RON Rotorcycle

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RON Rotorcycle
Type	Personal helicopter
National origin	United States of America
Manufacturer	Gyrodyne
Maiden flight	23 November 1955
Number built	10

The RON Rotorcycle (later redesignated HOG) was a tiny, single-seat helicopter developed in the United States in the mid 1950s. It was the result of a United States Marine Corps requirement for a small personal helicopter that would fulfill a number of roles, including observation, liaison, small unit tactical manoeuvers, and which could be dropped to downed airmen behind enemy lines to facilitate their escape. Gyrodyne's design was an open-framework helicopter with coaxial rotors, which was evaluated with three different powerplants (two reciprocating, one turbine). The Marine Corps eventually concluded that both the RON, and the competing Hiller ROE were too heavy and too difficult to fly and abandoned the project. The US Navy, however, had noticed the compact size and high load-carrying capacity of the RON, and in 1960 awarded a contract to Gyrocycle to produce a radio-controlled drone version of the Rotorcycle, to be used as an Anti-Submarine Warfare platform. Using the dynamic components of the RON, this was eventually developed as the Gyrodyne QH-50.

The Rotorcycle itself went on to win the prize for most manoeuverable helicopter at the Paris Air Show in 1961, and was selected for a 1964 trade fair in Morocco by the United States Department of Commerce.

[edit] Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Length: 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
• Main rotor diameter: × 20 ft 0 in (6.10 m)
• Main rotor area: 314 ft² (29.2 m²)
• Empty weight: 550 lb (250 kg)
• Gross weight: 832 lb (378 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Porsche YO-95-6, 72 hp (54 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 78 mph (125 km/h)
• Range: 55 miles (88 km)
• Service ceiling: 12,400 ft (3,780 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,140 ft/min (5.8 m/s)

[edit] References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 455. 
• Simpson, R. W. (1998). Airlife's Helicopters and Rotorcraft. Ramsbury: Airlife Publishing, 220. 
• Rawlins, Eugene W. (1976). Marines and Helicopters 1946-1962. Washington DC: History and Museums Division Headquarters, United States Marine Corps, 89. 
• The Rotorcycle. Gyrodyne Company of America. 

v • d • e USN helicopter designations pre-1962 Helicopter, Anti-submarine Bell: HSL Sikorsky: HSS Helicopter, Crane McDonnell: HCH Helicopter, Observation Hiller: HOE Gyrodyne: HOG Kaman: HOK Sikorsky: HOS  • HO2S  • HO3S  • HO4S  • HO5S Helicopter, Trainer pre-1948 Sikorsky: HNS Helicopter, Trainer 1948-1962 Hiller: HTE Kaman: HTK Bell: HTL Helicopter, Transport 1944-1962 Boeing Vertol: HRB McDonnell: HRH Piasecki: HRP Sikorsky: HRS  • HR2S  • HR3S Helicopter, Utility pre-1949 Douglas: HJD McDonnell: HJH Piasecki: HJP Sikorsky: HJS Helicopter, Utility 1950-1962 Kaman: HUK  • HU2K Bell: HUL McCulloch: HUM Piasecki: HUP Sikorsky: HUS  • HU2S

v • d • e USN rotorcycle designations pre-1962 Hiller: ROE Gyrodyne: RON

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