Eagle Helicycle
| Helicycle | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Helicycle N727X at Homer Bell's 22nd Annual Helicopter Fly-in, July 14, 2006 | |
| Role | Homebuilt helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Eagle R&D |
| Designer | B.J. Schramm |
| First flight | September, 1997 |
| Number built | 85+ |
| Unit cost |
US$38,500
|
The Helicycle is a single-seat, single, semi-rigid main rotor helicopter powered by a turboshaft engine. Manufactured by Eagle R&D in Nampa, Idaho as a kit, the aircraft is intended to be assembled by the owner and is considered a homebuilt aircraft. The Helicycle was conceived and designed by B.J. Schramm, the founder of RotorWay International.
Schramm's concept for the Helicycle was to provide a kit for building a reliable, high-performance, real helicopter for a reasonable cost to individuals (on the order of a mid-priced SUV). Fabrication and assembly skills only require being able to accurately drill holes, bend sheet metal and tubing, install fasteners, run wiring, etc.; no welding or highly specialized aviation-specific tools are required. Kits are delivered in six increments, including the frame and skids, engine, transmission, main rotor subassembly, tail rotor subassembly, controls and linkages, cockpit exterior/interior, and fuel and electrical subsystems. Assembly instructions are provided in the form of video clips on video CDs (Video CDs) or DVDs, blueprints, and checklists.
The Helicycle helicopter is the first experimental helicopter kit in mass-production to be powered by a turbine engine, the military surplus Solar T62-T32, capable of producing 150 shaft horsepower. The engine is limited to 95 horsepower due to torque limits on the main gearbox and rotor system.
As of June 2010, five runs of about 30 kits each have been delivered to builders, for a total of 160 kits, of which more than 80 have been completed and are flying, with another kit being completed every other month, on average (delivery of a sixth run is scheduled to start in 2010). A unique feature of the kits is that a factory checkout must be completed by a factory-designated airframe and power plant (A&P) technician and test pilot before the builder is allowed to fly the aircraft. The factory withholds a few critical components needed for flight, such as the main rotor bearings, which the factory representative brings to the checkout. In order to ensure that prospective pilots have the necessary flight skills, builders must have at least a solo endorsement from a certified flight instructor (CFI) for flying a commercially-built Robinson R22 helicopter.
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Wikipedia