Gyrodyne Helicopter Projects

[hesham]

Dear boxkite,

after we speak about Kamov,Mil and Boeing-Vertol, can we
speak about Gyrodyne; we know QH-50,DSN-1,DSN-2,DSN-3,
HOG,GCA-2,GCA-5,GCA-7,GCA-41 (XRON-1) and GCA-59 (YRON-1).
but there are anther nine projects to this company; GCA-3,GCA-8,
GCA-9,GCA-21,GCA-24,GCA-32,GCA-33,GCA-35 and GCA-54.

did you hear about them ?.

 

[boxkite]

Hesham,

It seems you use the same book as I to create a list of Gyrodyne models: “Helicopters & Autogyros Of The World” by Lambermont & Pirie . Sorry, no additions.

 

[hesham]

Hi,

I found four helicopters projects,need help to can get a more
informations about them;
1-Gyrodyne convertiplane (GCA ---?).
2- ,, military convertiplane (GCA ---?).
3- ,, Gyroliner (GCA---?).
4-Vertol-NASA tilt-wing (Vertol V---?).

 

[lark]

Hesham,
The 3 convertiplane concepts are from the Gyrodyne Company of America.
If you can put a year on the concepts I can maybe help you with the designations.For exemple GCA produced two gyroliners concepts.
1949 - GCA 8 Gyroliner
1954 - GCA 35 Gyroliner ...

Source : Helicopters and Autogyros of the world.
Paul Lambermont & Anthony Pirie
Cassell & Co - London .1958

 

[hesham]

My dear lark,

I don't know the years,but I think it was from 1953 and less,
if you have some of Gyrodne helicopters,please tell us about them,if
you can.

 

[hesham]

Thanks hood,

my dears, look with me to Gyrodyne military convertiplane,I think it was
involved in VTOL competition which led to develope McDonnell XV-1,Sikorsky
XV-2,Bell XV-3 and Lockheed L-203. what is you opinions?.

 

[slmvbs]

Hi
Try the google patents site - just type gyrodene and a number of good results come up.

 

[hesham]

Thank you my dear Jemiba,

And in your picture the Boeing Vertol Model-157,its new for me.

The Gyrodyne GCA-55 was YRON-1 and there was GCA-59;

http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1961/1961%20-%200731.pdf

 

[hesham]

Hi,

here is the Gyrodyne GCA-24 was cargo helicopter of coaxial configuration
and powered by two 3500 hp turboprop engines.

http://www.flightglobal.com/PDFArchive/View/1954/1954%20-%200666.html

 

[hesham]

Hi,

the Gyrodyne first helicopter was GCA-3 Helidyne,notice in Flightglobal
page also the Westland W.80,W.85 & W.90 projects.

http://www.flightglobal.com/PDFArchive/View/1953/1953%20-%200118.html?search=gyrodyne%20helicopter%201953

 

[hesham]

Hi,

I think it was Gyrodyne GCA.33.

 

[hesham]

Hi,

I think it was Gyrodyne GCA.33.

Sorry for this,

this convertiplane was GCA.32 and the GCA.33 was two seat small helicopter as in the patent.

http://www.google.com/patents?id=9r1xAAAAEBAJ&dq=westland+helicopter&num=100&jtp=1#PPP1,M1

 

[Stargazer]

Great thread. According to my files, the very first aircraft Gyrodyne built was the Model 2, followed by the Model 2A (NOT "24") Helidyne.
The US Navy tested their Rotorcycle as the XRON-1 in 1956, but the company's only claim to fame in terms of military contracts was to provide the Navy with the DSN/QH-50 DASH series, an unmanned helicopter that is generally seen as the ancestor to many modern UAVs.

 

[hesham]

From my dears Stargazer and Boxkite,

the Gyrodyne GCA.33,it was two seat light helicopter,this project
called for two two-bladed coaxial contra-rotating rotors powered
by one 150 hp Lycoming engine,estimated speed 121 km/h and
range 193 km.

 

[Stargazer]

Here is a much better version of the Gyrodyne GCA-3 Helidyne image:

 

[Jemiba]

Another find in From the "Helicopter and VTO World" January/February 1961 issue, the model 55.
Looks a bit funny to me, just imagine Father Xmas on the seat, having exchanged his reindeer sleigh
for a hovering Xmas bell ! ;D

 

[Stargazer]

Another find in From the "Helicopter and VTO World" January/February 1961 issue, the model 55.
Looks a bit funny to me, just imagine Father Xmas on the seat, having exchanged his reindeer sleigh
for a hovering Xmas bell ! ;D

Yes, it's quite an odd type! Though we had discussed it already, but apparently not, so since you didn't attach any pic, here is a couple...

 

[Arjen]

The secret's out. Phil Silver moonlighted as a test pilot

 

[hesham]

Popular Mechanics

Popular Mechanics inspires, instructs and influences readers to help them master the modern world. Whether it’s practical DIY home-improvement tips, gadgets and digital technology, information on the newest cars or the latest breakthroughs in science -- PM is the ultimate guide to our high-tech...

books.google.com.eg

 

[lark]

How do you comes to these designations Hesham..?

 

[hesham]

My dear lark,


you know there is two Gyrodyne models carrying Gyroliner name,GCA.8 and GCA.35,and as I know the GCA.35 was started its life at 1954/55,and the magazine was from 6/1954,so the model is for GCA.8.


