.Plans "tailored to the skills of an amateur builder" sell for $25. The engine is aMcCulloch 4318E four-cylinder air-cooled two-Stroke giving 72 h.p. driving a pusherpropeller. Cyclic pitch is by an overhead azimuth stick or by a joystick, and thereis no collective pitch control. Yaw control is by rudder and nosewheel steering, andthe throttle is a twist-grip on the left handlebar. The two-blade rotor is oflaminated plywood construction, with a steel spar. The capabilities of the aircraft are mani-fest in the first two phases of the demon- stration schedule as laid down by themakers. This schedule begins: "(1) Take- off and slow flight, about 25 m.p.h., beforespectators and cameras. Slowest level flight is about 14 m.p.h., but the craft can beslowed down to 0 speed and even flown backwards at the expense of losing somealtitude. (2) High speed flight. Top speed up to 100 m.p.h. can be attained with theengine wide open. Normal cruise speed is 60 m.p.h., 'high cruise' is 85 m.p.h.Maximum economy cruise is 45 m.p.h. Range is about 100 miles."• Rotor diam, 20ft; fuselage length, lift 4in; not be sold in US ready-made except toqualified buyers for purposes acceptable to FAA. Operating cost runs between $3and $5 per hour, depending on location— approximately the same as operating anoutboard powered boat." The engine is a Mercury MK 78 liquid-cooled two-stroke of 70 h.p. and controls are generally the same as those on theGyro-Copter. It is claimed that an average person who can ride a bicycle cancheck himself out in the Little Zipster in about three hours. • Rotor diam, 20ft or 22ft; length, lift 3in;empty weight, 4501b; normal gross weight, 7001b; cruising speed, 60 m.p.h.; max speed,80 m.p.h.; speed for max economy, 35 m.p.h.; service ceiling, 11,000ft; hovering ceiling inground effect, 6,000ft; max rate of climb, 900ft/min; max range, 100 miles. (All figuresare preliminary.) Brantly Helicopter P*:"^ Corporation 24 Maplewood Avenue, Philadelphia 44, Pa B-2 The B-2 is offered expressly as aprivate-owner or executive helicopter. A side-by-side two-seater, it is powered witha Lycoming VO-360-A1A engine of 180 h.p. and has an interesting three-bladerotor with a diameter of only 23ft llin. The blades are of all-metal construction,with a solid extruded aluminium-alloy leading edge and combined flapping anddrag hinges near mid-span. In the rear fuselage is a baggage compartment of6 cu ft which will take 501b weight. • Rotor diam, 23ft llin; fuselage length,19ft 4in; empty weight, 9801b; gross weight, 1,6001b; max speed, 100 m.p.h.; rate of climb Gyrodyne DSN-1 Hiller YROE-1
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