McDonnell XHJH Whirlaway
| XHJH Whirlaway | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Experimental twin-rotor helicopter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | McDonnell Aircraft Corporation |
| First flight | 27 April 1946 |
| Number built | 1 |
The McDonnell XHJH Whirlaway, aka McDonnell Model 37, was a 1940s American
transverse-rotor helicopter designed and built by McDonnell Aircraft Corporation for the United States Navy and was the largest helicopter at the time, as well as the first successful twin-engined twin-rotor helicopter in the world.[1][2][3][4]
Design and development
In 1944, the United States Navy issued a requirement for a large rescue helicopter with capacity for ten occupants. The design was originally designated XHJD-1; shortly after flying it was re-designated the XHJH-1. It was derived from the single-engined, twin rotor
Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-14B Wasp Junior engine.[2]
Variants
- XHJD-1
- Original United States Navy designation.[1]
- XHJH-1
- Designation changed before first flight.[1]
Aircraft on display
The sole XHJH-1 is held by the National Air and Space Museum.[5]
Specifications
Data from Aerofiles :McDonnell,[2] Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1949-50,[6] McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920 Vol.2[4]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 1-9 pax
- Length: 32 ft 2 in (9.80 m)
- Wingspan: 41 ft (12 m) between rotor centres
- Width: 87 ft (27 m) overall with rotors turning
- Gross weight: 11,000 lb (4,990 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-14B Wasp Junior9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 450 hp (340 kW) each
- Main rotor diameter: 2 × 46–50 ft (14–15 m)
- Main rotor area: 3,324 sq ft (308.8 m2) rotors of varying diameter fitted for testing
Performance
- Maximum speed: 120 mph (190 km/h, 100 kn) at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
- Cruise speed: 90 mph (140 km/h, 78 kn)
- Range: 300 mi (480 km, 260 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 12,900 ft (3,900 m) absolute
- Rate of climb: 1,300 ft/min (6.6 m/s)
- Disk loading: 2.8–3.3 lb/sq ft (14–16 kg/m2) dependent on rotors fitted
- Power/mass: 0.082 hp/lb (0.135 kW/kg)
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Bratukhin Omega
- Focke-Achgelis Fa 223
- Focke-Wulf Fw 61
Related lists
References
- ^ ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
- ^ a b c "American airplanes - McDonnell". www.aerofiles.com. 25 March 2008. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
- ^ "The War Years: 1939-1945". Boeing. Archived from the original on 2007-07-07. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
- ^ ISBN 978-0851778280.
- ^ "McDonnell XHJD-1 Whirlaway". National Air and Space Museum. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- ^ Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1949). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1949-50. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. p. 248c.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to McDonnell XHJH Whirlaway.
- McDonnell XHJD-1 Whirlaway in NASM Collection Archived 2010-04-08 at the Wayback Machine