Hiller YROE
The Hiller YROE-1 Rotorcycle was a single seat ultralight helicopter designed in 1953 for a military requirement.[1] A total of 12 were produced for the United States Marine Corps. And in 1954, the Hiller Helicopters was selected by the US Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics to build this design of a one man, foldable, self-rescue and observation helicopter.[2] It featured a two blade rotor system. Its original empty weight was 290 lb (132 kg).[3]
Development
The helicopter folded up and could be carried on a sled-like carrier by two people or could be air-dropped to pilots trapped behind enemy lines. The Marines did not accept the YROE for its low performance, vulnerability to small-arms fire and the lack of visual references on the structure. This problem could cause the pilot to experience spatial disorientation at all but very low altitudes.[1] The YROE or ROE never saw military service.[4]
It was demonstrated at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia for military and other government officials in early April 1958.[5]
Variants
- XROE-1
- 2 prototypes built as Model 1033 at the Hiller Helicopter Plant in Palo Alto, California [4]
- The first flight in November 1956[6]
- YROE-1
- 5 test versions built by British Saunders-Roe built ten.
One donated to the Smithsonian Institution after completion of its testing in 1961[6]
- ROE-1
- 5 production built by Saunders-Roe (built ten production models, including the five YROE-1s)[6]
Specifications
- Source: Smithsonian[1]
- Rotor Diameter: 5.64 m (18 ft 6 in)
- Length: 3.81 m (12 ft 6 in)
- Height: 2.29 m (7 ft 6 in)
- Weight: Empty, 140 kg (309 lb)
- Gross, 255 kg (562 lb)
- Engine: Nelson YO-65-2 four-cylinder, two-cycle engine, 43 hp (32 kW),
original - Nelson H-59 engine, 40 hp (30 kW)[3]
- Manufacturer: Saunders-Roe for Hiller Helicopters, United Kingdom, 1961
- Fuel: 9.1 liter (2.4 U.S. gal) tank
- Performance
- Cruise speed of 52 mph (84 km/h)
- Max. speed: 70 mph (sea level)[2]
- Range: 40 miles (64 km) nominal
- Range at sea level with 170 lb (77 kg) pilot and 86 lb (39 kg) of fuel 166 mi (267 km)[2]
- Load: 270 lb (122 kg)[3]
- Rate of climb: 1,160 ft/min (350 m/min)[2]
Survivors
- XROE-1, on display at Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos, California
- YROE-1, ser. no. 4021, on display at Hiller Aviation Museum
- YROE-1, on display at National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC
- YROE-1, N4230U, ser. no. 4024, El Cajon, California[7]
- YROE-1, N777MV, ser. no. 4020, Minicopter Inc., Saginaw, Texas[8]
- YROE-1, third one in production on display at Evergreen Aviation Museum [9]
- XROE-1, repainted in blue, powered by a Rotax 503 and renamed "fantacopter" , in working order at Bois-la-Pierre, France, [10]
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
Notes
- ^ a b c NASM: Hiller YROE-1 Rotorcycle
- ^ a b c d Hiller Museum: Rotocycle
- ^ a b c Apostolo, p. 68
- ^ a b HELICÓPTEROS: THE SITE
- ^ "Rotorcycle on View Here", The Washington Post and Times Herald, Washington, D.C., Tuesday 1 April 1958, Volume 81, Number 117, page A8.
- ^ a b c NASM: YROE Long Description -- YROE-1 curatorial file, Aeronautics Division, National Air and Space Museum
- ^ AirportData: N4230U
- ^ AirportData: N777MV
- ^ SkyControl: YROE-1
- ^ HILLER XROE-1
Bibliography
- Apostolo, Giorgio. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters. New York: Bonanza Books. 1984. ISBN 9780517439357.
External links
|
|
|
| Early aircraft |
|
|
| A |
|
|
| SR |
|
|
| Helicopters |
|
|
|
|
|
| General |
|
|
| Military |
|
|
| Accidents/incidents |
|
|
| Records |
|
|