The Vought-Sikorsky VS-300 (or S-46) is an American single-engine helicopter designed by Igor Sikorsky. It had a single three-blade rotor originally powered by a 75 horsepower (56 kW) engine. The first "free" flight of the VS-300 was on 13 May 1940.[2] The VS-300 was the first successful single lifting rotor helicopter in the United States and the first successful helicopter to use a single vertical-plane tail rotor configuration for antitorque. With floats attached, it became the first practical amphibious helicopter.
Igor Sikorsky's quest for a practical helicopter began in 1938, when as the Engineering Manager of the Vought-Sikorsky Division of United Aircraft Corporation, he was able to convince the directors of United Aircraft that his years of study and research into rotary-wing flight problems would lead to a breakthrough. His first experimental machine, the VS-300, was test flown by Sikorsky on 14 September 1939, tethered by cables.[3] In developing the concept of rotary-wing flight, Sikorsky was the first to introduce a single engine to power both the main and tail rotor systems. The only previous successful attempt at a single-lift rotor helicopter, the Yuriev-Cheremukhin TsAGI-1EA [ru] in 1931 in the Soviet Union, used a pair of uprated, Russian-built Gnome Monosoupape rotary engines of 120 hp each for its power.[4][5] For later flights of his VS-300, Sikorsky also added a vertical airfoil surface to the end of the tail to assist anti-torque but this was later removed when it proved to be ineffective.[6]
The cyclic control was found to be difficult to perfect, and led to Sikorsky locking the cyclic and adding two smaller vertical-axis lifting rotors to either side aft of the tailboom.[7] By varying pitch of these rotors simultaneously, fore and aft control was provided. Roll control was provided by differential pitching of the blades. In this configuration, it was found that the VS-300 could not fly forward easily and Sikorsky joked about turning the pilot's seat around.[6]
Operational historyedit
Sikorsky fitted utility floats (also called pontoons) to the VS-300 and performed a water landing and takeoff on 17 April 1941, making it the first practical amphibious helicopter.[8] On 6 May 1941, the VS-300 beat the world endurance record held by the Focke-Wulf Fw 61, by staying aloft for 1 hour 32 minutes and 26.1 seconds.[2] A two-seater version was delivered to the US Army in May 1942.[9]
The final variant of the VS-300 was powered by a 150 hp Franklin engine.[10] The VS-300 was one of the first helicopters capable of carrying cargo. The VS-300 was modified over a two-year period, including the removal of the two vertical tail rotors, in 1941, when a new cyclic control system gave it much-improved flight behavior.[1]
Surviving aircraftedit
In 1943, the VS-300 was retired to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. It has been on display there ever since, except for a trip back to the Sikorsky Aircraft plant for restoration in 1985.[11][failed verification]
^Savine, Alexandre. "TsAGI 1-EA" 2009-01-26 at the Wayback Machine. ctrl-c.liu.se, 24 March 1997. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
^ ab"A National Historic Engineering Landmark: VS-300 Helicopter (1939)" 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine. Crystal City, Virginia: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Helicopter Society, 17 May 1984.
^"1939 Sikorsky VS-300A Helicopter". The Henry Ford. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
Bibliographyedit
Chiles, James R. The God Machine: From Boomerangs to Black Hawks: The Story of the Helicopter. New York: Bantam, 2008. ISBN978-0-553-38352-2.
Dorr, Robert F. Chopper: A History of America Military Helicopter Operations from WWII to the War on Terror. New York: Penguin Books, 2005. ISBN0-425-20273-9.
Munson, Kenneth. Helicopters and Other Rotorcraft Since 1907. London: Blandford, 1968. ISBN0-7137-0610-4.
Munson, Kenneth. US Warbirds, From World War 1 to Vietnam. New York: New Orchard, 1985. ISBN978-1-85079-029-7.
Sikorsky, I. I. "Development of the VS-300 Helicopter (A paper read at the Rotating Wing Aircraft Session of the Tenth Annual Meeting of the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences by Sikorsky, I. I, Engineering Manager, Vought-Sikorsky Division of the United Aircraft Corporation)". Flight, 3 September 1942.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vought-Sikorsky VS-300.
