Little-known American Helicopter Prototypes & Projects

[yasotay]

This is the first time I remember seeing this compound helicopter from Grumman. Anyone have any other information?

I suspect the model coaxial lurking behind it is an early Sikorsky LHX.

 

[allysonca]

Yepp... a Sikorsky LHX is hiding away in the back. The Grumman model is rather interesting in that there were a lot of locator pin holes (you can see if you look at the sides) for who knows what purpose and the tail and nose are hinged.

 

[hesham]

Thank you Allysonca,


and what was this ?, Hiller design ?.

 

[XB-70]

Wow, great collection allysonca. That Grumman helicopter looks like a AAFSS concept to me. It's very similar to the AH-56. According to Flight Global more than a dozen companies originally proposed concepts. I know seven: Lockheed, Sikorsky, Bell, Boeing Vertol, Convair, Curtiss-Wright and Canadair. But I have never seen a Grumman Helicopter concept before.

That model on the left side looks like something between the Hiller ten99 and the FH-1100 to me.

 

[hesham]

Welcome board XB-70,


and I think it was Hiller from 1090s series.

 

[yasotay]

Indeed welcome aboard. I was thinking the same that it was an AAFSS competitor that I was not aware of.

 

[allysonca]

The Helicopter in question next to the Grumman is a REPUBLIC proposal.... how about that! Here is a close up of the base. Also I've attached another picture of the FH 1100. It's the camo one. Also in another picture is a prototype of the Jetranger. Enjoy!

 

[XB-70]

Thank you hesham and yasotay. Your right allysonca, I found the missing info: In 1957 Republic developed a helicopter division, building the Aerospatiale Alouette II. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_Aviation) Your model has the same three-bladed main rotor as the Alouette. Engine position and tail rotor are also quite similar. Maybe this model is a Republic development based on the Alouette II.

 

[Stargazer]

Splendid, allysonca! Thanks a lot for sharing these treasures. I believe the Grumman proposal must have been the company's AAFSS contender against the Lockheed Cheyenne, is that right?

 

[hesham]

Many thanks Allysonca,


and great find XB-70,but if we consider this Republic was not Alouette II,and proposal
for a competition,may be it was Republic RH-60 for LOH contest.

 

[Retrofit]

Thank you hesham and yasotay. Your right allysonca, I found the missing info: In 1957 Republic developed a helicopter division, building the Aerospatiale Alouette II. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_Aviation) Your model has the same three-bladed main rotor as the Alouette. Engine position and tail rotor are also quite similar. Maybe this model is a Republic development based on the Alouette II.

The direction of rotation of the main rotor is also an indication of the Alouette origines (i.e. clockwise seen from above)
AFAIK only the helicopters in production in France (SNCASE, Aerospatiale then Eurocopter), and MIL ones in Russia, have a main rotor turning in that direction.

 

[mil]

That is known of participation of Grumman firm in the AAH program or it was the joint program with Boeing.

 

[hesham]

Great find Mil.

 

[Pioneer]

That is known of participation of Grumman firm in the AAH program or it was the joint program with Boeing.

I don't know gents. That picture of the 'proposed' attack bird looks very much modified adaption of the Boeing Vertol Model 179 (YUH-61) UTTAS! The forward fuselage doesn't seem right

Sorry Mil

Regards
Pioneer

 

[The Artist]

It took a while, but here is a scan of the Little Henry fuselage mockup photo. Still no additional information on this one.

Edit - Replaced the image with a better quality image.

 

[Stargazer]

It took a while, but here is a scan of the Little Henry fuselage mockup photo. Still no additional information on this one.

Interesting. I don't think I'd ever seen it before. I suppose if the XH-20 had been produced for the Army, or if a commercial variant had been marketed, it would have looked like this.

On a side note... Does anyone know where McDonnell's odd names "Little Henry" and "Big Henry" came from? A children's tale, possibly?

 

[Cy-27]

American Aircraft Penetrator (later Aerocraft Stealth Star 204SS)


The American Aircraft Penetrator (now known as the Aerocraft Stealth Star 204 SS), was an experimental attack or transport helicopter originally modified from a Bell UH-1B Iroquois (ex U.S. Army 63-8508) with tandem seating for the flight crew.

The prototype (N3080W) first flew in October 1991 and is currently "finished, ready for test flights again".

