Atlas XH-1 Alpha
| XH-1 Alpha | |
|---|---|
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| Alpha XH-1 | |
| Role | Prototype |
| Manufacturer | Atlas Aviation Denel |
| First flight | 3 February 1985 |
| Status | Retired |
| Number built | 1 |
| Developed from | Aérospatiale Alouette III |
The Alpha XH-1 was a prototype attack helicopter built by Atlas Aviation (now Denel) of South Africa, which used it as a concept demonstrator for the then-planned Rooivalk project.
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[edit] Development
It was developed from an Aérospatiale Alouette III airframe, retaining that helicopter's engine and dynamic components, but replacing the original cockpit with a stepped tandem one, adding a 20 mm cannon on the nose and converting the undercarriage to tail-dragger configuration.
The XH-1 first flew on 3 February 1985,[1]and soon embarked on a rigorous flight test program to examine the feasibility of a dedicated attack helicopter in southern African conditions. The results were ultimately good enough to convince Atlas and the South African Air Force to go ahead with the development of a dedicated attack helicopter - the AH-2 Rooivalk.
It should be noted however that the XH-1 and Rooivalk are completely different aircraft and share no components (the Rooivalk was developed from the later XH-2 prototype).
The sole XH-1 was retired sometime in the late 1980s and was handed over to the South African Air Force Museum, where it remains to this day.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (XH-1)
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Data from {name of first source}
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 (pilot and gunner)
- Length: 10.56 m (34 ft 7 in)
- Rotor diameter: 11.02 m (36 ft 2 in)
- Height: 2.73 m (8 ft 7 in)
- Empty weight: 1,400 kg (3,086 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 2,200 kg (4,850 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft, 410 kW (550 shp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 200 km/h (108 kts, 124 mph)
- Range: 550 km (297 nm, 344 mi)
Armament
- 1 × Vektor GA-1 Rattler cannon in a chin turret with 1,000 rounds
[edit] See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
[edit] References
- ^ Air International June 1986, p.599.
- "An Alpha From Atlas". Air International, June 1986, Vol.30 No. 6. p.299. ISSN 0306-5634.
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