Hiller XH-44
| XH-44 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Hiller XH-44 replica at theHiller Aviation Museum | |
| Role | Experimentalhelicopter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Hiller Aircraft |
| Designer | Stanley Hiller |
| First flight | Unknown (tethered) July 4, 1944 (untethered) |
| Status | Retired |
| Number built | 1 |
TheHiller XH-44 Hiller-Copter(Experimental Hiller, 1944) is an American experimental helicopter designed byStanley Hiller.
Design and development
[edit]Stanley Hiller became interested in helicopters in the late 1930s, when he saw pictures of theFocke-Wulf Fw 61and theVought-Sikorsky VS-300.He bought every book on helicopter development that he could find, and in the early 1940s he began design work on the XH-44, at the age of 17.[1]
The XH-44 featured a pair ofcontra-rotatingrotors which, in its original form, was powered by a 65 hpFranklinengine (de-rated from its original 90 hp).[2]The engine was later swapped for a 125 hpLycomingengine. It was the first successfulcoaxial rotorhelicopter to be built in the United States, as well as the first helicopter to use all-metal rotor blades.[2]
Operational history
[edit]The XH-44 tipped over on its first tethered test flight with Hiller at the controls, resulting in minor damage. On July 4, 1944, the XH-44 made its first untethered flight at theUniversity of California'sfootball stadium atBerkeley.[2]The helicopter made an appearance during a public demonstration atSan Franciscoon August 30, 1944.[2][3]
The success of the XH-44 caught the attention ofHenry J. Kaiser,who funded further development of Hiller's rotor system.[2]
Hiller donated the XH-44 to theSmithsonianNational Air and Space Museumin 1953.[4]The helicopter was restored in 1974, and in 1997 it was lent back to Hiller and displayed at theHiller Aviation Museum.[4]The original XH-44 is no longer displayed at the Hiller Aviation Museum, although a replica is currently on display at the museum.[5]
Specifications (XH-44)
[edit]Data from[2]
General characteristics
- Crew:1
- Length:13 ft 4 in (4.06 m)
- Empty weight:1,244 lb (564 kg)
- Powerplant:1 ×Franklinpiston engine,65 hp (48 kW) (original)
- Powerplant:1 ×Lycomingpiston engine, 125 hp (93 kW) (after modification)
- Main rotor diameter:2 × 25 ft (7.6 m)
See also
[edit]Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
[edit]- ^"Hiller XH-44 Hiller Copter".aviation-history.Retrieved2020-06-28.
- ^abcdefMcGowen, Stanley S. (2005).Helicopters: An Illustrated History of Their Impact.ABC-CLIO.ISBN978-1-85109-468-4.
- ^"Berkeley, a Look Back: Hiller flies helicopter prototype in S.F."East Bay Times.2019-08-29.Retrieved2020-08-23.
- ^abSkaarup, Harold A. (2003-04-07).Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. Warbird Survivors 2003: A Handbook on Where to Find Them.iUniverse.ISBN978-1-4620-4749-9.
- ^"Hiller XH-44".Hiller Aviation Museum.Archived fromthe originalon 2022-11-26.Retrieved2020-06-28.