Italian Helicopter Manufacturer Martinis

[Jemiba]

In Der Flieger, July 1966, a helicopter built by the Italian company Martinis is mentioned and
shown with a single photo, from what certainly was an exhibition or air show.
Designated as R-66, it was powered by a Continental O-300D, empty weight 360 kg,
take-off weigt of 610 kg, max. speed 175 km/h, cruising speed 160 km/h and
a range of 350 km.
Haven't found this manufacturer anywhere else, neither via Google, nor in Stingrays very
comprehensive list. Maybe it was known by another name ?

 

[walter]

Hi Jemiba, nice find
From my notes as see it was built by Marinis SrL and a design of Mr. G. Martinis. Intended for both civil and military (AOP etc.) use. Planned higher powered version (215hp) not built.
It was possibly also known as the HR-68 Helicar. First fight date is given as 22 December 1967.
Attached another pic. Caption R-66 is wrong, should be R-68

 

[Stargazer]

Very nice. The R-66 and R-68 apparently look quite different from each other, but I could be wrong.

 

[hesham]

Great find my dear Jemiba,


and for Walter,the R-68 is new for me.

 

[walter]

Always thought the forum was for solving problems, not creating them

Quite possible that the (short lived??) Martinis company created two helis, the R-66 and (H)R-68.
OTH, maybe it is be the same aircraft as both are quoted to have a RR/Continental O-300D and performance is very similar. And the time frame also seems very identical. Could it be that in the picture of the aircraft in the wild it has a streamlined/covered rear fuselage section and tail fins added?
To keep one aircraft hidden is quite ingenious, but two???

 

[Jemiba]

Hard to tell, the shape of the canopies is different to my opinion, the "R-68" seems to have
a pronounced hump. About the rear fuselage I'm not sure, just about the added fins.
Could well have been the first variant just modified.