With the advent of nuclear submarines, U.S. Navy efforts to base helicopters aboard destroyers as a weapon delivery system increased. Limitations of storage space gave impetus to a drone concept. Piasecki proposed such a concept – the “SeaBat” – specifically…
The PA-2C was designed to be a vertical take-off aircraft capable of sustained, high-speed level flight (operating from aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, and unprepared landing sites). Called the “RingWing”, it combined two ducted propellers that contained an integrated system of…
In 1945, the Navy issued requirements for a compact utility/rescue helicopter to operate from aircraft carriers, battleships, and cruisers. The industry wide paper competition was won by single-rotor Sikorsky (XHJS-1) and Piasecki overlapped tandem (XHJP-1). A side-by-side flight/mission evaluation by…
The HRP-2, an improved version of the HRP-1 “Rescuer”, with an aerodynamically streamlined all-metal fuselage, was developed for the assault mission of the U.S. Marine Corps. In the earlier tandems, the long distance from the cockpit to the landing gear…
The concept of a flying mock-up permitted a rapid demonstration of the unique configuration and a measurement of the XHRP-X flight and control characteristics. Early design improvements in the XHRP-1 prototype resulted. Mission Transport, Crane, Tow, ASW Crew 2 Passengers…
The H-21 used the same basic configuration as the HRP-2. The 41 foot rotor was increased to 44 feet, and a 1,425 horsepower engine installed, increasing the gross weight from 7,255 to 14,700 lbs. The H-21A was the winner of…
Weight and Performance Summary: (2) UCAL Turbines at 750 shp each Characteristics VTO (lb) STO (lb)*** Weights 10,440 10,700 Design Gross Weight 5,995 5,995 Empty Weight 4,445 4,745 Payload (plus 1 pilot) with 2,118 lb fuel and oil (full tanks)*…
In 1964, under Army contract, PiAC modified the Pathfinder (16H-1) to attain speeds over 200 mph. A G.E. T-58 shaft-turbine rated at 1,050 shp, a new drive system, a new propeller to absorb the increased power and a 44 foot…
A comprehensive market survey of the transportation needs both in the helicopter market and the short haul airplane market, revealed a large percentage of potential short haul operations that were limited by available airports and surface distances to their end…