Pescara Model 3 Helicopter

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


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

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, an 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
1931 4S
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

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. ↑ James R. Chiles. The God Machine: From Boomerangs to Black Hawks: The Story of the Helicopter. p. 70.
  2. ↑ "Patent US1527701A". Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  3. ↑ J. Gordon Leishman. Principles of Helicopter Aerodynamics. p. 17.
  4. ↑ Wayne Johnson. Helicopter Theory. p. 14.
  5. ↑ Florian Ion Petrescu, Relly Victoria Petrescu. The Aviation History. p. 73.
  6. ↑ Stanley S. McGowen. Helicopters: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. p. 6.
  7. ↑ Air Progress: 56. December 1971. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ↑ "New Helicopter Rises in Vertical Flight". Popular Science: 70. March 1931.

External links

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