Brantly B-2

Brantly B-2
Brantly B2B on display at the Helicopter Museum (Weston).
Role	Light Helicopter
Manufacturer	Brantly Helicopter Corporation
Designer	Newby O. Brantly
First flight	21 February 1953
Introduction	1958
Status	In production (2011)
Number built	334
Unit cost	$19,950 in 1962, $170,000 in 2003

The Brantly B-2 is an American two-seat light helicopter produced by the Brantly Helicopter Corporation.

After the failure of his first design, the Brantly B-1, Newby O. Brantly decided to design a simpler and less complicated helicopter for the private buyer. The B-2 had a single main rotor and an anti-torque tail rotor and first flew on 21 February 1953. This was followed by an improved second prototype that first flew on 14 August 1956.

The B-2A was introduced with a modified cabin, and the B-2B had a larger 180 hp fuel-injected engine. The B-2B has a three-bladed articulated main rotor and an all-metal fuselage, it can be operated with skid, wheel or float landing gear. The piston engine is fitted vertically in the fuselage behind the cabin.

The basic design has remained in production for over 50 years. The United States Army evaluated the B-2 (designated the YHO-3) in 1958, although it was not ordered. Introduced in the early 1970s, an improved larger version with five seats was designated the Brantly 305.

The B-2 has had 21 fatal accidents between February 1964 and August 2009.

A B2B belonging to the Flying Gyrocopter and Old Aircraft museum at Midden-Zeeland, Netherlands was reportedly about to fly again November 2009.

A Greek road-assistance company,named EXPRESS SERVICE based in Thessaloniki,operated a B2B Brantly-Hynes helicopter for several years.That helicopter started flying in 1978 and had the Greek registration number SX-AHH.First captain was the pilot Kaltekis Spyridon.

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1976–77

General characteristics

Performance