The Firestone XR-9, also known by the company designation Model 45, was a 1940s American experimental helicopter built by the Firestone Aircraft Company for the United States Army Air Forces. Only two (the military XR-9B and one civil example) were built.
Originally developed by G & A Aircraft with the co-operation of the United States Army Air Forces' Air Technical Service Command, the G & A Model 45B (designated XR-9Rotocycle by the Army)[1] was a design for a single-seat helicopter of pod-and-boom configuration.[2] It had a fixed tri-cycle landing gear and three-bladed main and tail rotors. Power would have been supplied by a 126 hp (94 kW) Avco Lycoming XO-290-5 engine.[3] The Model 45C (XR-9A) was the same helicopter with a two-bladed rotor. Neither of the two helicopters were built. G & A Aircraft was purchased by Firestone in 1943,[3] and was renamed the Firestone Aircraft Company in 1946.[4]
A revised two-seat design the revised Model 45C (or XR-9B) was built with a three-bladed main rotor and two-seat in tandem. The first aircraft procured by the Army Air Forces in 1946,[3] it was powered by an Avco Lycoming O-290-7 engine[3] and first flew in March of that year.
A civil version, the Model 45D was also built and flown, in anticipation of a postwar boom in aircraft sales.[3] This differed in having the two occupants side-by-side instead of tandem as in the 45C, and was equipped with a 150 horsepower (110 kW) Lycoming engine.[3] The prototype was demonstrated at the 1946 Cleveland National Air Races.[5] A four-seat Model 50, with twin tail rotors, was also projected,[3] but the predicted sales boom did not materialise, and Firestone closed its aircraft manufacturing division.[3]
Variantsedit
Model 45B
Unbuilt single-seat helicopter with three-bladed rotor, Army designation XR-9.
Model 45C
Unbuilt single-seat helicopter with two-bladed rotor, Army designation XR-9A.
Model 45C (revised)
Tandem two-seat helicopter powered by an Avco Lycoming O-290-7 engine and two-bladed rotor, one built as the XR-9B, later re-designated the XH-9B.
Model 45D
Side-by-side two-seat helicopter for civil market, one built.
Model 50.
Four-seat version, not built.
XR-9
Army designation for the unbuilt Model 45B
XR-9A
Army designation for the unbuilt Model 45C
XR-9B
Army designation for the Model 45C (revised), later redesignated XH-9B
^Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1947). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1947. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. pp. 230c=231c.
^The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Aircraft. London: Orbis Publications.
Bibliographyedit
Andrade, John. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Hinckley, Leicastershire, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. ISBN0-904597-22-9.
Lambermont, Paul Marcel. Helicopters and Autogyros of the World. London: Cassell and Company Ltd, 1958. ASIN B0000CJYOA.
Merriam, Ray. World War II Journal #15: U.S. Warplanes of World War II, Volume 1. Bennington, Vermont: Merriam Press, 2002. ISBN1-5763-8167-6.
External linksedit
Media related to Firestone XR-9 at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
firestone, also, known, company, designation, model, 1940s, american, experimental, helicopter, built, firestone, aircraft, company, united, states, army, forces, only, military, civil, example, were, built, role, utility, helicopter, manufacturer, firestone, . The Firestone XR 9 also known by the company designation Model 45 was a 1940s American experimental helicopter built by the Firestone Aircraft Company for the United States Army Air Forces Only two the military XR 9B and one civil example were built XR 9 Role Utility helicopter Manufacturer Firestone Aircraft Company First flight March 1946 Primary user United States Army Air Forces Number built 2 Contents 1 Development 2 Variants 3 Operators 4 Survivors 5 Specifications XR 9B 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Notes 7 2 Bibliography 8 External linksDevelopment editOriginally developed by G amp A Aircraft with the co operation of the United States Army Air Forces Air Technical Service Command the G amp A Model 45B designated XR 9 Rotocycle by the Army 1 was a design for a single seat helicopter of pod and boom configuration 2 It had a fixed tri cycle landing gear and three bladed main and tail rotors Power would have been supplied by a 126 hp 94 kW Avco Lycoming XO 290 5 engine 3 The Model 45C XR 9A was the same helicopter with a two bladed rotor Neither of the two helicopters were built G amp A Aircraft was purchased by Firestone in 1943 3 and was renamed the Firestone Aircraft Company in 1946 4 A revised two seat design the revised Model 45C or XR 9B was built with a three bladed main rotor and two seat in tandem The first aircraft procured by the Army Air Forces in 1946 3 it was powered by an Avco Lycoming O 290 7 engine 3 and first flew in March of that year A civil version the Model 45D was also built and flown in anticipation of a postwar boom in aircraft sales 3 This differed in having the two occupants side by side instead of tandem as in the 45C and was equipped with a 150 horsepower 110 kW Lycoming engine 3 The prototype was demonstrated at the 1946 Cleveland National Air Races 5 A four seat Model 50 with twin tail rotors was also projected 3 but the predicted sales boom did not materialise and Firestone closed its aircraft manufacturing division 3 Variants editModel 45B Unbuilt single seat helicopter with three bladed rotor Army designation XR 9 Model 45C Unbuilt single seat helicopter with two bladed rotor Army designation XR 9A Model 45C revised Tandem two seat helicopter powered by an Avco Lycoming O 290 7 engine and two bladed rotor one built as the XR 9B later re designated the XH 9B Model 45D Side by side two seat helicopter for civil market one built Model 50 Four seat version not built XR 9 Army designation for the unbuilt Model 45B XR 9A Army designation for the unbuilt Model 45C XR 9B Army designation for the Model 45C revised later redesignated XH 9B XH 9B XR 9B re designated in 1948 Operators edit nbsp United States United States Army Air ForcesSurvivors edit nbsp Firestone Model 45D at the United States Army Aviation Museum The sole Model 45D is on display without blades installed at the United States Army Aviation Museum at Fort Novosel Alabama Specifications XR 9B editData from Jane s all the World s Aircraft 1947 6 7 General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 1 pax Length 27 ft 7 in 8 4 m Height 8 ft 6 in 2 6 m Gross weight 1 750 lb 794 kg Fuel capacity 25 US gal 21 imp gal 95 L 80 Octane fuel Powerplant 1 Lycoming O 290 7 4 cyl horizontally opposed air cooled piston engine 135 hp 101 kW Main rotor diameter 28 ft 0 in 8 53 m Performance Maximum speed 100 mph 160 km h 87 kn Cruise speed 80 mph 130 km h 70 kn Service ceiling 10 000 ft 3 000 m Rate of climb 1 000 ft min 5 1 m s See also editRelated lists List of military aircraft of the United StatesReferences editNotes edit Short Hop Helicopter Popular Science April 1946 Andrade 1979 p 171 a b c d e f g h Merriam 2002 p 64 Lambermont 1958 lt AAHS Journal Winter 2003 p 316 Bridgman Leonard ed 1947 Jane s all the World s Aircraft 1947 London Sampson Low Marston amp Co pp 230c 231c The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Aircraft London Orbis Publications Bibliography edit Andrade John U S Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909 Hinckley Leicastershire UK Midland Counties Publications 1979 ISBN 0 904597 22 9 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Part Work 1982 1985 London Orbis Publishing 1985 Lambermont Paul Marcel Helicopters and Autogyros of the World London Cassell and Company Ltd 1958 ASIN B0000CJYOA Merriam Ray World War II Journal 15 U S Warplanes of World War II Volume 1 Bennington Vermont Merriam Press 2002 ISBN 1 5763 8167 6 External links edit nbsp Media related to Firestone XR 9 at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Firestone XR 9 amp oldid 1216594962, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
