(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Some unusual helicopters [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-06-15 Welcome to the Street Prophets Coffee Hour cleverly hidden at the intersection of religion, art, science, food, and politics. This is an open thread where we can share our thoughts and comments about the day. The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon had some of the unusual helicopters on display. DeLackner DH-4 Heli-Vector In the 1950s, Charles Zimmer of the National Advisory Committee on Aviation developed the idea for a personal rotor craft. The DH-4 Heli-Vector was designed by Lewis C. McCarty and produced by the DeLackner Helicopter Company of Mt. Vernon, New York. It featured a small platform for the operator to stand on and a pair of counter-rotating 15 foot blades beneath the platform. It was powered by a modified 20 hp Mercury Marine outboard motor. Over 200 flights were made with the DH-4. This aircraft has a cruising speed of 55 mph, a top speed of 75 mph, and a range of 15 miles. Benson B-8M Gyrocopter An autogiro is a hybrid that is neither a helicopter nor an airplane. According to the display: “Unlike a helicopter, the blades on an autogiro are not powered, but spin due to the air passing through them from below. But by spinning, they create life like a helicopter. The power to move forward is provided by a motor driving a propeller, and turning is handled by a rudder and the tilting of the blades. Also, unlike a helicopter, the autogiro cannot truly hover and cannot back up or move sideways in mid-air.” The Benson Gryocopter was inspired by the “rotor-kites” used by the Germans in World War II as spotters for their submarines. This was a popular design and thousands were made. Benson stopped building Gyrocopters in 1987. This aircraft was first flown in 1955. It has a top speed of 95 mph and a range of 84 miles. McCulloch J-2 Gyrocopter At least 83 of these aircraft were built in the United Kingdom between 1972 and 1979. It was first flown in 1962. They have a top speed of 110 mph and a range of 200 miles. Hiller 1031 Flying Platform (Replica) Development of the Flying Platform began in 1953 and the craft first flew in 1955. It was a nimble, stable craft. Only six Flying Platforms were built. It has a top speed of 16 mph. Hiller XROE-1 Rotorcyle During the Korean War, the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics requested proposals to design and build a one-mad helicopter to be used by the Marines. In 1954, Hiller won with the Model 1033 Rotorcycle, an innovative, collapsible helicopter. Give the military designation XROE-1, two prototypes were built. It was first flow in 1957. A total of 12 were built before testing was cancelled. This aircraft has a top speed of 70 mph, a cruising speed of 52 mph, and a range of 30 miles. According to the display: “Small enough to fit into a pod slung under an aircraft and drop by parachute, the Rotorcycle featured rapid assembly with no tools, enabling a downed pilot to escape and evade an enemy.” Open Thread This is an open thread—all topics are welcome. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/6/15/2237674/-Some-unusual-helicopters?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/