| XH-44 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Hiller XH-44 replica at the Hiller Aviation Museum | |
| Role | Experimental helicopter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Hiller Aircraft |
| Designer | Stanley Hiller |
| First flight | Unknown (tethered) July 4, 1944 (untethered) |
| Status | Retired |
| Number built | 1 |
The Hiller XH-44 Hiller-Copter (Experimental Hiller, 1944) is an American experimental helicopter designed by Stanley Hiller.
Stanley Hiller became interested in helicopters in the late 1930s, when he saw pictures of the Focke-Wulf Fw 61 and the Vought-Sikorsky VS-300. He bought every book on helicopter development that he could find, and in the early 1940s he began design work on the XH-44, at the age of 17. [1]
The XH-44 featured a pair of contra-rotating rotors which, in its original form, was powered by a 65 hp Franklin engine (de-rated from its original 90 hp). [2] The engine was later swapped for a 125 hp Lycoming engine. It was the first successful coaxial rotor helicopter to be built in the United States, as well as the first helicopter to use all-metal rotor blades. [2]
The XH-44 tipped over on its first tethered test flight with Hiller at the controls, resulting in minor damage. On July 4, 1944, the XH-44 made its first untethered flight at the University of California's football stadium at Berkeley. [2] The helicopter made an appearance during a public demonstration at San Francisco on August 30, 1944. [2] [3]
The success of the XH-44 caught the attention of Henry J. Kaiser, who funded further development of Hiller's rotor system. [2]
Hiller donated the XH-44 to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in 1953. [4] The helicopter was restored in 1974, and in 1997 it was lent back to Hiller and displayed at the Hiller Aviation Museum. [4] The original XH-44 is no longer displayed at the Hiller Aviation Museum, although a replica is currently on display at the museum. [5]
Data from [2]
General characteristics
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