Firestone 45

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Firestone Model 45 / XR-9 / XH-9
Type	Utility helicopter
Manufacturer	Firestone Aircraft Company
Maiden flight	1946
Primary user	United States Air Force
Number built	2

The Firestone Model 45 was a 1940s American experimental helicopter built by the Firestone Aircraft Company for the United States Air Force. Only one military helicopter (XR-9B) and one civil helicopter were built.

[edit] Development

Originally developed by G & A Aircraft with the co-operation of the United States Army Air Force Air Technical Service Command, the G & A Model 45B (designated XR-9 by the Army) was a design for a single-seat helicopter of pod-and-boom configuration. 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. The Model 45C (XR-9A) was the same helicopter with a two-bladed rotor. Neither of the two helicopters were built. G & A Aircraft which as part of the Firestone group was renamed the Firestone Aircraft Company in 1946.

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. Powered by an Avco Lycoming O-290-7 engine it first flew in March 1946 and was delivered to the United States Air Force for evaluation. A civil version, the Model 45D was also built and flown, this differed in havinf the two occupants side-by-side instead of Tandem as in the 45C. No orders were placed and no more helicopters were built.

[edit] Variants

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 a 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.

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.

[edit] Operators

 United States

United States Air Force

[edit] Specifications (XR-9B)

Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing

General characteristics

• Crew: Two
• Length: 27 ft 0 in (8.23 m)
• Main rotor diameter: 28 ft 0 in (8.53 m)
• Height: 8 ft 6½ in (2.60 m)
• Gross weight: 1750 lb (794 kg)
• Powerplant: One × Avco Lycoming O-290-7 flat-four engine, 135 hp (101 kW) each

Performance

• Cruise speed: 80 (approx) mph (129 (approx) km/h)
• Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3050 m)

[edit] References

• John Andrade, U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909, Midland Counties Publications, 1979, ISBN 0 904597 22 9 (Page 171)
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing

[edit] See also

Related lists

• list of military aircraft of the United States
  

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