Cessna CH-1
| Cessna CH-1 | |
|---|---|
 CH-1 Skyhook , prototype |
|
| Type: | helicopter |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
1953 |
| Commissioning: |
1956 |
Cessna CH-1 is the name of the only helicopter series from the Cessna Aircraft Company . The specialty was the frontal arrangement of the engine.
history
Cessna acquired the patents and property rights from the Seibel Helicopter Company and Charlie Seibel himself became the head of the helicopter division at Cessna.
The CH-1 had a two-bladed main rotor and a tail rotor. The piston engine was installed in the front of the helicopter in front of the pilot's seat in order to give the helicopter a mean center of gravity. The half-shell airframe is similar to the Cessna light aircraft construction. The designers of the CH-1 were Richard Ten Eyck and Charlie Seibel. The first flight took place in 1953, the market launch began in 1956.
The CH-1 prototype was equipped with a supercharged Continental FSO-470 six-cylinder engine with 260 hp (190 kW) at 3200 revolutions per minute. The transmission, booster, and engine cooling fan were belt driven.
The CH-1 was sold under the name Skyhook for the civilian market, based on the marketing names of the single-engine aircraft series, such as Skyhawk , Skylane and Skywagon . The United States Army designated the models YH-41 and UH-41 "Seneca".
The CH-1A was the first helicopter to land on Pikes Peak at an altitude of 14,110 feet (4,300 m) on September 15, 1955.
The Cessna CH-1 series achieved several records and a world record, but never economic success for Cessna, after which helicopter construction was given up in December 1962.
Variants of the CH-1
- CH 1-1: Test stand machine without cladding (only lattice frame), for the first hovering and flight tests
- CH-1, this prototype was a two-seater version and was powered by a Continental FSO-470 engine
- CH-1A, four-seat version of the CH-1
- CH-1B was introduced in 1955, the version to secure the Army Treaty. The 1B had a Continental FSO-526 engine developing 270 hp (200 kW) at 3000 rpm. The special feature was an automatic pitch adjustment in the event of an engine failure.
- CH-1BS, US Army designation YH-41A
- CH-1C, designation for the military version UH-41A Seneca. 15 units of the UH-41A were acquired by the US government for their "Military Assistance Program" (MAP).
- CH-1D was a CH-1C with a modified version with a Continental "Whirlaway" engine
Special version with gas turbine
- The CH-4 was a CH-1C version specially built for the US Army's Light Observation Helicopter program. The Allison 250 gas turbine was first installed behind the pilot's seat in this model.
Military users
- Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana - four UH-41A
- Armed Forces of Iran - five UH-41A
- United States Army - 15 YH-41A
literature
- Paul Marcel Lambermont: Helicopters and autogyros of the world. Cassell, London 1958, OCLC 1247556.
