Rotorwing-Aero 3D-RV

Last updated

3D-RV
Role Autogyro
National origin United States
Manufacturer Rotorwing-Aero
DesignerMonte Hoskins
First flight1989
StatusProduction completed
Number builtThree (1998)

The Rotorwing-Aero 3D-RV is an American autogyro that was designed by Monte Hoskins and produced by Rotorwing-Aero of Salt Lake City, Utah, introduced in 1989. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction. [1]

Contents

Design and development

The 3D-RV was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 250 lb (113 kg) when equipped with a Rotax 503 or Rotax 582 engine. With heavier engines it can be registered in the US Experimental - Amateur-built category. [1]

The 3D-RV features a single main rotor, a single-seat open cockpit without a windshield, tricycle landing gear with hydraulic disk brakes, plus a tail caster. The acceptable power range is 50 to 65 hp (37 to 48 kW) and the standard engines used are twin cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, single-ignition 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 engine and the twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, single-ignition 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine, mounted in pusher configuration. [1]

The aircraft fuselage is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing and welded 4130 steel tubing. Its two-bladed rotor has a diameter of 25 ft (7.6 m) and may use either manufactured metal blades or homemade Gyrotor wooden blades. The prototype was originally flown with wooden blades of 8 ft (2.4 m) each, with a 5 ft (1.5 m) hub bar, for a diameter of 21 ft (6.4 m). In this configuration the aircraft flew acceptably, but did not climb well on hot days at higher density altitudes. The minimum control speed is 10 mph (16 km/h) [1]

The initial propeller used was a 64 in (163 cm) two bladed ground adjustable unit, but the plans specify a three-bladed ground adjustable design of 56 in (142 cm) diameter. [1]

The prototype used a conventional low landing gear design, but this was later developed into a high landing gear to set the vertical center of gravity to the prob hub height to prevent longitudinal stability issues and bunt "push-over" accidents. The final design features a tall aluminium rudder. [1]

The aircraft has a typical empty weight of 250 lb (110 kg) and a gross weight of 550 lb (250 kg), giving a useful load of 300 lb (140 kg). With full fuel of 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal) the payload for the pilot and baggage is 270 lb (120 kg). [1]

The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off roll with a 50 hp (37 kW) engine is 1,000 ft (305 m). [1]

The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied plans as 400 hours. [1]

Operational history

By 1998 the company reported that 35 sets of plans had been sold and three aircraft were completed and flying. [1]

One builder reported an eight-month completion time. [1]

Specifications (3D-RV)

Data from Purdy [1]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related Research Articles

The Hinchman H-1 Racer is a 1980s American single-seat autogyro designed by Hank Hincham with plans or a kit available from Hincham Aircraft Company for amateur construction.

The Bauer BAD-12 Gyrotrainer is a Czech autogyro, designed and produced by Bauer Avion of Prague. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

Magni M-14 Scout

The Magni M-14 Scout is an Italian autogyro, designed and produced by Magni Gyro srl of Besnate. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The Magni M-18 Spartan is an Italian autogyro, that was designed and produced by Magni Gyro srl of Besnate. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft

The North American Rotorwerks Pitbull Ultralight is an American autogyro, designed and produced by North American Rotorwerks of Tukwila, Washington. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction, but by 2013 production had been suspended.

The Mathews Mr Easy is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Lyle Mathews and associates and produced by the Vintage Ultralight and Lightplane Association of Marietta, Georgia. It was the sixth and final design of Mathews. The aircraft is supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction.

The Air Command Commander Tandem is an American autogyro that was designed and produced by Air Command International of Wylie, Texas. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Air Command Commander Sport is an American autogyro that was designed and produced by Air Command International of Wylie, Texas. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Amax Eagle TT is an Australian autogyro that was designed and produced by Amax Engineering of Donvale, Victoria, introduced in the 1990s. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Amax Eagle is an Australian autogyro that was designed and produced by Amax Engineering of Donvale, Victoria, introduced in the early 1990s. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Vortech Skylark is an American helicopter produced by Vortech of Fallston, Maryland. The aircraft is supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction. Vortech also supplies rotor blades for the design.

The Hillberg Turbine Exec is an American helicopter that was designed and produced by Hillberg Helicopters of Fountain Valley, California. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a conversion kit, for amateur construction.

The Little Wing Roto-Pup is an American autogyro that was designed and produced by Little Wing Autogyros, Inc. of Mayflower, Arkansas, introduced in the 1990s. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Raven Explorer I is an American autogyro that was designed and produced by Raven Rotorcraft of Boulder Colorado and later El Prado, New Mexico, introduced in the 1990s. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit, for amateur construction.

The Raven Explorer II is an American autogyro designed by Raven Rotorcraft of Boulder Colorado and later El Prado, New Mexico, introduced in the 1990s. No longer in production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Showers Skytwister Choppy is an American helicopter that was produced by Showers-Aero of Milton, Pennsylvania, introduced in 1992. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied in the form of CAD plans for amateur construction.

The Windspire Aeros is an American helicopter that was designed and produced by Windspire Inc. of Long Green, Maryland. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction.

The Wombat Gyrocopters Wombat, sometimes called a Julian Wombat, is a British autogyro that was designed by Chris Julian and produced by Wombat Gyrocopters of St Columb, Cornwall, introduced in 1991. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Calumet Snobird Explorer is an American autogyro produced by Calumet Motorsports of Lansing, Illinois, introduced in May 1997. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Aviomania G1SA Genesis Solo is a Cypriot autogyro that was designed by Nicolas Karaolides and produced by Aviomania of Larnaca. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft or as a kit for amateur construction.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 331. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN   0-9636409-4-1
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.