"Wingless Helicopter Flies Straight Up", Popular Mechanics, September 1940 article showing Sikorsky flying his first helicopter
vought, sikorsky, american, single, engine, helicopter, designed, igor, sikorsky, single, three, blade, rotor, originally, powered, horsepower, engine, first, free, flight, 1940, first, successful, single, lifting, rotor, helicopter, united, states, first, suc. The Vought Sikorsky VS 300 or S 46 is an American single engine helicopter designed by Igor Sikorsky It had a single three blade rotor originally powered by a 75 horsepower 56 kW engine The first free flight of the VS 300 was on 13 May 1940 2 The VS 300 was the first successful single lifting rotor helicopter in the United States and the first successful helicopter to use a single vertical plane tail rotor configuration for antitorque With floats attached it became the first practical amphibious helicopter VS 300One of the first flights of the VS 300Role Experimental helicopterNational origin United StatesManufacturer Vought SikorskyDesigner Igor SikorskyFirst flight 14 September 1939 1 Developed into Sikorsky R 4 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Surviving aircraft 4 Specifications VS 300 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 Bibliography 7 External linksDesign and development editIgor Sikorsky s quest for a practical helicopter began in 1938 when as the Engineering Manager of the Vought Sikorsky Division of United Aircraft Corporation he was able to convince the directors of United Aircraft that his years of study and research into rotary wing flight problems would lead to a breakthrough His first experimental machine the VS 300 was test flown by Sikorsky on 14 September 1939 tethered by cables 3 In developing the concept of rotary wing flight Sikorsky was the first to introduce a single engine to power both the main and tail rotor systems The only previous successful attempt at a single lift rotor helicopter the Yuriev Cheremukhin TsAGI 1EA ru in 1931 in the Soviet Union used a pair of uprated Russian built Gnome Monosoupape rotary engines of 120 hp each for its power 4 5 For later flights of his VS 300 Sikorsky also added a vertical airfoil surface to the end of the tail to assist anti torque but this was later removed when it proved to be ineffective 6 The cyclic control was found to be difficult to perfect and led to Sikorsky locking the cyclic and adding two smaller vertical axis lifting rotors to either side aft of the tailboom 7 By varying pitch of these rotors simultaneously fore and aft control was provided Roll control was provided by differential pitching of the blades In this configuration it was found that the VS 300 could not fly forward easily and Sikorsky joked about turning the pilot s seat around 6 Operational history editSikorsky fitted utility floats also called pontoons to the VS 300 and performed a water landing and takeoff on 17 April 1941 making it the first practical amphibious helicopter 8 On 6 May 1941 the VS 300 beat the world endurance record held by the Focke Wulf Fw 61 by staying aloft for 1 hour 32 minutes and 26 1 seconds 2 A two seater version was delivered to the US Army in May 1942 9 The final variant of the VS 300 was powered by a 150 hp Franklin engine 10 The VS 300 was one of the first helicopters capable of carrying cargo The VS 300 was modified over a two year period including the removal of the two vertical tail rotors in 1941 when a new cyclic control system gave it much improved flight behavior 1 Surviving aircraft editIn 1943 the VS 300 was retired to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn Michigan It has been on display there ever since except for a trip back to the Sikorsky Aircraft plant for restoration in 1985 11 failed verification Specifications VS 300 editData from 1 General characteristicsCrew one Length 28 ft 0 in 8 53 m Height 10 ft 0 in 3 05 m Gross weight 1 150 lb 522 kg Powerplant 1 Franklin 4AC 199 E 90 hp 67 kW at 2 500 rpm Main rotor diameter 30 ft 0 in 9 14 m Performance Maximum speed 50 mph 80 km h 43 kn Range 75 mi 121 km 65 nmi Endurance 1 hour 30 minutesSee also editRelated development Sikorsky R 4Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Bell 30References editNotes edit a b c Chiles 2008 p 104 a b Munson 1968 p 111 75 Years Ago AOPA Pilot 28 September 2014 video Savine Alexandre TsAGI 1 EA Archived 2009 01 26 at the Wayback Machine ctrl c liu se 24 March 1997 Retrieved 12 December 2010 a b A National Historic Engineering Landmark VS 300 Helicopter 1939 Archived 2011 09 29 at the Wayback Machine Crystal City Virginia The American Society of Mechanical Engineers American Helicopter Society 17 May 1984 Dorr 2005 p 32 Timeline Archived 2009 11 03 at the Wayback Machine Sikorsky com Retrieved 22 September 2009 Sikorsky Igor 1952 The Story of the Winged S New York Dodd Mead amp Company p 249 Munson 1985 p 51 1939 Sikorsky VS 300A Helicopter The Henry Ford Retrieved 13 June 2017 Bibliography edit Chiles James R The God Machine From Boomerangs to Black Hawks The Story of the Helicopter New York Bantam 2008 ISBN 978 0 553 38352 2 Dorr Robert F Chopper A History of America Military Helicopter Operations from WWII to the War on Terror New York Penguin Books 2005 ISBN 0 425 20273 9 Munson Kenneth Helicopters and Other Rotorcraft Since 1907 London Blandford 1968 ISBN 0 7137 0610 4 Munson Kenneth US Warbirds From World War 1 to Vietnam New York New Orchard 1985 ISBN 978 1 85079 029 7 Sikorsky I I Development of the VS 300 Helicopter A paper read at the Rotating Wing Aircraft Session of the Tenth Annual Meeting of the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences by Sikorsky I I Engineering Manager Vought Sikorsky Division of the United Aircraft Corporation Flight 3 September 1942 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vought Sikorsky VS 300 Wingless Helicopter Flies Straight Up Popular Mechanics September 1940 article showing Sikorsky flying his first helicopter Heroes of the Sky VS300 exhibit at the Henry Ford Museum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vought Sikorsky VS 300 amp oldid 1185723142, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