And as mentioned by my dear Skyblazer,the GCA.9 Helidyne was intended for US Navy and
directly developed from GCA.3 Helidyne,so please compare with me;

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,13297.msg151609.html#msg151609

 

[yasotay]

Hi,


here is the GCA.8 & GCA.9;


http://books.google.com.eg/books?id=1t4DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA118&dq=popular+mechanics+vertiplane&hl=en&sa=X&ei=nxz_U8ezOOis0QWGr4HYDg&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=popular%20mechanics%20vertiplane&f=true

How sad it is that we are fifty years on from the article in Popular Science. It will be one hundred years before we see any of these technologies in mass use around the globe. That is on the assumption that tilt rotor and compound rotorcraft can make the transition to mass market.

 

[hesham]

You are right my dear Yasotay,


I hope we operated such like those projects in one day.

 

[lark]

Hesham,
According to Paul Lambermont & Anthony Pirie in
Helicopters and Autogyro's of the World

the GCA 8 was a 1949 Gyroliner project...

Think we had to search more to be sure.

 

[hesham]

That's right my dear Lark,


and from this book,the GCA.8 Gyroliner was a scale-up version of the GCA.3 Helidyne,and
it differs from GCA.35,so I feel it was a GCA.8.

 

[hesham]

My dear Lark,


here is the proof,a drawing similar to the model of GCA.8 was displayed in a Popular Science
of October 1951,that means this design was GCA.8,because GCA.35 was appeared in 1954/55.


http://books.google.com.eg/books?id=OSEDAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA169&dq=popular+science+gyrodyne&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-IYDVN3XFc3vOYfagKAB&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=popular%20science%20gyrodyne&f=false

 

[lark]

The Gyroliner in post 19 is in fact the Gyrodyne model 35.

A high speed convertiplane for
72 passengers and a crew of 3.

Description and illustration in Flight ,12 March 1954. (p.296)

P.S. Popular Mech. is not that accurate ,it gives general info for a large public

 

[Stargazer]

Okay... As there seems to be a bit of confusion here, let me give you my own interpretation of things.

I'm not asserting that it's 100% sure, only very likely, given the design differences.

 

[hesham]

Thank you my dear Lark,


and excellent work my dear Skyblazer.

 

[hesham]

Hi,

here is a Gyrodyne GCA.5 Helicopter Project.

Flying Magazine

books.google.com.eg

 

[Maveric]

Why G.C.A.5? I cant find any designation...

 

[hesham]

Why G.C.A.5? I cant find any designation...

Follow the article;

Flying Magazine

books.google.com.eg

 

[Maveric]

 

[Jos Heyman]

Hesham, perhaps in future you could post the images and associated text at the same time.
Having said that, Gyrodyne seems to have had a lot of this sort of wonderful helicopters, or whatever you like to call them. A long time ago I picked up the models GCA-5 and GCA-15 as being connected with an alternative of the McDonnell XV-1. You posted a picture of that on 15 December 2006 and on 25 August 2008 you identified it as GCA-33. No idea what is right. With the proliferation of pictures and information in separate reference sources, we got to be careful that we do not make decisions by linking picture to a model number, unless, as with your GCA-5 pictures/quotes, they come from the same reference source.
What I am saying, until we see a picture of the convertiplane you posted on 15 December 2006 with a caption identifying it as GCA-15 or GCA-33, and from a source from that period, we cannot be sure.
But keep up the good work. We now got GCA-5 identified, thanks to you.

 

[hesham]

My dear Jos,

of course I depend on a realistic source,there is old book about helicopter,I have some
pages from it,and I don't know GCA.15,and about GCA.32,you will find it exactly as in
the drawing,the description is too close.

 

[boxkite]

...

the Gyrodyne GCA.33,it was two seat light helicopter,this project
called for two two-bladed coaxial contra-rotating rotors powered
by one 150 hp Lycoming engine,estimated speed 121 km/h and
range 193 km.

Here is a picture of the GCA-33 display model from another angle of view.

Source: American Helicopter Magazine Dec 1954 (p16)

 

[boxkite]

From the same magazine: Gyrodyne GCA-29

 

[hesham]

Wow,amazing Project my dear Boxkite.

 

[Stargazer]

A long time ago I picked up the models GCA-5 and GCA-15as being connected with an alternative of the McDonnell XV-1. You posted a picture of that on 15 December 2006 and on 25 August 2008 you identified it as GCA-33. No idea what is right. With the proliferation of pictures and information in separate reference sources, we got to be careful that we do not make decisions by linking picture to a model number, unless, as with your GCA-5 pictures/quotes, they come from the same reference source.
What I am saying, until we see a picture of the convertiplane you posted on 15 December 2006 with a caption identifying it as GCA-15 or GCA-33, and from a source from that period, we cannot be sure.

• The GCA-33 is properly identified in at least two sources as being the small coaxial-rotor helicopter with square fins and uncovered rear fuselage.
  

• The GCA-5 is definitely the small helicopter that hesham posted recently. It is confirmed in several sources as that three-seat military project with four-blade rotor.
  

• The convertiplane type that resembles the XV-1 poses a problem indeed. It appears in a 1954 Design Patent (#172,712) by D.F. Gebhard exactly as it appears in the photos of the model. It has previously been identified as the "GCA-32", but if we are to believe the description in hesham's book excerpt, the GCA-32 had two four-blade rotors (while our convertiplane obviously had two-blade ones) and "airscrews" ("our" convertiplane only has one). And so quite clearly it's not the GCA-32... Your notion that both the GCA-5 and GCA-15 designations were associated to that program is probably the result of a typo at some point and it's probably just GCA-15 that is correct.

• As for the real GCA-32, I have quite a few pics of Gyrodyne projects, but none of them matches the description so far...

 

[hesham]

Good analysis,and maybe that's correct,GCA.15.