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The XV-1 aircraft is a compound aircraft, having a 3-bladed main rotor for vertical flight and limited speed forward flight, wings with a “pusher”propeller for conventional fixed wing forward flight. Each of the 3 blades of the rotor is powered by a McDonnell pressure-jet at the blade tip. A 550 hp Continental R-975-19 radial piston engine drives two compressors to supply air to the jet units and drives the 6’5” Met-L-prop located on the rear of the 2-blade propeller. There is a small anti-torque rotor aft of each of the two rudders. The horizontal stabilizer and elevator reaches between the twin tail booms opposite the two vertical stabilizers. The cabin is designed to carry a pilot plus 2 stretcher patients and 1 attendant or pilot, co-pilot sitting in tandem and two passengers. -
Beginning in 1948 the McCulloch Aircraft Corporation produced the MC-4 helicopter, and only a small number were ever built. It was intended for sale to the Navy as the HUM-1, and to the US Army as the YH-30. Due to its limited cargo capacity and short range neither service purchased them for use and the few that were built were sold on the civilian market. This example is the only remaining survivor of the three that the Army evaluated. -
This aircraft was produced by Bell Helicopter and entered into the competition along with the Hughes AH-64 Apache, which ultimately won the contract. -
XH-26 American Helicopter Company 300 Lbs. Observation No Engine or Transmission, only tip jets. A small all metal helicopter with tricycle landing gear, a single 2-bladed metal main rotor, a 1-bladed wooden counter-weighted tail rotor with two pulse jets attached to the ends of the two main rotor blades. The tail rotor is attached to the left side of the slim tubular tail boom at the extreme points rounded with the main rotor mast protruding from the apex. The two pulse jets, developed by American, are rated at 48 hp each (36 lbs. thrust) and will run on gasoline, diesel, or kerosene. -
Beginning in 1948 the McCulloch Aircraft Corporation produced the MC-4 helicopter, and only a small number were ever built. It was intended for sale to the Navy as the HUM-1, and to the US Army as the YH-30. Due to its limited cargo capacity and short range neither service purchased them for use and the few that were built were sold on the civilian market. This example is the only remaining survivor of the three that the Army evaluated.
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Boeing Helicopter entered the YUH-61 in competition against the Sikorsky Blackhawk as the replacement for the UH-1 in the 70’s. The Black Hawk would go on to win and this aircraft is the remaining survivor of the program. -
The AH-56 project was designed to build a close air support helicopter to provide heavy fire in support of troops on the ground. It had a ridged rotor design and was capable of very high speeds in addition, it could carry a heavy load of ordinance for sustained fire power. The Army aviation Museum has two of the few remaining examples.
Sikorsky S-59
Better known as the “ABC”, Advancing Blade Concept incorporated a coaxial rotor system allowing for greater speed. This aircraft was designed and built in the late 1970’s and flew in the early 1980’s and reached speeds above 260 knots. It had two thrusting P&W J60-P-3A’s and a single P&W PT6T-3 turbo shafted engine. The counter-rotating rotors cancel out the desemitry of lift or the stalled are on each others blade affording great speed. The concept is alive and well in Sikorsky’s new “Raider” design.
A Model Huey
The first operational production Hueys, the A models, would go on to change the way the U. S. Military fights on the battlefield. First designed as a Medical Evac. Helicopter, it quickly became apparent that it could be used for almost any mission.
Firestone XR-9B
Also known as the Model 45, a 1940s American experimental helicopter built by the Firestone Aircraft Company for the United States Army Air Forces. Only two (the military XR-9B and one civilian Model 45 example) were built. The XR-9B is a tandem two-seat helicopter powered by an Avco Lycoming O-290-7 engine and two-bladed rotor. It was later re-designated as the XH-9B. The aircraft in the museum collection is the only remaining example.