Atlas XH-1 Alpha

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Atlas XH-1 Alpha
Atlas XH-1 Alpha
Type: Attack helicopter
Design country:

South Africa 1961South Africa South Africa

Manufacturer:

Atlas Aircraft Corporation of South Africa

First flight:

3rd February 1985

Number of pieces:

1 prototype

The Atlas XH-1 Alpha is a helicopter from the South African manufacturer Atlas Aircraft Corporation of South Africa , which was built as a concept demonstrator for the later Rooivalk attack helicopter .

History and construction

The XH-1 Alpha was developed from an Aérospatiale Alouette III cell, with the drive and dynamic components retained. Instead of the original cockpit, a tiered tandem cockpit was installed and a 20 mm cannon under the bow. At the same time, the nose wheel was moved backwards so that the helicopter was now equipped with a tail wheel landing gear. The XH-1 first flew on February 3, 1985, and soon a tight flight test program began to investigate the need for attack helicopter production in southern Africa. The results were ultimately so good that Atlas of the South African Air Force started developing its own attack helicopter, the AH-2 Rooivalkwas commissioned. The prototype is on display at the South African Air Force Museum at Swartkop Airfield, Pretoria .

The XH-1 and Rooivalk are completely different models and have no common components.

Technical specifications

Prototype in the SAAF museum
Parameter Data
crew 2
length 10.56 m
height 2.73 m
Rotor diameter 11.02 m
Rotor area 95.4 m²
Empty mass 1400 kg
Max. Takeoff mass 2200 kg
Cruising speed 191 km / h
Top speed 210 km / h
Service ceiling 3200 m
Range 550 km
Engines 1 × Turbomeca Artouste III B , 410 kW (550 PS)
Armament 1 × Vector GA-1 Rattler 20 mm cannon
in a rotating turret under the bow

See also

Web links

Commons : Atlas XH-1 Alpha  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Air International June 1986, p.599.