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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 1733.PDF
Points of interest on the Gyrodyne QH-50C drone helicopter: I, Boeing turboshaft engine; 2, oil breather pipe; 3, data-link aerial (rotated to point downwards in flight); 4, LAD sensor and coupler; 5, four-axis servo; 6, auxiliary transmission; 7, transmission; 8, vertical gyro; 9, 35 US gal (29 Imp) fuel tank; 10, ground-power sockets; II, barometric altimeter; 12, fight-control box; 13, lead ballast; 14, flying lights 542 FLIGHT International, 26 September 1%$ Remote-control Killer THE US NAVY'S DRONE HELICOPTER ^pHESE photographs, taken by Howard Levy, illustrate details of • the QH-50C drone anti-submarine helicopter (DASH) of the US Navy. Prime contractor for this unusual weapon is Gyrodyne Company of America Inc, of St James, Long Island, New York. This company made their name with the YRON-1 Rotorcycle which was conceived as a simple one-man helicopter for the US Marine Corps, capable of carrying a 1801b Leatherneck and 601b pack about 10 nautical miles. The first Rotorcycles appeared in 1955, powered by a 40 h.p. Nelson two-stroke driving 15ft co-axial rotors. From this was evolved a series of improved machines with 15ft, 17ft or 20ft rotors driven by 62 or 72 h.p. Porsche or 62 h.p. Solar (turbine) engines. In turn, the Rotorcycle served as the basis for the QH-50 series of drone helicopters, launched and controlled from US Navy destroyers and used to launch torpedoes against enemy submarines detected by the parent vessel. The production QH-50C is much more powerful than its predecessors, having a 300 s.h.p. Boeing turbo shaft driving 20ft rotors. Each destroyer has a small, heated hangar housing two drones which are launched from an adjacent clear area of deck. The command control equipment is similar to that used for drone targets, and extensive trials have proved the ability of the HM The control system of the QH-SOC is basically similar to that of the earlier and less powerful QH-SOA, but the gap between the upper and lower rotors is 6in greater and the linkages are slightly strengthened: I, four-axis servo; 2, transmission; 3, rotating controls; 4, static source used in the command-link radio Far left, close-up of the LAD landing assist device, showing cable drum, cable angle sensors and couplers. The cable is not under significant tension during an LAD landing, because the helicopter control system lets the aircraft down at the same rate as the cable winding-in speed QH-50C production in the Gyrodyne factory at Flowerfield, St James system to operate in all weather conditions out to the line-of-sight horizon. Under normal procedure the Deck Controller flies the drone on and back on to the deck while the Combat Information Centei below deck guides the drone to its target, fires the torpedoes anc returns the drone to the Deck Con, all by radar. If seas are runnm! high, a Landing Assist Device (LAD) is utilized whereby the drort remotely drops a cable which is coupled to a shipboarc wmc. Sensors on the drone feel the tension and angle of the cable, and tm drone automatically moves to keep the cable vertical. The DecJ Con reels in the cable, and the drone follows the cable down to W deck electronically. GYRODYNE QH-50C Mission Launch pair of ASW torpedoes against submerged submarin operating from small surface vessels in all weather conditions under rao'-~' link control from parent vessel. Powerplant Boeing T50-BO-8A turboshaft, rated at 300 s.h.p. Dimensions Diameter of rotors, 20ft; length of fuselage, 13ft; ove.J 9ft 6in. Weights Empty, 1,1601b; max gross, 2,3001b. Performance Figures remain clssi'ied, but one might expect a sPe^r 100 m.p.h., rate of climb of over 1,200,'t/min and range limited only by •• sight control system. as, wl>* omrt'""' || heil1" a>. so"1! , line-0*
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