Helicom H-1 Commuter Jr
| H-1 Commuter Jr | |
|---|---|
| Role | Helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Helicom |
| Designer | Harold Emigh |
| Introduction | 1953 |
| Variants | Canadian Home Rotors Safari |
The Helicom H-1 Commuter Jr is a single or two place homebuilt helicopter.[1]
Design and development
[edit]The Commuter Jr uses a welded steel tube fuselage with a small forward fairing over the nose with a windscreen. It can seat two people in side-by-side configuration.[2]
The rights to the Commuter I and II were sold to International Helicopters in 1970. Rights were sold again in 1980 with the company dissolving in 1981. The rights were purchased again in 1986 by Home Rotors Inc.[3]
Variants
[edit]- Helicom H-1 Commuter Jr
- Helicom Commuter I
- Helicom Commuter II
- Designed in 1962, Used a 150 hp (112 kW) engine.
- Helicom Duster
- 100 hp Continental-powered version with 23-foot rotors, rigged for cropdusting.[4]
- International Helicopters H-1 Commuter IA
- Fiberglass cabin
- International Helicopters H-1 Commuter IIB
- Fiberglass cabin
- Canadian Home Rotors Safari
- Heavily modified version by Canadian Home Rotors.
Survivors
[edit]One example (c/n 101, N17RS) named "Schmidt Commuter Helicom" is on display at the Planes of Fame Museum, Valle-Williams, AZ[5]
Helicom Commuter H-1B , Restored by Timothy F. Heilig in 2012 N814S was flown at EAA Sun-N-Fun in 2012 along side of the New safari model 400 helicopter.
Specifications (H-1 Commuter Jr)
[edit]Data from Air Trails
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 18 ft 4 in (5.59 m)
- Height: 8 ft (2.4 m)
- Empty weight: 650 lb (295 kg)
- Gross weight: 950 lb (431 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 12 gal
- Powerplant: 1 × Franklin Sport 4B-1 Horizontally opposed piston, 85 hp (63 kW)
- Main rotor diameter: 21 ft 0 in (6.40 m)
- Main rotor area: 345 sq ft (32.1 m2)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 87 kn (100 mph, 160 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 78 kn (90 mph, 140 km/h)
- Range: 152 nmi (175 mi, 282 km)
- Service ceiling: 6,000 ft (1,800 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,600 ft/min (8.1 m/s)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Air Trails: 80. Winter 1971.
{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Sport Aviation: 23. June 1972.
{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Web Footed Whirlybirds". Sport Aviation. March 2004.
- ^ Air Progress Sport Aircraft: 78. Winter 1969.
{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "G. Verver".