Chapter 1

Historical Perspective

Helicopter:
Take-off, fly forward/backward/sideways,
climb/descend
Key technical problems
1. Aerodynamics of vertical flight

2. Suitable engine

3. Control weight

4. Rotor-torque reaction

5. Stability and control

6. Vibration

7. Recovery from engine failure

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective


Time
line before 1950
Toys 400BC Chinese tops
Birth of 200BC Archemedes
Scientific
principles
First ideas 1400AD Da Vinci’s “aerial
of man- screw” (1483)
carrying
vertical
flight
First flying 1700AD Lomonosov Launoy & Bienvenue
small-scale (1754) (1784)
models Paucton (1768) Cayley (1792)
1800AD Cayley (1843) d’Amécort (1863)
Phillips (1842) Edison (1880)
Invention of 1900AD Breguet-Richet Denny Bros. (1907)
internal (1907-08) H. & E. Berliner
combustion Cornu (1907) (1909)
engine
Chapter 1: Historical Perspective

Timeline continued:
First attempts at 1910 Sikorsky coaxial (1910) Ellehammer (1914)
man-carrying Yuriev (1912) H.&E. Berliner (1919-
machines 1925)
Successful 1920 Oemichen (1920-1924) von Baumhauer (1924-
autogiros de Bothezat quadrotor 1930)
(1922) Brennan (1920-1925)
First hops and Cierva’s C-4 Autogiro Cierva C-8 autogiro
semi-controlled (1923) (1928)
flight Pescara (1920-24) Florine (1929-1930)
Hafner R-1/2 (1928-1930)
First significant 1930 Curtiss-Bleeker (1930) Weir autogiros (1932-
successes— d’Ascanio coaxial (1930) 1935)
fully controlled Pitcairn PCA-2 autogiro Breguet-Dorand(1935-
flight (1930) 1936)
TsAGI 1-EA/5-EA (1930- Focke-Achgelis Fa-61
1934) (1937)
Cierva C-19 autogiro (1932) Weir W-5 helicopter
Hafner AR-3 autogiro (1938)
(1935) Sikorsky VS-300 (1939)
Kellett KD-1 autogiro
(1939)
Chapter 1: Historical Perspective

Timeline continued:
Maturing 1940 Flettner synchropter Bell 30 (1943)
technology FL282 (1940) Hiller XH-44 coaxial
Sikorsky R-4 (1942) (1943)
Piasecki PV-2 (1943) Sikorsky R-5 (1943-
1946)
Development 1945 Sikorsky R-4B (1944) Hiller 360 (1948)
of gas-turbine Bell 47 (1945) Piasecki HUP-1
engines Piasecki tandem XHRP-1 (1948)
(1946) Kaman K-190 (1949)
First Westland S-51 (1946) Sikorsky S-55 (1949)
production Kaman K-125 (1947) Sud-Aviation SE3120
machines (1949)
Bristol 171 (1947)
Mi-1 (1949)

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective


Da Vinci (1483): man powered concept

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective


Cierva’s C-19 autogiro (1931)

 rotor runs freely

 lift is equalized with flapping

 can not hover, but needs minimal forward speed to

maintain flight
Chapter 1: Historical Perspective
Chapter 1: Historical Perspective

Sikorsky R-4B (1944)

 single rotor; tail rotor for anti-torque

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective

Bell-47

 first commercially certified

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective


Boeing CH-47

 twin rotors (tandem at opposite ends of the fuselage)

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective


Synchropter: kaman k-Max

2 masts interchanging— egg-beater

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective


Sikorsky-Boeing RAH-66 Comanche (cancelled)

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective


McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing) AH-64 Apache

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective


kamov ka-50

 co-axial rotors

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective


Lockheed AH-56 (Compound helicopter)

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective


Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey

 tilt rotor

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective


VTOL configuration classifications

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective


VTOL configuration classifications (continued)

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective

Helicopters
Listed in Jane’s “All the World’s Aircraft”
(1993-1994)
 19 countries
 39 organizations

 120 models

Number of Number of
Configuration Organizatio Models
Types ns Listed
Side-by-Side 1 1
Tandem 1 1
Synchropter 1 1
Coaxial 1 10
Single main rotor 35 107
Chapter 1: Historical Perspective

“…After the war is
over…the helicopter may
well become the average
man’s flying machine to
be used—not right away
but inevitably—much as
the average man uses
his automobile. That is a
very big statement. But it
is hard to escape.”
 Excerpt
from LIFE
Magazine, June 21, 1943.

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective

The Civil Market  Few suitable engines
Disappointments  Too hard to fly

The helicopter has  Safety concerns

failed, so far, to live up
Fatigue failures

to the early vision in two
Autorotation entry on

areas engine failure

 Too noisy—inside and out
 Personal transportation
 City and town ordinances
 Intercity airline operation
 Too easy to get lost

Why aren’t Personal
 Air-to-Air collision
Helicopters in concerns
Widespread Use?
 Too expensive to buy and
maintain
 Reliability inadequate

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective


Why Aren’t There More Helicopter Airlines?
 Inadequate

Economic viability

Infrastructure (Vertiports, ATC)

Passenger acceptance

Community acceptance

Community Acceptance Problems
 Excessive noise
 Perceived safety problem

 “Not in my back yard”

 The Big Problem: NOISE!

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective

 Noise Certification Requirements—Approach.

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective


How Can We Get There From Here?
 Technology is mostly in place

 Demonstration program needed for a quiet, high-

efficiency helicopter
 Cooperative Industry/NASA/FAA program(?)

 International cooperation opportunity(?)

 Successful demonstration will help open doors to

new markets.

Chapter 1: Historical Perspective