Agusta A.104
| A.104 Helicar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A.104 prototype exhibited at the 1963 Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Airport | |
| Role | Light helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Agusta |
| First flight | 1960 |
| Status | none active, one preserved |
| Primary user | the manufacturer |
| Number built | 3 |
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The Agusta A.104 Helicar was an Italian prototype light commercial helicopter first flown in December 1960.
Production
The A.104 was a slightly enlarged version of the A.103, and added a second seat beside the pilot's seat. The cockpit was enclosed by a perspex bubble with the engine at the rear and the tail rotor carried on an enclosed boom.
Two piston-engined prototypes were built, followed by a single example of a turbine-engined variant designated A.104BT. No production resulted.
Surviving aircraft
An example of the A.104 is preserved in the Museo Agusta which is maintained by the Agusta company and is located just south of Milan Malpensa Airport[1]
Variants
- A.104 Helicar
- Two prototype aircraft powered by de-rated Agusta GA.140 piston engines.
- A.104BT Helicar
- A single example of a turbo-shaft powered Helicar, powered by a 270 hp (201 kW) Agusta A.270.
Specifications
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: one, pilot
- Capacity: 1 passenger
- Length: 6.35 m (20 ft 10 in)
- Main rotor diameter: 7.95 m (26 ft 1 in)
- Height: 2.35 m (7 ft 7¾ in)
- Main rotor area: 49.6 m2 (534 ft2)
- Empty weight: 380 kg (838 lb)
- Gross weight: 640 kg (1,400 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Agusta GA.140 (derated), 104 kW (140 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 165 km/h (103 mph)
- Range: 330 km (205 miles)
- Endurance: 2 hours 30 min
- Service ceiling: 3,000 m (9,840 ft)
- Rate of climb: 4.1 m/s (810 ft/min)
See also
References
- Ogden, Bob (2006). Aviation Museums and Collections of Mainland Europe. Tonbridge, Kent, England: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-375-7.
- Taylor, John W. R. (1961). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 40.
- Simpson, R. W. (1998). Airlife's Helicopters and Rotorcraft. Ramsbury: Airlife Publishing. pp. 32, 36.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Agusta. |
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