The Gyrodyne RON Rotorcycle (originally designated HOG) was a tiny, single-seat helicopter designed under contract for the United States Navy.[1] in the mid-1950s. It later was redesigned for a U.S. Marine Corps requirement for a small personal helicopter that would fulfill a number of roles, including observation, liaison, small unit tactical maneuvers, and which could be dropped to downed airmen behind enemy lines to facilitate their escape.[2]
XRON-I Rotorcycle
Rotorcycle on display at the Cradle of Aviation Museum
Gyrodyne purchased the assets of Bendix Helicopters in 1949, including the Model 2C coaxial helicopter which provided the technology for the XRON-1. In 1951 the Model 2C was demonstrated to the Navy with shortcomings noted in autorotation control. The XRON-I was demonstrated under a new Navy contract NOas 55-388-c for a lightweight single man helicopter.
Design
Gyrodyne's design was an open-framework helicopter with coaxial rotors, which was evaluated with three different power plants (two reciprocating, one turbine).
The XRON-1 used a manually started 40 hp two-cycle engine with a gross weight capability of 500 lb. The fuselage is a simple box-beam construction. The rotor uses co-axial blades which alleviate the need for an anti-torque tail rotor. Yaw control is provided by rotor tip mounted "tip brakes" providing differential torque between the rotors. Gyrodyne patented the control on 24 October 1954 Patent No. 2,835,331.[3] There is a small inverted V-tail for control at forward speeds. The rotors are laminated wood construction. The mast is pressure lubricated and becomes a cooling surface for oil inflight. The landing gear consists of three small wheels.[4]
Operational history
Gyrodyne RON Rotorcycle making a water landing
The first flight was in November 1955. The two-cycle engine was prone to overheating and other engines were added to the program for testing. The Marine Corps also tested one XRON-1, and three YRON-1 prototypes.[5]
The Marine Corps eventually concluded that both the RON, and the competing Hiller ROE were too heavy and too difficult to fly and abandoned the project. The United States Navy, however, had noticed the compact size and high load-carrying capacity of the RON, and in 1960 awarded a contract to Gyrodyne to produce a radio-controlled drone version of the Rotorcycle, to be used as an Anti-Submarine Warfare platform. Using the dynamic components of the RON, this was eventually developed as the Gyrodyne QH-50.
A two-place enclosed "gyrocycle" commercial variant was proposed after initial tests.[6]
Variants
XRON-1
Prototype
YRON-1
Powered by a 55 hp (41 kW) 4-stroke Porsche YO-95-2 model Model GP-702/1 600cc variant with 17 ft (5 m) diameter rotors.
Powered by a 55 hp (41 kW) Solar YT62 turbine model with 17 ft (5 m) diameter rotors.
Powered by a 72 hp (54 kW) 4-stroke Porsche YO-95-6 engine variant - Rotor diameter increased to 20 ft (6 m), 5 units built and tested at NAS Patuxent River and Camp Pendleton.
Powered by a 62 hp (46 kW) Solar T62 gas turbine engine and 15 ft (5 m) diameter rotors.[7]
Powered by a 72 hp (54 kW) 4-stroke Porsche YO-95-8 DSN-1/QH-50A engine. [8]
Powered by a 125 hp (93 kW) Electric Engine with 50 Min endurance. [9]
On display
The Cradle of Aviation Museum in New York has a XRON-1 on display [10]
Rawlins, Eugene W. (1976). Marines and Helicopters 1946–1962. Washington, D.C.: History and Museums Division Headquarters, United States Marine Corps. p. 89.
Simpson, Rod (1998). Airlife's Helicopters and Rotorcraft. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing. p. 220. ISBN9781853109683. OCLC 438025217.
Taylor, John W. R. (1961). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1961–62. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 455.
Further reading
Media related to Gyrodyne RON Rotorcycle at Wikimedia Commons
Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1958). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59. London: Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 312.
