US Navy XHP (Experimental Helicopter - Patrol) competition

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In early 1950, the following companies submitted these designs to a Navy specification calling for an HP class (Patrol) helicopter with ASW (anti-submarine warfare) capability, a brand new mission for the helicopter at the time. None was selected in the end (source: Spangenberg Index, April 1950).

  • Curtiss-Wright P-592
  • Gyrodyne 9 Helidyne
  • Hughes 212
  • Kellett KH-9
  • McDonnell 73/A/B/C/D
  • Pennsylvania Aircraft Syndicate (designation unknown)
  • Piasecki PD-22B
  • Piasecki PH-26/A Convertaplane
  • Sikorsky XHPS/-(A)/-( B )/-(C)
 
Greetings All -

A rather impressive model of the McDonnell Model 73 ASW is on EPay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/McDONNELL-AIRCRAFT-CORP-MODEL-73-A-S-W-HELICOPTER-DESK-TOP-MODEL-PROTOTYPE-/371515666696?hash=item56800f3108:g:G1wAAOSwf-VWa4Fc

Having issues downloading all the images so if someone else can give it a try and post, I'd be most appreciative!

Merry Christmas! Mark
 

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Re: McDonnell Model 73 ASW Display Model

Nice find my dear Mark.
 
Re: McDonnell Model 73 ASW Helicopter

:)
 

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Re: McDonnell Model 73 ASW Helicopter

...
 

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Re: McDonnell Model 73 ASW Display Model

Aahh, got the rest downloaded at home....

Enjoy the Day! Mark

(pictures see above)
 
Re: McDonnell Model 73 ASW Display Model

...and the last pics.... Mark
 

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Re: McDonnell Model 73 ASW Display Model

Thanks very much for that. It looks like a V-tail, single-engine variation on the McDonnell HJD/HJH proposed for the Navy 1950 ASW helicopter competition that was won by Bell Helicopter with what became the HSL.
 
Re: McDonnell Model 73 ASW Helicopter

Merry Christmas gents!

An interesting find!
Seemingly very compact design.
Anyone want to take a guess on the era of the program?

Regards
Pioneer
 
Re: McDonnell Model 73 ASW Helicopter

Pioneer said:
Merry Christmas gents!

An interesting find!
Seemingly very compact design.
Anyone want to take a guess on the era of the program?
Click to expand...

Era? 2419 AD? No gas bag, no wing, no rotor, no nozzle? How does it fly?
 
Re: McDonnell Model 73 ASW Helicopter

A derivative of the XHJH Whirlaway ? The position of the rotor outriggers/wings are recognisable
on the model, I think.
 
Re: McDonnell Model 73 ASW Helicopter

That looks likely. The outline of the wing position is shown with what I'd guess is the transmission shaftline.
 
Re: McDonnell Model 73 ASW Helicopter

Hmm - I thought I posted this already. It's almost certainly, as has been stated, a V-tail, single-engine variation on the XHJD that was probably proposed for the U.S. Navy's 1950 ASW helicopter competition that was won by Bell Helicopter with what became the HSL.
 
Re: McDonnell Model 73 ASW Display Model

Nearly 2300 bucks for just the fuselage of an obscure (and not particularly impressive) helicopter design seems like a lot of dough to me... Nice find nonetheless, thanks.
 
Re: McDonnell Model 73 ASW Display Model

Still hasn't found a home: http://www.ebay.com/itm/McDONNELL-AIRCRAFT-CORP-MODEL-73-A-S-W-HELICOPTER-DESK-TOP-MODEL-PROTOTYPE/371652228248?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649
 
Re: McDonnell Model 73 ASW Helicopter

Tailspin Turtle said:
Hmm - I thought I posted this already. It's almost certainly, as has been stated, a V-tail, single-engine variation on the XHJD that was probably proposed for the U.S. Navy's 1950 ASW helicopter competition that was won by Bell Helicopter with what became the HSL.
Click to expand...

Maybe different pylons like the single engine 1000 hp Platt-LePage Transport design, that was proposed at the same time as the PL-9...

Odds are that V tail wouldn't have survived long into flight testing, since McDonnell almost cracked up the Whirlaway when the Platt-LePage engineers working at McDonnell, warned them not to fly the XHJD-1 beyond certain limits without having enough horizontal stabilizer area.

The McDonnell test pilot pushed the tailless XHJD-1 into some major oscillations, after being warned not to go any faster by the flight engineer who was from Platt-LePage.

When they got the Whirlaway back on the ground, my friend from Platt-LePage, jumped out the helicopter and walked back to the hangers, refusing to get back in the helicopter until McDonnell installed the tail surfaces on the XHJD-1.
 
McDONNELL AIRCRAFT CORP. MODEL-73 A.S.W. HELICOPTER DESK TOP MODEL PROTOTYPE

McDONNELL AIRCRAFT CORP. MODEL-73 A.S.W. HELICOPTER DESK TOP MODEL PROTOTYPE found on eBay

Source:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/McDONNELL-AIRCRAFT-CORP-MODEL-73-A-S-W-HELICOPTER-DESK-TOP-MODEL-PROTOTYPE/371652228248?hash=item568832f498:g:G1wAAOSwf-VWa4Fc
 

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Re: McDONNELL AIRCRAFT CORP. MODEL-73 A.S.W. HELICOPTER DESK TOP MODEL PROTOTYPE

And the price remains the same.

