User:Colin Douglas Howell/Light piston helicopters, 4-5 seats

From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Four-seat and five-seat light utility helicopters powered by a single piston engine. These helicopters generally do similar work to their smaller light piston-engined cousins, although being bigger, they are probably much less popular for training. Helicopters that seat four to five in this weight class, with a maximum takeoff weight of up to around 3,000 lb (1,500 kg), are rarely based on piston engines; most often they use turboshafts. However, one very important exception to this is the Robinson R44, one of the most numerous and popular helicopters in the world.

Helicopters like this always have an air-cooled engine, almost always a flat-six, with the notable exception of the Soviet-built Kamov Ka-18 and the Russian Mil Mi-34, which use nine-cylinder radial engines.

Sikorsky HO5S-1 / S-52

[edit]
U.S. civil Sikorsky S-52-3

American four-seat light utility helicopter, used by the U.S. Navy and other military and civil operators.

  • Introduced: 1951
  • Number built: 93
  • Capacity: 4
  • Gross weight: 2,400 lb (1,089 kg)
  • Engine: Franklin O-425-1 (6V6-245-B16F) flat-6, 245 hp (183 kW)
  • Maximum speed: 110 mph (180 km/h, 96 kn) at sea level
  • Range: 415 mi (668 km, 361 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 15,500 ft (4,700 m)


Bell 47J Ranger

[edit]
Civil Bell 47J Ranger

American four-seat light utility helicopter, used by civil and military operators. This helicopter was the first type to be used as a transport for the President of the United States.

  • Introduced: 1956
  • Number built: 361
  • Capacity: 4
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,950 lb (1,338 kg)
  • Engine: Lycoming VO-540-B1B flat-6, 260 hp (190 kW)
  • Maximum speed: 105 mph (169 km/h, 91 kn)
  • Range: 258 mi (415 km, 224 nmi) (no reserves)
  • Service ceiling: 11,000 ft (3,400 m)


Cessna CH-1 Skyhook

[edit]
Cessna CH-1 Skyhook being tested by the U.S. Army as a YH-41A Seneca

American four-seat light utility helicopter, used by civil and military operators. This helicopter's unusual appearance is due to its front-mounted engine. It was Cessna's only foray into the helicopter market.

  • Produced: 1956-1962
  • Number built: ~50
  • Capacity: 4
  • Gross weight: 3,100 lb (1,406 kg)
  • Engine: Continental FSO-526-A flat-6, 270 hp (200 kW)
  • Maximum speed: 108 mph (174 km/h, 94 kn) at sea level
  • Range: 260 mi (420 km, 230 nmi)


Kamov Ka-18 "Hog"

[edit]
Kamov Ka-18 in Aeroflot markings, with rotors stripped, at the Russian Air Force Museum

Soviet four-seat light utility helicopter used by the Soviet navy and Aeroflot. Has the typical Kamov layout of twin coaxial counter-rotating main rotors, with twin tail fins and rudders instead of a tail rotor.

  • Introduced: 1957
  • Number built: ~120
  • Capacity: 4
  • Max takeoff weight: 3,263 lb (1,480 kg)
  • Engine: Ivchenko AI-14VF 9-cylinder radial, 280 hp (209 kW)
  • Maximum speed: 93 mph (150 km/h, 81 kn)
  • Range: 103 mi (165 km, 89 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 10,660 ft (3,250 m)


Kawasaki KH-4

[edit]
Australian civil Kawasaki KH-4

Japanese four-seat light utility helicopter, developed by Kawasaki from the Bell 47, and used by civil and military operators.

  • Introduced: 1962
  • Number built: 211
  • Capacity: 4
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,851 lb (1,293 kg)
  • Engine: Lycoming TVO-435-B1A flat-6, 270 hp (200 kW)
  • Maximum speed: 105 mph (169 km/h, 91 kn)
  • Range: 250 mi (400 km, 220 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 18,500 ft (5,640 m)


Brantly 305

[edit]
British civil Brantly 305 in 1966

American five-seat light utility helicopter used by civil operators.

  • Introduced: 1965
  • Number built: 49
  • Capacity: 5
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,900 lb (1,315 kg)
  • Engine: Lycoming IVO-540-A1A flat-6, 305 hp (227 kW)
  • Maximum speed: 120 mph (190 km/h, 100 kn) at sea level
  • Range: 220 mi (350 km, 190 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,700 m)


Mil Mi-34

[edit]
Russian civil Mil Mi-34S

Russian four-seat light utility helicopter used by civil and military operators.

  • Introduced: 1993
  • Capacity: 4
  • Max takeoff weight: 3,197 lb (1,450 kg)
  • Engine: Vedeneyev M-14V-26V 9-cylinder radial, 321 hp (239 kW)
  • Maximum speed: 130 mph (210 km/h, 110 kn)
  • Range: 221 mi (356 km, 192 nmi) with max fuel at 1,640 ft (500 m) and 5% reserve
  • Service ceiling: 13,000 ft (4,000 m)


Robinson R44

[edit]
U.S. civil Robinson R44 Raven II

American four-seat light utility helicopter used by many civil and some military operators. One of the most produced helicopters in the world, and the best-selling general-aviation helicopter since 1999.

  • Introduced: 1993
  • Number built: 6,331+ through 2019
  • Capacity: 4
  • Gross weight: 2,500 lb (1,134 kg)
  • Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 flat-6, 245 hp (183 kW)
  • Maximum speed: 150 mph (240 km/h, 130 kn)
  • Range: 350 mi (560 km, 300 nmi), no reserve
  • Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
Retrieved from "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Colin_Douglas_Howell/Light_piston_helicopters,_4-5_seats&oldid=580074114"