JPHarrison
10-21-2007, 08:06 AM
Came across an interesting find a few days ago. I was at the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, CA, to take a look at their Kellett KD-1A and was fortunate enough to be allowed to sit in the pilot's seat. I immediately noticed a few unusual features of the aircraft:
Swashplate controlled rotor.
Driveshaft angled straight back from the engine to the rotor.
The KD-1A should have:
Tilting hub controlled rotor.
Driveshaft enclosed in the rotor pylon.
Upon returning home, I conducted a little research and determined the aircraft is actually the sole XR-3 built with Dorsey Bill funds as one of the XR series:
XR-1: Platt-LePage helicopter
XR-2: Kellett Autogiro
XR-3: Kellett Autogiro
XR-4: Sikorsky helicopter.
The XR-2 went into ground resonance and destroyed itself very early in its career. The XR-3 was built using lessons learned and was tested extensively.
Both the XR-2 and XR-3 were modified KD-1As, hence the confusion about the identity of the Yanks aircraft.
Anyway, the powers-that-be have been informed along with supporting documentation, the stars have aligned, and I can once again sleep soundly.
Swashplate controlled rotor.
Driveshaft angled straight back from the engine to the rotor.
The KD-1A should have:
Tilting hub controlled rotor.
Driveshaft enclosed in the rotor pylon.
Upon returning home, I conducted a little research and determined the aircraft is actually the sole XR-3 built with Dorsey Bill funds as one of the XR series:
XR-1: Platt-LePage helicopter
XR-2: Kellett Autogiro
XR-3: Kellett Autogiro
XR-4: Sikorsky helicopter.
The XR-2 went into ground resonance and destroyed itself very early in its career. The XR-3 was built using lessons learned and was tested extensively.
Both the XR-2 and XR-3 were modified KD-1As, hence the confusion about the identity of the Yanks aircraft.
Anyway, the powers-that-be have been informed along with supporting documentation, the stars have aligned, and I can once again sleep soundly.