Pawnee Warrior
| Warrior | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The Pawnee Warrior prototype in flight | |
| Role | Helicopter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Pawnee Aviation |
| Status | Production completed |
| Number built | Probably just one prototype |
| Unit cost |
US$15,500 (kit, less engine, 1998) |
| Variants | Pawnee Chief |
The Pawnee Warrior was a American helicopter that was designed and produced by Pawnee Aviation of Longmont, Colorado. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1]
Design and development
The Warrior was designed to comply with the US Experimental - Amateur-built aircraft rules. It featured a single 21 ft (6.4 m) diameter two-bladed main rotor, a two-bladed tail rotor, both made from single metal extrusions. The kit's drive components were intended to be supplied complete and ready to install. The aircraft had a single-seat open cockpit without a windshield and skid-type landing gear. A cockpit enclosure was optional. The standard engine used was a twin cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 65 hp (48 kW) Hirth 2706 powerplant.[1]
The aircraft fuselage was made from steel and aluminum tubing and supplied in three major bolt-together sub-assemblies. It had an empty weight of 437 lb (198 kg) and a gross weight of 850 lb (386 kg), giving a useful load of 413 lb (187 kg). With full fuel of 14 U.S. gallons (53 L; 12 imp gal) the payload for the pilot and baggage was 329 lb (149 kg).[1]
The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the planned assembly kit as 80 hours.[1]
The company said "the Warrior was used [as] a proof of concept platform to develop new models" and was followed by the two place Pawnee Chief.[2]
Operational history
By 1998 the company reported that one aircraft had been completed and was flying.[1]
By April 2015 no examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration and it is likely that no examples exist any more.[3]
Specifications (Warrior)
Data from Purdy[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Length: 15 ft 0 in (4.57 m)
- Empty weight: 437 lb (198 kg)
- Gross weight: 850 lb (386 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 14 U.S. gallons (53 L; 12 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Hirth 2706 twin cylinder, air-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 65 hp (48 kW)
- Main rotor diameter: 21 ft 0 in (6.40 m)
- Main rotor area: 346 sq ft (32.1 m2)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 100 mph (161 km/h; 87 kn)
- Cruise speed: 80 mph (70 kn; 129 km/h)
- Range: 180 mi (156 nmi; 290 km)
- Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,048 m)
- Disk loading: 2.5 lb/sq ft (12 kg/m2)
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 327. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
- ↑ Pawnee Aviation. "What happened to the "Warrior" helicopter?". Archived from the original on 13 October 2002. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (1 April 2015). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 1 April 2015.
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