The Bensen B-7 was a small rotor kite developed by Igor Bensen in the United States in the 1950s and marketed for home building. It was a refined to be a slightly larger version of the B-6, replacing the skids with a tricycle undercarriage, and adding a single large fin to the rear of the aircraft.
The B-7 was first towed aloft on 17 June 1955, and on 6 December that year, Bensen flew a motorized version designated the B-7M, a fully autonomous autogyro. The prototype B-7M crashed three days later with Bensen at the controls. Although the machine was soon repaired and in the air again, the incident set Bensen to work on further refinements to the design that would eventually lead to the B-8.
Data from: Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59[1]
B-7
The basic gyro-glider
B-7B Gyro-boat
A Gyro-glider mounted on a standard sailing dinghy hull.
B-7W Hydro-glider
The B-7W "Hydroglider" was a gyrocopter designed to be towed from a motorboat at 10-20 mph. The B-7W was tested at Cypress Gardens Florida in 1955. It was marketed to be a sport vehicle, with practical uses in fish or submarine spotting. The floats were modified from a Republic Seabee.[2]
B-7M
A powered version of the B-7 with a Nelson H-59 4-cylinder 2-stroke horizontally-opposed engine driving a pusher propeller, mounted behind the pilot.
Specifications (B-7M)edit
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59[1]
^Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
Further readingedit
Charnov, Bruce (2003). From Autogiro to Gyroplane: The Amazing Survival of an Aviation Technology. Praeger. p. 226.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bensen B-7.
Bensen Aircraft Foundation
Bensen Aircraft at Vortechonline.com
May 08, 2024
bensen, small, rotor, kite, developed, igor, bensen, united, states, 1950s, marketed, home, building, refined, slightly, larger, version, replacing, skids, with, tricycle, undercarriage, adding, single, large, rear, aircraft, role, recreational, rotor, kite, g. The Bensen B 7 was a small rotor kite developed by Igor Bensen in the United States in the 1950s and marketed for home building It was a refined to be a slightly larger version of the B 6 replacing the skids with a tricycle undercarriage and adding a single large fin to the rear of the aircraft B 7 Role Recreational rotor kite Gyroglider autogyro National origin USA Manufacturer Bensen Aircraft for homebuilding Designer Igor Bensen First flight 17 June 1955 The B 7 was first towed aloft on 17 June 1955 and on 6 December that year Bensen flew a motorized version designated the B 7M a fully autonomous autogyro The prototype B 7M crashed three days later with Bensen at the controls Although the machine was soon repaired and in the air again the incident set Bensen to work on further refinements to the design that would eventually lead to the B 8 Contents 1 Variants 2 Specifications B 7M 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksVariants editData from Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1958 59 1 B 7 The basic gyro glider B 7B Gyro boat A Gyro glider mounted on a standard sailing dinghy hull B 7W Hydro glider The B 7W Hydroglider was a gyrocopter designed to be towed from a motorboat at 10 20 mph The B 7W was tested at Cypress Gardens Florida in 1955 It was marketed to be a sport vehicle with practical uses in fish or submarine spotting The floats were modified from a Republic Seabee 2 B 7M A powered version of the B 7 with a Nelson H 59 4 cylinder 2 stroke horizontally opposed engine driving a pusher propeller mounted behind the pilot Specifications B 7M editData from Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1958 59 1 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 8 ft 0 in 2 44 m citation needed Height 5 ft 4 in 1 63 m citation needed Empty weight 185 lb 84 kg Gross weight 435 lb 197 kg Fuel capacity 6 US gal 5 0 imp gal 22 7 L Powerplant 1 Nelson H 59 4 cylinder air cooled 2 stroke horizontally opposed piston engine 42 hp 31 kW citation needed Main rotor diameter 20 ft 6 in 6 25 m Main rotor area 330 1 sq ft 30 67 m2 free turning Blade section Bensen G2 3 Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch pusher propeller Performance Maximum speed 136 mph 219 km h 118 kn citation needed Cruise speed 60 mph 97 km h 52 kn Minimum speed 19 mph 17 kn 31 km h in still air Range 120 mi 190 km 100 nmi Service ceiling 12 500 ft 3 800 m citation needed Rate of climb 1 000 ft min 5 1 m s citation needed References edit a b Bridgman Leonard ed 1958 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1958 59 London Jane s All the World s Aircraft Publishing Co Ltd pp 262 263 The Cover Story Experimenter November 1955 Lednicer David The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage m selig ae illinois edu Retrieved 16 April 2019 Further reading editCharnov Bruce 2003 From Autogiro to Gyroplane The Amazing Survival of an Aviation Technology Praeger p 226 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bensen B 7 Bensen Aircraft Foundation Bensen Aircraft at Vortechonline com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bensen B 7 amp oldid 1043972955, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
