Agusta A.104
(Redirected from Agusta A104 Helicar)
| A.104 Helicar | |
|---|---|
 A.104 prototype exhibited at the 1963 Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Airport | |
| General information | |
| Type | Light helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Agusta |
| Status | none active, one preserved |
| Primary user | the manufacturer |
| Number built | 3 |
| History | |
| First flight | December 1960 |
The Agusta A.104 Helicar was an Italian prototype light commercial helicopter first flown in December 1960.
Production
[edit]The A.104 was a slightly enlarged version of the A.103, and added a second seat beside the pilot's seat. The cockpit was enclosed by a perspex bubble with the engine at the rear and the tail rotor carried on an enclosed boom.
Two piston-engined prototypes were built, followed by a single example of a turbine-engined variant designated A.104BT. No production resulted.
Surviving aircraft
[edit]An example of the A.104 is preserved in the Museo Agusta which is maintained by the Agusta company and is located just south of Milan Malpensa Airport.[1]
Variants
[edit]- A.104 Helicar
- Two prototype aircraft powered by de-rated Agusta GA.140 piston engines.
- A.104BT Helicar
- A single example of a turbo-shaft powered Helicar, powered by a 270 hp (201 kW) Agusta A.270.
Specifications
[edit]Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62 [2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 1 passenger
- Length: 6.35 m (20 ft 10 in)
- Height: 2.35 m (7 ft 9 in)
- Empty weight: 380 kg (838 lb)
- Gross weight: 640 kg (1,411 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Agusta GA.140 air-cooled flat-four engine, 100 kW (140 hp) (derated to 89 kilowatts (120 hp))
- Main rotor diameter: 7.95 m (26 ft 1 in)
- Main rotor area: 49.6 m2 (534 sq ft)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 165 km/h (103 mph, 89 kn) at sea level
- Cruise speed: 135 km/h (84 mph, 73 kn)
- Range: 330 km (210 mi, 180 nmi)
- Endurance: 2 hr 30 min
- Service ceiling: 3,000 m (9,800 ft) (hover ceiling in ground effect)
- Rate of climb: 4.1 m/s (810 ft/min)
See also
[edit]Related lists
References
[edit]- ^ Ogden 2006, p. 306
- ^ Taylor 1961, p. 97
- Ogden, Bob (2006). Aviation Museums and Collections of Mainland Europe. Tonbridge, Kent, England: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-375-7.
- Simpson, R. W. (1998). Airlife's Helicopters and Rotorcraft. Ramsbury: Airlife Publishing. pp. 32, 36.
- Taylor, John W. R. (1961). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 40.
External links
[edit]
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