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The Platt-Le Page XR-1 was an early American twin-rotor helicopter built by the Platt-Le Page Aircraft Company of Eddystone, Pennsylvania. They were the first helicopters tested by the United States Army Air Force.
[edit] Design and development
Platt-Le Page were contracted in 1941 to supply two prototype helicopters to the United States Army Air Force designated XR-1. The company had licensed the patented Focke-Wulf Fw 61 transverse twin-rotor design prior to the outbreak of war.[1] The first prototype (Serial Number 41-1) first flew on the May 12, 1941, it had a fuselage with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage and a conventional tail unit. It had two counter-rotating rotors mounted on faired outriggers (stub-wings) on each side of the fuselage. The rotors were powered by a 440hp (328kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-21 engine mounted in the fuselage. The second prototype was designated XR-1A (Serial Number 42-6581) and had increased glazing around the two-seat cockpit and a 450hp (336kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 engine.
[edit] Operational history
The two prototypes were accepted by the Army Air Force and were used for test and evaluation but no further orders were placed.
[edit] Variants
- XR-1
- First prototype
- XR-1A
- Second prototype with increased cockpit glazing and more powerful engine.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (XR-1A)
General characteristics
Performance
[edit] References
- ^ Francillon, René J. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920: Volume II. London: Putnam, 1997. ISBN 0-851-77827-5
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
[edit] See also
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USAAC/USAAF/USAF/Joint Service Helicopter designations 1941- |
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