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History Brief, by Johan Visschedijk

February 8, 2004

Fairey Rotodyne Y


The Rotodyne was an experimental vertical take-off and landing transport using the principle of a powered rotor for VTOL capability, combined with conventional forward propulsion and a fixed wing to off-load the rotor and make possible higher cruising speed. Fairey Aviation used for the development of the Rotodyne the experience gained from the Gyrodyne of the 1940's.

Technically a compound helicopter rather than a true convertiplane the Rotodyne was intended as a medium-haul "flying bus". With a crew of two and forty passengers it would be capable of flying economical payload between city centers. The sole prototype Rotodyne Y, powered by two 2,800 hp engines mounted under wings, flew for the first time from White Waltham on November 6, 1957.

For take-off, the engines were coupled to auxiliary air compressors through a clutch, supplying compressed air to the rotor, where it was ignited with kerosene in Fairey-developed pressure-jets at the blade-tips. After take-off, transition to forward flight was accomplished by progressively transferring power from the rotor to the two conventional propellers. In normal flight the air compressors were "declutched" and all power went into the propellers, the rotor then "free-wheeling" as on an autogiro.

The first transition from vertical to level flight was made on April 10, 1958, after which the procedure became routine during tests. On January 5, 1959 the Rotodyne set a rotary-winged world speed record at 190.9 mph (307 kmh) over a 62 mls (100 km) closed circuit. Also in 1959 the aircraft was modified to increase the wing angle of incidence and to introduce ailerons. A third vertical fin centered on the tail had been added for increased performance at higher speeds. Further changes include rotor head fairings and shortening of jet outflux pipes outboard of engine nacelles.

A larger version, the Rotodyne Z, was offered carrying up to 70 passengers and powered by 5,250 hp Rolls-Royce Tyne engines by the time Fairey Aviation helicopter interests were acquired by Westland in 1960. The program was continued but due to lack of government support it came to a halt in early 1962.

Rotodyne Y Johan Visschedijk Collection

Specifications

Type:

Experimental compound helicopter

Engine:

Two 2,800 eshp Napier Eland N.E.L.3 turboprop engines

Rotor:

90 ft 0 in (27.43 m) in diameter

Disk area:

6,359 sq.ft (591 sq.m)

Wingspan:

46 ft 6 in (14.17 m)

Length:

58 ft 8 in (17.88 m) without rotor
90 ft 0 in (27.43 m) turning rotor

Height:

22 ft 2 in (6.76 m)

Empty Wt:

24,030 lb (10,900 kg)

Max T/O Wt:

33,000 lb (14,969 kg)

Max speed:

185 mph (298 km/h)

Max climb:

1,670 ft (509 m)/min

Ceiling:

20,000 ft (6,096 m)

Range:

450 mls (724 km)

Models

Rotodyne Y:

single prototype

Rotodyne Z:

projected production version