The second helicopter ever flown in the United States was the product of the predecessor company of today 's Boeing Helicopters. The machine
was the PV 2, which acquired its designation from the name of the early firm -- the P - V
Engineering Forum which was founded by the legendary Frank Piasecki .
Boeing Helicopters is the rotorcraft division of the Boeing Company of Seattle,
Washington (USA) one of the world 's leading manufacturer of large civilians jets aircraft
and aerospace products and services.
The tandem rotor design is a Boeing hallmark. By 1990, the company has built
more than 2.500 aircraft in this configuration.
Four Generations, from bottom to top: the HUP, CH-21, CH-46 and CH-47
Photo via Classic Rotors
1940 : P - V Engineering Forum PV 1
Piasecki 's first project was a NOTAR (see 80s page)
class helicopter, but the time 1940 technology wasn't ready for that advancement yet and the machine was not built.
1943 : P - V Engineering Forum PV 2
March 7, 1945 : PV 3 Dog Ship ( HRP-X / XHRP-1 /
HRP-1
)
First world's successful tandem-rotor Helicopter
A ten seats helicopter powered by a 600 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine.
Near 20 units built for the US Navy and Coast Guard
XHRP stood for Ex
perimental, Helicopter
Transport ("T" was already taken for Trainer),
Piasecki.
The "-X" indicated that this was not a US Navy aircraft yet,
but a company prototype.
The official Navy prototypes fell under the XHRP-1 designation
The very unusual bent fuselage earned it the nickname flying banana
which stuck to this and the later Piasecki models.
1946 :
The P - V Engineering Forum changed its name to
Piasecki Helicopter Corp.
1948 : Piasecki PV 14 (XHJP-1)
The HUP prototype
1950 :
Piasecki PV 17 (HRP-2)
An HRP-1 variant with an all metal fuselage and a number
of refinements and modifications for the US marines. 5 built.
1952 :
Piasecki PV 18 Retriever "HUP" /Mule (H-25)
1953 :
Piasecki PD 22 Shawnee / Workhorse (H-21)
1954 :
Piasecki PV 15 Transporter ( H-16 / H-27 )
A 40 passenger aircraft, it was the largest helicopter in the world at the time.
The second unit produced was first designated H-27 and then H-16A
1955 : Piasecki 42 / 43 / 44 / 63 / 71 [ Vertol 105 ]
Commercial developments of the H-21
1956 :
Vertol Aircraft Co.
1957 :
Vertol 76 (VZ-T)
An Experimental tiltrotor, compete it first successful conversion flight on
July 15, 1958.
Continue
Boeing Helicopters - Part 2
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