Saunders Helicogyre

Helicogyre
Role Experimental Helicopter
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer S.E. Saunders Limited
Designer Vittorio Isacco
Number built 1


The Saunders Helicogyre was a 1920s experimental helicopter designed by Vittorio Isaaco and built by S.E. Saunders Limited for the British Air Ministry.[1]

Design and development

Vittorio Isacco designed and built four different Helicogyre experimental helicopters between 1926 and 1935. In 1928 Air Ministry Specification 2/28 was issued to S.E Saunders for a prototype helicopter to the Helicogyre No. 3 design.[1]

The Helicogyre had a conventional 1920s tractor aircraft fuselage and main landing gear but had an extended tailskid to keep the fuselage horizontal.[1] At the front of the fuselage was a 100 hp (75 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Genet piston engine.[1] Behind the cockpit was a braced post on which was fitted a four-bladed rotor, each rotor blade was fitted with a 32 hp (24 kW) Bristol Cherub piston engine at the tip.[1]

The Helicogyre serial number K1171 was completed in 1929 and delivered to the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough by road.[1] It was tested in the Balloon Shed,[2] but ground tests were not completed and the programme was cancelled on 30 December 1931 without the Helicogyre having flown.[1]

Operators

 United Kingdom

See also


Related lists

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saunders-Roe.
Notes
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Meekcoms/Morgan 1994, p. 131
  2. ↑ "Saunders Roe Skeeter" Flight 1956 p355
Bibliography
  • Meekcoms, K J; Morgan, E B (1994). The British Aircraft Specification File. Tonbridge, Kent, England: Air-Britain. ISBN 0-85130-220-3.
  • London, Peter (1988). Saunders and Saro Aircraft since 1917. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-814-3.