Hiller ROE Rotorcycle: Difference between revisions
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==Development== |
==Development== |
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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.<ref name=Smith>[http://collections.nasm.si.edu/code/emuseum.asp?profile=objects&newstyle=single&quicksearch=A19610202000 NASM: ''Hiller YROE-1 Rotorcycle'']</ref> The YROE or ROE never saw military service.<ref name=Geo/> |
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.<ref name=Smith>[http://collections.nasm.si.edu/code/emuseum.asp?profile=objects&newstyle=single&quicksearch=A19610202000 NASM: ''Hiller YROE-1 Rotorcycle'']</ref> The YROE or ROE never saw military service.<ref name=Geo/> |
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It was demonstrated at the [[Pentagon]] in [[Arlington, Virginia]] for military and other government officials in early April 1958. <ref>"Rotorcycle on View Here", ''The Washington Post and Times Herald'', Washington, D.C., Tuesday 1 April 1958, Volume 81, Number 117, page A8. |
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==Variants== |
==Variants== |
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Revision as of 17:48, 31 July 2010
| Hiller YROE & XROE | |
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| The Hiller rotorcycle YROE-1, made by Hiller Helicopter in nearby Palo Alto, California, hovers in front of the Ames Hangar on 6 November 1963 | |
| Role | ultralight helicopter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Hiller Aircraft |
| First flight | November 1956 |
| Introduction | 1957 |
| Retired | 1961 |
| Primary user | United States Marine Corps |
| Number built | 12 |
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. Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).
- The first flight in November 1956[5]
- 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[5] - ROE-1
- 5 production built by Saunders-Roe (built ten production models, including the five YROE-1s)[5]
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,
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 kph)
- Max. speed: 70 mph (sea level)[2]
- Range: 40 miles (64 km) nominal
- Range at sea level (with 170 lbs. pilot and 86 lbs. of fuel) 166 miles[2]
- Load: 270 lb (122 kg)[3]
- Rate of climb: 1160 ft/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[6]
- YROE-1, N777MV, ser. no. 4020, Minicopter Inc., Saginaw, Texas[7]
- YROE-1, third one in production on display at Evergreen Aviation Museum [8]
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
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Geowas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ 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
Bibliography
- Apostolo, Giorgio. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters. New York: Bonanza Books. 1984. ISBN 9780517439357.
External links
- Hiller Aviation Museum: The First 100 Years of Aviation
- HELICÓPTEROS: THE SITE
- NASA: FLIGHT TESTS OF A ONE-MAN HELICOPTER AND A COMPARISON OF ITS HANDLING QUALITIES WITH THOSE OF LARGER VTOL AIRCRAFT
- Photo: XROE-1 at Hiller Aviation Museum
- Photo: YROE-1 (s/n 4021 at Hiller Aviation Museum
- All the World's Rotorcraft