March 14, 2023
gyrodyne, rotorcycle, originally, designated, tiny, single, seat, helicopter, designed, under, contract, united, states, navy, 1950s, later, redesigned, marine, corps, requirement, small, personal, helicopter, that, would, fulfill, number, roles, including, ob. The Gyrodyne RON Rotorcycle originally designated HOG was a tiny single seat helicopter designed under contract for the United States Navy 1 in the mid 1950s It later was redesigned for a U S Marine Corps requirement for a small personal helicopter that would fulfill a number of roles including observation liaison small unit tactical maneuvers and which could be dropped to downed airmen behind enemy lines to facilitate their escape 2 XRON I RotorcycleRotorcycle on display at the Cradle of Aviation MuseumRole HelicopterNational origin United StatesManufacturer Gyrodyne Company of AmericaFirst flight 23 November 1955Primary user United States NavyNumber built 10Developed from Bendix Model 2CDeveloped into Gyrodyne QH 50 DASH Contents 1 Development 2 Design 3 Operational history 4 Variants 5 On display 6 Specifications 7 See also 8 References 8 1 Citations 8 2 Bibliography 9 Further readingDevelopment EditGyrodyne purchased the assets of Bendix Helicopters in 1949 including the Model 2C coaxial helicopter which provided the technology for the XRON 1 In 1951 the Model 2C was demonstrated to the Navy with shortcomings noted in autorotation control The XRON I was demonstrated under a new Navy contract NOas 55 388 c for a lightweight single man helicopter Design EditGyrodyne s design was an open framework helicopter with coaxial rotors which was evaluated with three different power plants two reciprocating one turbine The XRON 1 used a manually started 40 hp two cycle engine with a gross weight capability of 500 lb The fuselage is a simple box beam construction The rotor uses co axial blades which alleviate the need for an anti torque tail rotor Yaw control is provided by rotor tip mounted tip brakes providing differential torque between the rotors Gyrodyne patented the control on 24 October 1954 Patent No 2 835 331 3 There is a small inverted V tail for control at forward speeds The rotors are laminated wood construction The mast is pressure lubricated and becomes a cooling surface for oil inflight The landing gear consists of three small wheels 4 Operational history Edit Gyrodyne RON Rotorcycle making a water landing The first flight was in November 1955 The two cycle engine was prone to overheating and other engines were added to the program for testing The Marine Corps also tested one XRON 1 and three YRON 1 prototypes 5 The Marine Corps eventually concluded that both the RON and the competing Hiller ROE were too heavy and too difficult to fly and abandoned the project The United States Navy however had noticed the compact size and high load carrying capacity of the RON and in 1960 awarded a contract to Gyrodyne to produce a radio controlled drone version of the Rotorcycle to be used as an Anti Submarine Warfare platform Using the dynamic components of the RON this was eventually developed as the Gyrodyne QH 50 The Rotorcycle went on to win the prize for most maneuverable helicopter at the Paris Air Show in 1961 and was selected for a 1964 trade fair in Morocco by the United States Department of Commerce A two place enclosed gyrocycle commercial variant was proposed after initial tests 6 Variants EditXRON 1 Prototype YRON 1 Powered by a 55 hp 41 kW 4 stroke Porsche YO 95 2 model Model GP 702 1 600cc variant with 17 ft 5 m diameter rotors Powered by a 55 hp 41 kW Solar YT62 turbine model with 17 ft 5 m diameter rotors Powered by a 72 hp 54 kW 4 stroke Porsche YO 95 6 engine variant Rotor diameter increased to 20 ft 6 m 5 units built and tested at NAS Patuxent River and Camp Pendleton Powered by a 62 hp 46 kW Solar T62 gas turbine engine and 15 ft 5 m diameter rotors 7 Powered by a 72 hp 54 kW 4 stroke Porsche YO 95 8 DSN 1 QH 50A engine 8 Powered by a 125 hp 93 kW Electric Engine with 50 Min endurance 9 On display EditThe Cradle of Aviation Museum in New York has a XRON 1 on display 10 The New England Air Museum Windsor Locks CT 11 Specifications EditData from Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1961 62 1 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 11 ft 6 in 3 51 m Empty weight 550 lb 249 kg Gross weight 832 lb 377 kg Max takeoff weight 906 lb 411 kg Powerplant 1 Porsche YO 95 6 4 cylinder air cooled horizontally opposed piston engine 72 hp 54 kW Main rotor diameter 2 20 ft 6 1 m Main rotor area 314 sq ft 29 2 m2 Performance Maximum speed 78 mph 126 km h 68 kn Cruise speed 60 mph 97 km h 52 kn Range 55 mi 89 km 48 nmi Ferry range 112 mi 180 km 97 nmi overload weight auxiliary fuel Service ceiling 12 400 ft 3 800 m Rate of climb 1 140 ft min 5 8 m s See also EditRelated development Gyrodyne QH 50 DASHAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Hiller YROE Hoppi CopterReferences EditCitations Edit a b Taylor 1961 p 261 Popular Mechanics July 1956 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Missing or empty title help XRON history Retrieved 7 June 2011 Sport Aviation November 2011 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Missing or empty title help Norman Polmar 2004 Historic naval aircraft from the pages of Naval history magazine Brassey s ISBN 9781574885729 Sport Aviation December 1958 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Missing or empty title help Helicopters of the World Flight International AIRCRAFT SPACECRAFT MISSILES 77 2672 p p 711 718 725 730 27 May 1960 GYRODYNE XRON YRON Retrieved 25 Oct 2022 Kenneth I Swartz January 2020 Luminati Creates Vertically Integrated VTOL Development Business Vertiflite SVSM Gallery Retrieved 7 June 2011 New England Air Museum Bibliography Edit The Rotorcycle Gyrodyne Company of America Rawlins Eugene W 1976 Marines and Helicopters 1946 1962 Washington D C History and Museums Division Headquarters United States Marine Corps p 89 Simpson Rod 1998 Airlife s Helicopters and Rotorcraft Shrewsbury UK Airlife Publishing p 220 ISBN 9781853109683 OCLC 438025217 Taylor John W R 1961 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1961 62 London Sampson Low Marston amp Company Ltd Taylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions p 455 Further reading Edit Media related to Gyrodyne RON Rotorcycle at Wikimedia Commons Bridgman Leonard ed 1958 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1958 59 London Jane s All the World s Aircraft Publishing Co Ltd p 312 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gyrodyne RON Rotorcycle amp oldid 1118157315, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
