Lee Scatt
09-20-2009, 06:11 AM
There is a good article in the latest Air And Space magazine on P-V Engineering Forum. Founded in 1940 by Frank Paisecki and Harold Venzie.
They originally teamed up to develop home appliances, but ended up with a helicopter, the PV-2.
Paisecki test flew the prototype, he had 14 hours in a Cub.
It was tethered down with a clothesline, which parted, and the runaway helo was sucessfully landed by Paisecki. Can you imagine the thrill that was?
I'd bet you couldn't drive a toothpick up his hind end with a sledgehammer.
To demonstrate it to the military in Wash. D.C., they hitched the tail to their car and drug it along behind them for 135 miles.
After several exhibition flights, flown in his trademark Homburg hat and bowtie, the CAA presented him with the first helicopter license, that was not an add-on to a FW ticket.
THose days are long gone. Think of the fines the FAA would impose on you now for doing that.
The PV-2 is on display at the Udvar-Hazy museum.
They originally teamed up to develop home appliances, but ended up with a helicopter, the PV-2.
Paisecki test flew the prototype, he had 14 hours in a Cub.
It was tethered down with a clothesline, which parted, and the runaway helo was sucessfully landed by Paisecki. Can you imagine the thrill that was?
I'd bet you couldn't drive a toothpick up his hind end with a sledgehammer.
To demonstrate it to the military in Wash. D.C., they hitched the tail to their car and drug it along behind them for 135 miles.
After several exhibition flights, flown in his trademark Homburg hat and bowtie, the CAA presented him with the first helicopter license, that was not an add-on to a FW ticket.
THose days are long gone. Think of the fines the FAA would impose on you now for doing that.
The PV-2 is on display at the Udvar-Hazy museum.