I have tried to work a deal so we can add that to our Museum's collection but alas, to no avail...

Enjoy the Day! Mark
 
Re: McDONNELL AIRCRAFT CORP. MODEL-73 A.S.W. HELICOPTER DESK TOP MODEL PROTOTYPE

Mark Nankivil said:
And the price remains the same.

I have tried to work a deal so we can add that to our Museum's collection but alas, to no avail...

Enjoy the Day! Mark
Click to expand...

Yup, this seller does not negotiate, ever. Some of his models stay on eBay for 2-3 years (and listings cost money) at the same price. If I win the lottery, I will buy it and send it to you.
 
Re: McDONNELL AIRCRAFT CORP. MODEL-73 A.S.W. HELICOPTER DESK TOP MODEL PROTOTYPE

Mighty kind of you! When I win, I'll return the favor!

Enjoy the Day! Mark
 
OK Pundits,

Here is another one or your thinking caps.

we have been commissioned to do a rotor system for this and trying to decide if this would have been a 3 blade hot cycle rotor like the XHCH-1 or a 5 blade conventional arrangement.

I'm leaning towards the former but a 2 blade tail rotor? Seems to be original.......

Ideas and thoughts welcome, and sorry..... not for sale or trade.
 

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Hi Allysonca,

the designation is wrong,nothing called XHPS-1,can you tell us what the right
one ?.
 
I am unsure of the correct designation and the numbers I have stated are on the fuselage side so anyone's guess is as good as mine. I DO love these mysteries. There was a suggestion that this could be a Sikorsky, but I have my doubts.
 
allysonca said:
I am unsure of the correct designation and the numbers I have stated are on the fuselage side so anyone's guess is as good as mine. I DO love these mysteries. There was a suggestion that this could be a Sikorsky, but I have my doubts.
Click to expand...

Could the large waterdrop-shaped fairings on the wingtips have been nacelles for radial engines?
 
Please change the title into; Sikorsky XHPS-A,and thanks.
 
Silencer1 said:
allysonca said:
I am unsure of the correct designation and the numbers I have stated are on the fuselage side so anyone's guess is as good as mine. I DO love these mysteries. There was a suggestion that this could be a Sikorsky, but I have my doubts.
Click to expand...

Could the large waterdrop-shaped fairings on the wingtips have been nacelles for radial engines?
Click to expand...

Seems more likely they were floats to give some amphibious capability.

Edit: I'm wrong. Seems like they probably were radials, in the same tradition as the S-56 and XHRS.

 
Perhaps, helicopter designation describes it's function: P for Partol - actually, antisubmarine warfare?
The sphere under fuselage belly could be radar or sonar, and the rear cabin has been intended for crewmembers, operating the search equipment. Just my guess.

Curiously, in the Sikorsky' list of S numbers there is no mention about XHPS.

P.S. What's orange model represents?
 
Check the link Hesham gave. This project was indeed for a Patrol (ASW) helicopter.
 
TomS said:
Check the link Hesham gave. This project was indeed for a Patrol (ASW) helicopter.
Click to expand...

Thank you, TomS!
I read post at this link earlier, but without proper attention. :-\
 
hesham said:
Hi Allysonca,

it's Sikorsky of course,and called XHPS-A,not -1,and logically it had a three blades,too
small to fitted with five blades.

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,9868.msg91413.html#msg91413
Click to expand...

Please Moderator,modify the title.
 
I'd love to ! As soon, as there's a proof for the assumption, that it is a Sikorsky design ...
 
Jemiba said:
I'd love to ! As soon, as there's a proof for the assumption, that it is a Sikorsky design ...
Click to expand...

The inscription on the model could be a clue, but not a proof.
 

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Where's the proof, please ? ???

"XHPS" probably stands for Experimental (X), Helicopter (H),
Patrol (P) and maybe Shipborne (S). That would be valid for all contenders. That we
don't have an internal designation for the Sikorsky proposal, but only the short for the intended
role doesn't make things easier.
But I merged both topics, as it may give a better overview.
 
Jemiba said:
"XHPS" probably stands for Experimental (X), Helicopter (H),
Patrol (P) and maybe Shipborne (S). That would be valid for all contenders. That we
don't have an internal designation for the Sikorsky proposal, but only the short for the intended
role doesn't make things easier.
But I merged both topics, as it may give a better overview.
Click to expand...

My guess, that XHPS has been named according to US Navy' designation system,
eXperimental Helicopter Patrol, Sikorsky.
Compare this with US Navy HO2S and HO3S designations for Sikorsky R-5 helicopters.
Perhaps, taking in account model's inscription and some similarity to later Sikorsky helicopter - addition of "Sikorsky" to topic' name would be useful?
 

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