Bensen B-8

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B-8
Bensengyrocopter001 (cropped).jpg
General information
TypeRecreational autogyro
National originUnited States
Manufacturer Bensen or homebuilt
Designer
History
First flight6 December 1955 [1]

The Bensen B-8 is a small, single-seat autogyro developed in the United States in the 1950s. Although the original manufacturer stopped production in 1987, plans for homebuilders are still available as of 2019.[ needs update ] Its design was a refinement of the Bensen B-7, and like that aircraft, the B-8 was initially built as an unpowered rotor-kite. It first flew in this form in 1955, and on 6 December a powered version, designated B-8M (M for motorised) first flew. The design proved to be extremely popular and long-lasting, with thousands of sets of plans sold over the next thirty years.

Contents

Design and development

The B-8's design is extremely minimalist, with not much more to the aircraft than a pilot's seat, a single tailfin, a rotor, and (in powered versions) the powerplant. In May 1968 a B-8 and B-8M were studied by the USAF under the Discretionary Descent Vehicle (DDV) program as the X-25B and X-25A respectively. In this scheme, it was proposed to integrate combat aircraft ejection seats with a small autogyro or rotor kite to allow downed pilots more control over their post-ejection landing spot. The X-25A and X-25B were used to evaluate the piloting and training requirements of the autogyros. No full-scale operational tests were ever performed. The U.S. Air Force stopped funding the DDV program with the end of the Vietnam War. [2]

One B-8M, named Spirit of Kitty Hawk (registration N2588B) was used to make a special commemorative flight exactly duplicating the first flight of the Wright brothers' original Flyer on the sixtieth anniversary of the occasion. This same aircraft was flown by Igor Bensen himself between May 1967 and June 1968 to set twelve world and US speed, distance, and altitude records for autogyros, the largest number of such records to be held by any non-military rotorcraft.[ citation needed ]

Variants

Aircraft on display

Specifications (Typical B-8M, standard rotor)

Bensen B-8M Gyrocopter at the Canada Aviation Museum Bensen B-8M.jpg
Bensen B-8M Gyrocopter at the Canada Aviation Museum

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83 [10]

General characteristics

Performance

45 mph (39 kn; 72 km/h) economical

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ "Bensen B8 Gyrocopter". Canadian Flight. Canadian Museum of Flight. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  2. ↑ Jenkins et al. AMERICAN X-VEHICLES, X-25 NASA , June 2003. Accessed: 18 February 2012.
  3. ↑ Air Progress: 8. October 1977.{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ Air Trails: 80. Winter 1971.{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ Air Progress Sport Aircraft: 4. Winter 1969.{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑ "EAA Fly-In". Flying Magazine: 37. November 1960.
  7. ↑ US Southwest Soaring Museum (2010). "Sailplanes, Hang Gliders & Motor Gliders". Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  8. ↑ Bensen B-8M 'Autogyro'"
  9. ↑ Lewis, Rebecca, (2003) Flight of the Imagination, North Carolina Museum of History, Office of Archives and History, N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, retrieved 4 September 2013
  10. ↑ Taylor, John W.R., ed. (1983). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982-83 (73rd ed.). London: Jane's Publishing Company. pp. 528–530. ISBN   978-0-7106-0748-5.

Further reading

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