IPD BF-1 Beija-Flôr

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IPD BF-1 Beija-Flôr
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Type: Light helicopter
Design country:

Brazil

Manufacturer:

Centro Tecnico de Aeronautica

First flight:

Early 1959

Number of pieces:

4th

The IPD BF-1 Beija-Flor ( German  Kolibri ) was a light two-seat helicopter made by the Brazilian manufacturer Instituto de Pesquisas e Desenvolvimento (IPD). The IPD was one of the two departments of the Centro Tecnico de Aeronautica (CTA) founded by the Brazilian Ministry of Aviation . The machine was therefore also referred to as CTA Beija-Flôr in some sources. The design for the helicopter came from Henrich Focke .

history

The IPD was divided into three subdivisions, of which the Departamento de Aeronaves (PAR) was responsible for research and development in the field of aircraft construction. The Beija-Flor was designed and built by the IPD on the basis of plans by Henrich Focke, who was already known in the 1930s for building various helicopters (e.g. Fw 61 ).

The Beija-Flor was the first helicopter that was developed, built and also flown in Brazil. The first flight took place in early 1959 with Colonel Aldo Vieira da Rosa, the director of the IPD, as a pilot. A total of four prototypes were made.

construction

It was powered by a 225 hp Continental E 225 6-cylinder boxer engine. The engine was located in the fuselage bow and drove the three-bladed main rotor and the two tail rotors via a centrifugal clutch and a David-Brown truck worm gear. The intermeshing tail rotors were arranged in a V-shape. The blades of all rotors were a metal-wood composite construction.

The fuselage was built in an open tubular steel lattice construction. The production version, however, should have a metal and fabric panel. A V-tail unit was arranged in front of the tail rotors for improved controllability in forward flight.

Since the Brazilian aviation and accessories industry was still relatively undeveloped in the 1950s, the material used for the helicopter had to be of purely domestic origin. However, this led to a relatively high curb weight of the construction.

Technical specifications

Parameter Data
crew 1
Passengers 1
length 8.75 m
Rotor diameter 9.40 m (main rotor)
1.70 m (tail rotor)
Height (to the tip of the hub) 3.15 m
Main rotor area 69.40 m²
Empty mass 700 kg
Max. Takeoff mass 950 kg
Cruising speed 140 km / h
Top speed 150 km / h
Service ceiling 3500 m
Range 270 km
Engines 1 × Continental E 225 6-cylinder boxer engine
with a starting power of 165 kW (225 PS)

See also

literature

  • Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965-66 , Ed. by John WR, Taylor, p. 13
  • William Green: The Observer's World Aircraft Directory , 1961, p. 145
  • Karlheinz Kens: Aircraft types , 4th edition, 1963, p. 338

Web links