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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 0903.PDF
FLIGHT International, 7 June 1962 Bensen Aircraft Corporation Raleigh-Durham Airport, Raleigh, NC B-8 Series Being unpowered, the B-8 Ovro-Glider single or two-seat rotor-kite can be flown by anyone, of any age, without a licence, and many hundreds of plans and kits have been sold. Mounted on floats, and towed by a motor boat instead of a car, it becomes the B-8W Hydro-Glider; or the builder can have a true flying boat by mounting the rotor system inside a small dinghy to produce the B-8B Gyro-Boat. This has an average empty weight of 1501b, takes off at 23 m.p.h., cruises at 35-70 m.p.h. and lands at 7 m.p.h. B-8M Gyro-Copter In 1955, Igor Bensen fitted a target-drone engine, pusher propel ler, fuel system and throttle to a Gyro- Glider and so produced the prototype Gyro-Copter as the first do-it-yourself ultra-light autogyro. The design has been refined through the years and large numbers are now flying all over the world, powered usually by a 72 h.p. McCulloch 4318E four-cylinder two-stroke engine. The cur rent model is offered complete, in kit form or as a set of plans. A floor control column is available instead of the normal overhead stick. Rotor spin-up gear can be fitted to give a take-off run of 50ft. • Rotor diam, 20ft; fuselage length, lift 4in; height, 6ft 3in; gross weight, 5001b; empty weight, 2471b; max speed, 85 m.p.h.; cruising speed, 60 m.p.h.; max rate of climb at s.l., 2,000ft/min; normal range, 100 miles. B-9 Little Zipster Although this aircraft resembles the Gyro-Copter in general lay out, it is a true helicopter, with co-axial, contra-rotating two-blade rotors. However, the familiar Bensen tilting head is retained, instead of a swashplate, and it is claimed that almost anyone capable of riding a bicycle can master the Little Zipster in about three hours. The only controls are an overhead stick to move the tilting head, rudder pedals and a twist-grip throttle. The engine is a 70 h.p. Keikhaefer Mercury, which drives each rotor independently, at different speeds. • Rotor diam, upper 22ft, lower 20ft; gross weight, 9001b; cruising speed, 60 m.p.h.; normal range, 100 miles. The Boeing Company Vertol Division, Morton, Pennsylvania Vertol 107 Model TJ Latest news of this fine twin-turbine tandem-rotor helicopter is that New York Airways have taken delivery of the first of their fleet of five and plan to start operations in the New York City area this month. Regularity should improve, as the 107 is fitted with a dual stability augmentation system and is claimed to be the first rotorcraft able to approach and land vertically, and take off and climb away vertically as routine, re gardless of wind direction. It is also one of the first helicopters furnished to full modern airline standards, with 25 seats in the 865 cu ft cabin, and a roll-out rear container for 1,5001b of baggage in the standard passenger version. The alterna tive utility model has a rear loading ramp instead of the baggage container. 901 Boeing-Verto/107 Model II Boeing-Vertol HC-IB Chinook Both versions of the standard 107 Model II are powered by two 1,250 s.h.p. General Electric CT58-110 shaft turbines, so arran ged that either engine can drive both of the three-blade rotors in an emergency. The fuselage is sealed to permit operation from water, and the sponsons at the rear serve as both stabilizers on the water and fuel tanks. Kawasaki Aircraft, Boeing's Japanese licencee, have ordered ten 107s and West- land have acquired manufacturing rights in the UK. Non-standard versions include six for the Royal Swedish Air Force and Navy, which will have Bristol Siddeley (D.H.) Gnome shaft turbines, and the six utility models ordered by the RCAF for search and rescue work. Designated CH-113, the latter will have extra tankage, giving a range of over 650 miles with a 2,0001b payload, and will accommodate either 26 fully-equipped troops or 15 stretcher patients. • Rotor diam, 50ft; length of fuselage, 44ft 7in; height, 16ft lOin; max gross weight, 19,0001b; empty weight, 9,6001b; max speed, 162 m.p.h.; average cruising speed (airliner), 155 m.p.h.; hovering ceiling in ground effect, 10,800ft; range with 7,2001b payload (utility), 115 miles. HRB-1 Sea Knight This is the designa tion of an assault transport version of the 107 Model II of which 14 have been ordered for the US Marine Corps. Powered by two 1,250 s.h.p. General Electric T58-GE-8 shaft turbines, these helicopters will have equipment to ensure full all-weather capa bilities, powered blade folding and a new integrated loading system to permit loading in as little as eight minutes under field conditions. Their range will be sufficient to fly 105 miles from base, pick up 20 persons while hovering and then return. HC-IB Chinook Although the Chinook is a development of the Vertol 107, which it resembles in basic layout, it is a con siderably larger aircraft, able to carry up to 33 fully-equipped troops, nearly eight short tons of freight or 24 stretchers, plus a three-man crew. It is powered by two 2,200 s.h.p. Lycoming T55-L-5 shaft turbines and carries its fuel in the side fairings, which are sealed, like the fuselage, to allow operation from water. The rear loading ramp can be left open in flight or removed to permit the carriage of loads longer than the 30ft main cabin. The first of an evaluation series of five YHC-lBs began its hovering trials on September 21, 1961. US Army orders for a total of 47 production HC-lBs have been placed so far. • Rotor diam, 59ft; length of fuselage, 51ft; height, 18ft 6Jin; max loaded weight, 33,0001b; max speed, 175 m.p.h.; cruising speed for max range, 150 m.p.h.; normal range, 230 miles. Model 76 (VZ-2) Flight testing of this pioneer tilt-wing research aircraft con tinues. Up to May of last year, when it was grounded for modifications, it had completed 448 flights, totalling over 50 hours, during which it had made 34 full conversions and 239 partial conversions. The modifications, made under a NASA contract, include work on the wings to improve control and stability during descent, and strengthening of the transmission to permit the rating of the aircraft's Lycom ing YT53 shaft-turbine engine to be raised from 630 to 700 s.h.p. Brantly Helicopter Corporation Route No 1, Frederick, Oklahoma B-2 More than 175 of these neat little side-by-side two-seat helicopters have now been built, and examples are beginning to appear on the British Civil Register. The UK distributors, British Executive Air Services, are offering it at just under £9,000, including 20 hours of free dual instruction to enable purchasers to meet the official requirement of 18 hours for the
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