avia.wikisort.org - Helicopter

The Pescara Model 3 was the first of several coaxial helicopter designs by Raúl Pateras Pescara to demonstrate sustained controlled helicopter flight.

Model 3
Model 2 and Model 3
Role	Helicopter Type of aircraft
National origin	France
Designer	Raúl Pateras Pescara
Introduction	1923
Number built	1

Development

Argentinian engineer Pescara started helicopter development in 1916. Alberto Santos-Dumont helped fund experimentation on designs in France. Multiple examples were built, demonstrated, crashed, improved and rebuilt owing to conflicting and different names for the various versions.[1] Anticipating success with the counter-rotating mechanism, Pescara patented a design with a streamlined fuselage with one set of rotors above, and one below the fuselage.[2]

The model three was the first example to use control mechanisms as modern helicopters. The helicopter is based around a central shaft with counter-rotating rotors. Each rotor was doubled into a biplane arrangement with cable supports.[3] It used a cyclic stick for forward and lateral control with rotor warping, and wheel for yaw anti-torque control.[4] The main rotor shaft was able to tilt slightly for forward control.[5] The rotors were also capable of autorotation in case of engine failure.[6]

Operational history

In September 1923, a 1 km flight attempt was nearly completed, before the vehicle crashed. On 24 May 1924 Étienne Oehmichen set a world helicopter record flight of 358m. On 18 April 1924 the model 2F bested the record and flew 736m at 8 mph to set a record in sustained vertical flight.[7]

Variants

Pescara Model 1

1919 - 45 hp (34 kW) Hispano automobile engine, later 170 hp (130 kW) Le Rhône Type 9R rotary

Pescara Model 2

45 hp (34 kW) Hispano automobile engine, Six pairs of Biplane blades

Pescara Model 2F

Rear mounted radiator replaced with tail surface.

Pescara Model 3

Four pair of conter-rotating biplane blades - 180 hp (130 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8

Pescara Model 4S

1931-Final British commissioned model featuring a radial engine with a small cooling propeller, and football shaped landing outriggers.[8]

Specifications (Model 3)

Data from Air Progress

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 8 V-8 piston engine, 130 kW (180 hp)
• Main rotor diameter: 16 × 7.2 m (23 ft 7 in)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 13 km/h (8.0 mph, 7.0 kn)
• Range: 0.736 km (0.457 mi, 0.397 nmi) Demonstrated range

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Oehmichen Helicopter
• Berliner Helicopter
• de Bothezat helicopter

References

External links

• 1922 Model 2 Youtube video
• Image of a Pescara helicopter at the 1924 Paris Airshow

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