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Aviation History
1985
1985 - 0044.PDF
AGRICULTURAL AVIATION CONVENTION Helio introduces Rat'ler One type shown for the first time (and the only completely new aircraft at the convention) was the Helio Model 21a Rat'ler. This prototype combines the high- lift wing, tail unit, and 400 h.p. Lycoming IO-720 power- plant of the Helio Courier 800 with a new fuselage (see Flight three-view general arrange ment drawing on this page). Emphasising the Rat'ler's rugged construction, short- field performance, and claimed low cost, Helio sells the machine as "Your partner in safety, your partner in pro fit". A batch of 50 airframes is being laid down, with the first ten machines priced at $100,000. Subsequent exam ples carry a $120,000 tag. Certification of the new aircraft is expected "within 120 days", and up to 50 a year could be produced, says Loren Abbott, whose Aerospace Technology Industries com pany bought Helio some six months ago. Features of Rat'ler include glassfibre wingtips designed to reduce vortices, a new wing carry-through section, and composite landing-gear struts. The aircraft and con trols are otherwise all metal, except for the fabric covered ailerons. These have been retained because Helio wants to preserve the light roll control. Subsequently, the company hopes to investigate composite ailerons and slats. Abbott expects that ten air craft will have been produced by June. The strongest markets outside the USA are likely to be South America and Europe. Helio is currently negotiating with China. The manufacturer is working on a number of turbine-engined prototypes, at least one of which is a floatplane. FLIGHT International, 5 January 1985
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