A-B Helicopters A/W 95
| A/W 95 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Helicopter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | A-B Helicopters |
| Status | Plans not longer available (2012) |
| Number built | at least two |
| Developed from | Adams-Wilson Choppy |
| Variants | Vortech A/W 95 |
The A-B Helicopters A/W 95 is an American helicopter, produced by A-B Helicopters in the form of plans for amateur construction.[1]
By 2012 the A-B Helicopters website had been taken down and plans are no longer available.[2]
The design was developed into the Vortech A/W 95 and plans for that version remain available from Vortech.[3]
Design and development
The A/W 95 is a development of the Adams-Wilson Choppy, which the A/W designation acknowledges. The A/W 95 was designed to comply with the US Experimental Amateur-built rules, since the empty weight is too heavy for the FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, which stipulates a maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 271 lb (123 kg). It features a single main rotor, a single-seat open cockpit without a windshield, skid landing gear and a twin cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 engine.[1]
The aircraft fuselage is an open frame made from bolted-together and gusseted aluminum tubing. Its 19.5 ft (5.9 m) diameter two-bladed extruded aluminum rotor has a chord of 7 in (17.8 cm) and employs a symmetrical airfoil. The transmission is constructed from a belt and chain mechanism. With its standard empty weight of 271 lb (123 kg) and a gross weight of 490 lb (222 kg), the useful load is 219 lb (99 kg). Fuel tank capacity is 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal), rendering a full-fuel payload of 189 lb (86 kg).[1]
While the A/W 95 is primarily plans-built, during the time that A-B Helicopters was in business some pre-fabricated parts were available.[1]
Operational history
By January 2013 two examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.[4]
Specifications (A/W 95)
Data from Bayerl[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Airfoil: symmetrical
- Empty weight: 271 lb (123 kg)
- Gross weight: 489 lb (222 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 503 two cylinder, air-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 50 hp (37 kW)
- Main rotor diameter: 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 65 mph (104 km/h, 56 kn)
- Cruise speed: 60 mph (97 km/h, 52 kn)
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 189. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ A-B Helicopters (2012). "A-B Helicopters". Retrieved 21 January 2013.
- ^ Downey, Julia: 2005 Trikes 'Chutes and Rotorcraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 22, Number 2, February 2005, page 60. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- ^ Federal Aviation Administration (21 January 2013). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 21 January 2013.
