Piasecki 16H Pathfinder

Not to be confused with Piasecki H-16 Transporter.

16H Pathfinder
Piasecki 16H-1 Pathfinder
General information
Type	Experimental high-speed helicopter
Manufacturer	Piasecki Aircraft
Primary user	United States Army
History
First flight	21 February 1962 (16H-1) 15 November 1965 (16H-1A) [1]

The Piasecki 16H was a series of compound helicopters produced in the 1960s. The first version of the Pathfinder, the -1 version, first flew in 1962. The similar but larger Pathfinder II, the 16H-1A, was completed in 1965.

Variants

Model 16H-1 Pathfinder

one PWC PT6B-2 with one 405 shp turboshaft engine

Model 16H-1A Pathfinder II

larger version with one 1,250 shp (930 kW) T58-GE-8

Model 16H-1C Pathfinder III

proposed conversion of the 16H-1A with one 1,500 shp (1,100 kW) T58-GE-5 ^[2]

Model 16H-3J

nine-seat development, not built.

Specifications (16H-1A)

Piasecki's 16H-1A Pathfinder II

Data from U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947 ^[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: two pilots
• Capacity: up to six passengers
• Length: 37 ft 3 in (11.4 m)
• Wingspan: 32 ft 10 in (10.0 m)
• Height: 11 ft 4 in (3.45 m)
• Empty weight: 4,800 lb (2,165 kg)
• Gross weight: 10,800 lb (4,870 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × General Electric T58-GE-8 turboshaft , 1,250 hp (930 kW)
• Main rotor diameter: 44 ft 0 in (13.4 m)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 230 mph (370 km/h, 200 kn)
• Cruise speed: 175 mph (280 km/h, 152 kn)
• Range: 950 mi (1,530 km, 830 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 18,700 ft (5,700 m)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Piasecki X-49
• VFW-Fokker H3 Sprinter

Related lists

• List of rotorcraft

References

Notes

1. Robb 2006, pp. 42-43
2. Note: While some sources read as if this variant was completed and flown, Piasecki Aircraft's history site makes no mention of this variant at all.
3. Harding, Stephen. U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947. 1997. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. LCCN 96-69996.

Bibliography

• Robb, Raymond L. "Hybrid helicopters: Compounding the quest for speed", Vertiflite. Summer 2006. American Helicopter Society.

External links

• Model 16H-1 Pathfinder Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
• Model 16H-1A Pathfinder II Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
• Model 16H-3 Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine