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Hiller HJ-1 Hornet helicopter

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Specifications Comment this helicopter
Picture HJ-1_Hornet
General
Manufacturer Hiller
Type HJ-1 Hornet
Introduced 1/1/1951
In production? No
Units produced 17
Price US $ 5,000.00
Dimensions
Overall Length 0 ft
Length 0 ft
Height 7 ft
Width 0 ft
   
   
Description

The YH-32 Hornet (aka HJ-1) was an ultralight helicopter built by the American Hiller Aircraft company.

The Hornet is one of the earliest attempts at building a jet-powered helicopter. It took flight for the first time in 1950, four years later it was put into production.

The Hornet had two seats and an incredibly simple construction. The craft consists of reinforced steel tubing overlaid with a fiberglass and plastic laminate skins.

Power came from two Hiller 8RJ2B ramjets. These are installed on the rotor tips and directly drove the rotors. There was also a gasoline engine that served as a starter that would get the rotors to the required 50 RPM before the jets could be ignited.

This design allowed for a helicopter that was incredibly light. Yet had 90 horsepower (67 kW) on tap. It also obviates the need for a tail rotor.

The Hornet punched well above its size and weight, fueling hopes of military use, possible as a small gunship that today would be the equivalent of the MH-6 Little Bird. Unfortunately, the Hornet was true to its name in the sense that it was extremely noisy. It also suffered from a range that was too limited by the high fuel consumption of ramjet technology. Furthermore, the ramjet flames destroyed any hopes of low nighttime visibility. Ultimately only 18 were built and the project came to an end.

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Design features
  • Ramjets powered rotors eliminating transmission system and tailrotor
  • Steel tube framework
  • Fiberglass skin and plastic laminate
  • Two Hiller 8RJ2B ramjets
  • Auxiliary gasoline engine to turn the rotors prior to ignition of the ramjets
  • Only two controls: Cyclic and collective-cum-rudder
Description

The YH-32 Hornet (aka HJ-1) was an ultralight helicopter built by the American Hiller Aircraft company.

The Hornet is one of the earliest attempts at building a jet-powered helicopter. It took flight for the first time in 1950, four years later it was put into production.

The Hornet had two seats and an incredibly simple construction. The craft consists of reinforced steel tubing overlaid with a fiberglass and plastic laminate skins.

Power came from two Hiller 8RJ2B ramjets. These are installed on the rotor tips and directly drove the rotors. There was also a gasoline engine that served as a starter that would get the rotors to the required 50 RPM before the jets could be ignited.

This design allowed for a helicopter that was incredibly light. Yet had 90 horsepower (67 kW) on tap. It also obviates the need for a tail rotor.

The Hornet punched well above its size and weight, fueling hopes of military use, possible as a small gunship that today would be the equivalent of the MH-6 Little Bird. Unfortunately, the Hornet was true to its name in the sense that it was extremely noisy. It also suffered from a range that was too limited by the high fuel consumption of ramjet technology. Furthermore, the ramjet flames destroyed any hopes of low nighttime visibility. Ultimately only 18 were built and the project came to an end.

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Design features:
  • Ramjets powered rotors eliminating transmission system and tailrotor
  • Steel tube framework
  • Fiberglass skin and plastic laminate
  • Two Hiller 8RJ2B ramjets
  • Auxiliary gasoline engine to turn the rotors prior to ignition of the ramjets
  • Only two controls: Cyclic and collective-cum-rudder
Performance
Persons 2
Max. Range 31 mi
Cruise Speed 0 mph
Max. Speed 80 mph
Max. rate of Climb 0 ft/min
HOGE ceiling 0 ft
Service Ceiling 6890 ft
Gross Weight 1078 lb
Empty Weigt 542 lb
Useful Load 536 lb
Dynamic system
Fuel Capacity 0 gallons
Number of Engines 2
Engine Type Ramjet
Engine Code Hiller 8RJ2B
Horse Power
Rotorhead Teetering
Number of rotorblades 2
Rotor Diameter 23 ft
Number of tail rotorblades 0
Tailrotor Diameter 0 ft
Blueprints & model
Manufacturer Website manufacturer..
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