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The Cierva W.9 was a British 1940s experimental helicopter with a three-bladed main rotor with torque compensation achieved using a jet of air discharged from the rear port side of the fuselage.
[edit] Development
In 1943 Cierva took over the rotary-wing assets of G & J Weir Limited and continued with the development of an experimental helicopter to Air Ministry Specification E.16/43. The helicopter was completed late in 1944 and serialed PX203. It was damaged during ground-running due to incorrect control phasing arising from a high order of pitch-flap coupling, and did not start test flying until 1945. The most visible characteristic of the W.9 was torque compensation using air blown by an engine-driven fan in its hollow tail boom and exhausted from a port-facing exhaust. Of more importance, however, was the hydraulically powered shaft-driven tilting rotor hub with rpm variation to give automatic collective pitch control. The helicopter was destroyed in an accident in 1946 and the project was abandoned.
[edit] Operators
- United Kingdom
[edit] Specifications (W.9)
General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Length: ()
- Rotor diameter: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
- Height: ()
- Loaded weight: 2,647 lb (1201 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× de Havilland Gipsy Six inline piston engine, 205 hp (153 kW)
Performance
[edit] References
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
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