Sources:

http://www.stealthstar.com/penetrator1.html
American Aircraft Penetrator Brochure 1992

 

[hesham]

Hi,

the Hartwig-Little Co. designed a tandem two rotor heliplane,maybe remained a Project
only.

http://archive.aviationweek.com/image/spread/19441023/12/2

 

[hesham]

Hi,

the Tiedje Machine Shop company and its founder Mr. Richard Tiedje,designed
a tandem rotor copter,it was under construction in 1946.

http://archive.aviationweek.com/image/spread/19460506/11/2

 

[hesham]

Hi,

here is a helicopter prototype,designed by H.B. Picken Co.

http://www.aerofiles.com/_pa.html
http://kulturserver-nds.de/home/hubtest/medien/Neg.Nr.GUN.pdf page 112

 

[hesham]

Hi,

here is a rotorcraft designed by Hamilton Helicopter Co.

Hamilton helicopter (1949 Flying via Wendy J Miller)

1949 = 2pCH; 125hp ? with two coaxial 3-blade rotors; v: 99/x/0 range 300. All-metal construction; no other specs or data found. Reported in Jan 1948 Flying as having "undergone tethered lift check and is expected to fly soon." Also later reported to have had a test flight by Alexander Sikorsky [NX41970].

http://www.aerofiles.com/_h.html

 

[Stingray]

Hi,

here is a helicopter prototype,designed by H.B. Picken Co.

http://www.aerofiles.com/_pa.html
http://kulturserver-nds.de/home/hubtest/medien/Neg.Nr.GUN.pdf page 112

From "Flying Magazine," May 1950:

 

[hesham]

Nice find my dear Stingray.

 

[hesham]

Hallo,

USA Ivan Chodan Helicopter :was an unconventional single seat experimental
helicopter of 1966, with a shrouded rigid rotor.

The helicopter of Mr. Ivan Chodan had a disc rotor,page 152;

http://kulturserver-nds.de/home/hubtest/medien/Neg.Nr.GUN.pdf

 

[hesham]

Hi,

here is a Z-8 helicopter of 1948;

Eastern Rotorcraft Z-8 flown in 1948 was powerless "flying kite" requiring tow for sustained flight. Seated one, 24 ft rotor dia. grossed 500 lbs. Built by Harris Campbell, Jack Marsh, Dick Huber, and J. P. Perry of Pennsylvania .

http://www.airplanesandrockets.com/helicopters/more-of-those-fabulous-mini-copters-jan-1957-american-modeler.htm

 

[hesham]

Hi,

here is a coaxial helicopter airframe,designed by J. R. Williams,page 214;

http://kulturserver-nds.de/home/hubtest/medien/Neg.Nr.GUN.pdf

 

[hesham]

Hi,

Mr. Horace T. Pentecost founded Hoppi-Copter Inc company,he designed the HX-1 or
Model-100,a one man copter with two contra-rotating rotors,followed by Model-101 &
Model-102,evolved into the 1950 experimental Firefly with an 18' rotor powered by
tip ramjets.

He also designed a very cheap single seat Helicopter,also there was a Model-103 and
Model-104.

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/helicopters-for-everybody/
http://www.aerofiles.com/_h.html
https://sites.google.com/site/stingrayslistofrotorcraft/hoppicopter-model-103

 

[Stargazer]

the Hartwig-Little Co. designed a tandem two rotor heliplane,maybe remained a Project only.

Probably started, likely never completed. Here's an article I had on this "Little Copter", also called the Heliplane:

 

[hesham]

Nice find my dear Skyblazer,

and welcome your return.

 

[Stargazer]

welcome your return.

Thanks hesham. Nice to be back.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Good to have you back.

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Greetings All -

We visited the Oakland Aviation Museum in Oakland, California in mid-June and much to my surprise was the Hiller Ten99 on display. Hiller's first turbine powered helicopter.

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[hesham]

From JAWA 1985,

here is a little known helicopter designed by Mr. Richard R. Degraw.

 

[RAP]

Some AW info on the Hiller Ten99.

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Thanks RAP - seeing it at the Oakland Aviation Museum was a pleasant surprise - interesting, though boxy, design.

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[RAP]

I live in Oakland but have not made it down to the museum in years. Love driving past it though and seeing the F14 in Sundowner markings parked outside. I was surprised to see they had this helicopter there. The Hiller museum is across the bay and they have some pretty cool stuff there. It's interesting the Tenn99 is not there. I need to take a day and go hit both museums again.

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Three photos from a flight test report in the January 194.76 issue of American Helicopter about the Landgraf H-2.

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Good Day All -

A recent bundle of magazines included a number of 1946 and 1947 issues of American Helicopter magazine. The December 1946 issues had a "Helicopter Panorama of 1946" spread and the following designs were presented. I've included a couple that were actually from Canada for completeness.

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[Mark Nankivil]

And a few more.... Mark

 

[Mark Nankivil]

On the back cover of this issue was an ad for Firestone Helicopters that has artwork for the GA-50.

Enjoy the Day! Mark