De Lackner HZ-1 Aerocycle
The de Lackner HZ- 1 Aero Cycle was a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft capable of the U.S. manufacturer de Lackner Helicopters Inc. of the Cold War. In the future, even atomic battlefield should the HZ -1 are the personal aircraft for each soldier. According to the training planning a soldier should be able to learn to operate the device within 20 minutes. Because of the two exposed in the immediate vicinity of the body rotors the unit of soldiers was also referred to as "meat grinder" ( meat grinder ) or Fubar construction sarcastically.
Designation
The equipment received from the manufacturer originally named " DH-4 Heli- Vector" and was being tested by the U.S. Army first referred (see designation system for aircraft in the U.S. Army from 1956 as YHO -2 and then as " HZ- 1 Aero Cycle" to 1962). Equipped with a tube landing gear instead of air bags further received the work designation DH- fifth
History
Development
Early 1950s developed Charles H. Zimmerman at the NACA a control system for aircraft with arranged at the bottom rotors. The control was effected by a simple shifting of weight to the desired direction of flight, also referred to as kinesthetic control. The speed control of the motor was provided similar motorcycle with a simple throttle. On the basis of this concept Bensen Aircraft, Hiller Aircraft and de Lackner began with their own developments.
De Lackner's proposal was a one-man flying platform that would carry up to 120 kg and should achieve a range of 50 km with a fuel capacity of five U.S. gallons. The idea was to create with this airborne platform in a modern version of the cavalry, which could provide the struggling army airborne "eyes and ears".
The United States Army expected to receive from the HZ -1 is an easy-to- flying reconnaissance aircraft. Although the early flight tests gave to is hope, however, showed more extensive testing that simple soldiers were overwhelmed with a quick flight technical training with the controller. Twelve ordered by the U.S. Army copies bearing the serial numbers 56-6928 to 56-6939.
Testing
The prototype led his, still shackled by first flight on 22 November 1954. The first free flight took place in January 1955. 160 flights were made with a total period of about 15 hours.
1956, the trial was moved to Fort Eustis in Virginia, where Captain Selmer Sundby continued the test flights. The HZ- 1 was found to be fastest charged by the U.S. Army style flying platforms. However, Sundby quickly realized that the vehicle was much more difficult to fly than originally thought and could not be flown safely in the hands of an inexperienced soldier. In addition, the deep rotors arranged tended to suck and hochzuschleudern off the floor.
During the testing series with bound and free hovers up to 43 minutes suffered the HZ- 1 two accidents. In both the cause was that the two coaxial rotors mutually touched and the leaves were destroyed. Aerodynamic studies in large wind tunnel at the Langley Research Center revealed that the aircraft in forward flight can not get into more controllable pitch movements. However, the real reason for the rotor touches could not be found, so that eventually the project was not finally abandoned because of the unfulfilled expectations of this type of aircraft.
Construction
The HZ -1 is a one-man micro helicopter where the pilot is on a pedestal under the two offsetting Koaxialrotoren are each 4.50 m in diameter, which are driven by a " Kiekhaefer Mercury Mark 55" two-stroke engine via a chain. The landing gear consisted initially of air-filled bags at the ends of the frame, and a larger pocket in the center, but was later replaced by a -tube construction. The rotor drive has an automatic compensation of the torque deviation between the rotors, and a clutch for enabling the auto-rotation.
Whereabouts
Of the twelve built copies may still one of the U.S. Army Transportation Museum in Fort Eustis be visited.