The Matra-Cantinieau MC-101 was an early 1950s French experimental two seat helicopter of conventional tail rotor configuration but with its engine mounted close to the main rotor, above the seating.
The helicopters designed by Jean Cantinieau were distinguished by having an engine positioned in front and immediately below the main rotor drive shaft, above the cockpit. The first of the series was the Cantinieau C-100, which had an open tube frame structure with a braced single tube tail boom, four wheel undercarriage and a 60 kW (80 hp) Minié engine. It first flew in September 1951.[1]
Cantinieau went to the Société Matra to build a two-seat development, the MC-101. This was also an open steel tube design, more complex particularly in the tail boom, though the undercarriage was reduced to simple skids 1.8 m (71 in) apart.[2] It had a 78 kW (105 hp) Hirth HM-504 engine,[3] enclosed in a long, smooth nosed but partially open sided cowling, driving the oscillating rotor hub via a 41:6 reduction gearbox, clutch and Paulstra universal joint. The rotor blades were machined from duralumin. A three blade tail rotor was driven via another Paulstra joint and cardan shaft.[2]
The MC-101 carried two pilots side by side with dual control. There was no cabin but they were protected behind a large perspex screen with rounded vertical edges. It flew for the first time on 11 November 1952.[2] Only one was built.[3]
In 1953[4] Cantinieau was appointed as director of the Spanish company Aerotécnica's new helicopter division, which also acquired the rights to the MC-101 from Matra.[5] The Hirth engine was replaced with a more powerful 112 kW (150 hp) air-cooled flat fourLycoming O-320, in order to cope better with Madrid's hot and high atmosphere, and the helicopter was renamed the Aerotécnica AC-11.[4] Further development led to the Aerotécnica AC-12 with an enclosed fuselage and cabin.[5]
^ abcdBridgman, Leonard (1953). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1953-54. London: Sampson, Low, Marston and Co. Ltd. p. 142.
^ ab"MATRA-Cantinieau MC-101". Retrieved 31 August 2013.
^ abMcGowen, Stanley S. (2005). Weapons of War - Helicopters: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. ABC-CLIO. pp. 86–88. ISBN1-85109-468-7.
^ abBridgman, Leonard (1956). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1956-57. London: Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 209.
May 05, 2023
matra, cantinieau, early, 1950s, french, experimental, seat, helicopter, conventional, tail, rotor, configuration, with, engine, mounted, close, main, rotor, above, seating, 101role, experimental, helicopternational, origin, francemanufacturer, matradesigner, . The Matra Cantinieau MC 101 was an early 1950s French experimental two seat helicopter of conventional tail rotor configuration but with its engine mounted close to the main rotor above the seating MC 101Role Experimental helicopterNational origin FranceManufacturer MatraDesigner Jean CantinieauFirst flight 11 November 1952Number built 1Developed from Cantinieau C 100Variants Aerotecnica AC 12 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Variants 3 Specifications MC 101 4 ReferencesDesign and development EditThe helicopters designed by Jean Cantinieau were distinguished by having an engine positioned in front and immediately below the main rotor drive shaft above the cockpit The first of the series was the Cantinieau C 100 which had an open tube frame structure with a braced single tube tail boom four wheel undercarriage and a 60 kW 80 hp Minie engine It first flew in September 1951 1 Cantinieau went to the Societe Matra to build a two seat development the MC 101 This was also an open steel tube design more complex particularly in the tail boom though the undercarriage was reduced to simple skids 1 8 m 71 in apart 2 It had a 78 kW 105 hp Hirth HM 504 engine 3 enclosed in a long smooth nosed but partially open sided cowling driving the oscillating rotor hub via a 41 6 reduction gearbox clutch and Paulstra universal joint The rotor blades were machined from duralumin A three blade tail rotor was driven via another Paulstra joint and cardan shaft 2 The MC 101 carried two pilots side by side with dual control There was no cabin but they were protected behind a large perspex screen with rounded vertical edges It flew for the first time on 11 November 1952 2 Only one was built 3 In 1953 4 Cantinieau was appointed as director of the Spanish company Aerotecnica s new helicopter division which also acquired the rights to the MC 101 from Matra 5 The Hirth engine was replaced with a more powerful 112 kW 150 hp air cooled flat four Lycoming O 320 in order to cope better with Madrid s hot and high atmosphere and the helicopter was renamed the Aerotecnica AC 11 4 Further development led to the Aerotecnica AC 12 with an enclosed fuselage and cabin 5 Variants EditMatra Cantinieau MC 101 78 kW 105 hp Hirth HM 504 engine Aerotecnica AC 11 MC 101 with 112 kW 150 hp Lycoming O 320 engine Specifications MC 101 EditData from Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1953 54 2 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 6 70 m 22 ft 0 in fuselage Height 2 30 m 7 ft 7 in Empty weight 400 kg 882 lb Gross weight 600 kg 1 323 lb Fuel capacity 40 kg 88 lb Powerplant 1 Hirth HM 504 inverted four cylinder piston engine 78 kW 105 hp Main rotor diameter 8 0 m 26 ft 3 in Main rotor area 50 3 m2 541 sq ft Performance Cruise speed 100 km h 62 mph 54 kn Endurance 2 hrReferences Edit Cantinieau C 100 Retrieved 31 August 2013 a b c d Bridgman Leonard 1953 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1953 54 London Sampson Low Marston and Co Ltd p 142 a b MATRA Cantinieau MC 101 Retrieved 31 August 2013 a b McGowen Stanley S 2005 Weapons of War Helicopters An Illustrated History of Their Impact ABC CLIO pp 86 88 ISBN 1 85109 468 7 a b Bridgman Leonard 1956 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1956 57 London Jane s All the World s Aircraft Publishing Co Ltd p 209 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Matra Cantinieau MC 101 amp oldid 1039813592, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
