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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 0626.PDF
Bell HU-IB Iroquois Bell XV-3 Bell 204B Bensen B-8M Gyro-Copter VTOl INTERNATIONAL SURVEY firmed the soundness of the basic designconcepts, and had demonstrated that the XV-3 represented a practical VTOL typesuitable for safe and reliable operation into and out of unprepared confined areas. Basic concepts which underlay the designphilosophy were stated to include low disc- loading for low hovering downwash velocity,moderate powerplant cost and weight and autorotation capability, and a fixed non-tiiting wing for the simplest structure con- trol sand engine installation, optimum low-speed aerodynamics and flexible conversion procedure. The engine is a Pratt & Whitney R-985of450h.p. • Rotor/propeller diam, 23ft; empty weight,3,6001b; gross weight, 4,8001b. Bensen Aircraft Corporation Raleigh-Durham Airport, Raleigh, N.C. B-8 Series This series comprises the B-8 Gyro-Glider, an unpowered rotor kite which can be towed behind a car; the B-8W Hydro-Glider, a floatplane version; and the B-8B Gyro-Boat, which incorporates a small dinghy. A powered development, the B-8M Gyro-Copter, is described below. B-8M Gyro-Copter The Gyro-Copter isoffered for amateur construction. The engine is a McCulloch 4318E four-cylinderair-cooled two-stroke giving 72 h.p. driving a pusher propeller. Cyclic pitch is by an overhead azimuth stick or by a floor-typecolumn, and there is no collective pitch control. Yaw control is by rudder andnosewheel steering, and the throttle is a twist-grip on the left handlebar. The two-blade rotor is of laminated plywood con- struction, with a steel spar. A modifiedversion has been built in Great Britain by Wg Cdr K. H. Wallis. • Rotor diam, 20ft; fuselage length, lift 4in;empty weight, 2471b; normal gross weight, 5001b. B-9 Little Zipster This is a true heli-copter. The engine is a Keikhaefer Mercury Mk 78 and controls are generally the sameas those on the Gyro-Copter. It is claimed that an average person who can ride abicycle can check himself out in the Little Zipster in about 3hr. • Rotor diam, 22ft; empty weight, 3851b;gross weight. 8001b; max speed, 65 m.p.h.; hovering ceiling in ground effect, 9,000ft;normal range, 100 miles. Boeing Airplane Company, Vertol Division Morton, Pennsylvania YHC-1B Chinook An advanced develop-ment in the Vertol Model 107 family of turbine-powered tandem-rotor helicopters,the YHC-1B was the winner of a US Army design competition for a helicopter able tocarry up to three tons of payload on 100- mile missions and slightly less than eighttons on alternate missions. Notwithstand- ing this notable carrying capacity, thefuselage is only 51 ft long. The two engines are Lycoming T55s each delivering 2,200s.h.p. Cargo is loaded through a rear- located ramp which can be left open in Bensen Gyro-Boot Bensen Little Zipster flight to permit the carriage of elongatedobjects. Provision can be made for 33 fully equipped troops or 24 stretcherpatients. • Rotor diam, 57ft; empty weight, 16,3181b:gross weight, 33,0001b; max speed, 174 m.p.h.; cruising speed, 149 m.p.h.; hovering ceiling inground effect, 4,500ft; service ceiling, 12,300ft; range (with reserves), 220 n.m. HRB-1 This designation applies to aspecial version of the Vertol 107 which recently won a competition for a new USMarine Corps assault helicopter. It has a powered blade-folding system which issaid to enable the blades to be folded by the pilot in a fraction of the time previouslyneeded by several men to fold the blades manually. The makers report: "For rescuemissions the HRB-1 can fly 90 nautical miles, hover, and rescue 20 persons, thenreturn to the point of take-off. Power for the HRB-1 is supplied by two GeneralElectric T58-8 gas turbines. Like other twin- turbine Boeing Vertol helicopters, thespecial Marine version also includes a dual stability augmentation system developedby Vertol Division engineers. This reliable system gives the helicopter handling charac-teristics equal to those of fixed-wing aircraft and is the basis for practical instrumentflight operations. All-weather capability is provided by engine-inlet and rotor-bladeanti-icing, and anti-icing provisions for the pilots'windshield." VertoJ 107 Model 2 The foregoing is thedesignation of the standard production version of the Vertol 107. It is availableeither as an airliner or as a utility aircraft. and is claimed to be the first rotary-winyedcraft able to take off and climb away vertically and approach and land verticallyas a routine operation, regardless of wind direction. The first ten Model 2s have beenordered by New York Airways and a mock- up of this company's interior arrangementswas recently displayed. We quote a makers' announcement: "With the coming of :neBoeing Vertol 107, for the first tine, travellers will be able to step from an inter-continental jet airliner into a helicopter fashioned with comparable luxury, con-venience and comfort. The mock-up she vs the impressive 'picture windows'—17in *'19in—which will allow passengers to t: « advantage of the unequalled view possiblefrom helicopters. Also featured are thea'"-
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