Adams-Wilson Hobbycopter
{{Infobox aircraft
| name=Hobbycopter
| image=HobbyCopter, Adam-Wilson Helicopters, Inc., Lakewood, California - Oregon Air and Space Museum - Eugene, Oregon - DSC09715.jpg
| caption=HobbyCopter in the Oregon Air and Space Museum
| type=Single seat homebuilt helicopter
| national_origin=United States
| manufacturer=Vortech
| designer=Adams-Wilson
| first_flight=November 1958
| introduction=
| retired=
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| variants=A-B Helicopters A/W 95
Vortech A/W 95
Showers Skytwister Choppy
}}
The Adams-Wilson Hobbycopter (later named the Adams-Wilson Choppy) is a small, single-seat, open-framework helicopter designed for homebuilding, to be powered by a motorcycle engine.
Design and development
The Adams-Wilson company was formed by T.G. Adams and Paul Wilson to market plans for a simple single-seat helicopter named the HobbyCopter, of which they have built a prototype. This prototype flew successfully for the first time in November 1958. Plans were first marketed in 1958 and have been revised and revived by various designers over the years.
The Hobbycopter, (also colloquially known as the Flying Triumph), was designed to use commonly found materials that were readily available to customers. The Hobbycopter was designed to use a motorcycle engine of about {{convert|50|hp|kW|abbr=on|0}} and a variety engines have been used, including a snowmobile motor and more recently, an ultralight 2-cycle Rotax 503 engine developing {{convert|52|hp|kW|abbr=on|0}}.
The aircraft is available in the form of plans and some key parts for amateur construction from Vortech of Fallston, Maryland.Downey, Julia: 2005 Trikes 'Chutes and Rotorcraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 22, Number 2, February 2005, page 60. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
Variants
;Hobbycopter XH-1: The prototype of the one-man open framework homebuilt helicopter powered by a {{convert|34|hp|kW|abbr=on|0}} Triumph motorcycle engine.
;Hobbycopter 101:Production version of the XH-1 offered as a kit for $900, or as plans for $35 to homebuilders.
;Hobbycopter 102:Strengthened Model 101 with {{convert|34|hp|kW|abbr=on|0}} Triumph and a fibre-glass cockpit enclosure.
Specifications (Hobbycopter 101)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=
|prime units?=kts
|genhide=
|crew=1
|capacity=
|length m=4.57
|length ft=
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|length note=
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|width m=
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|width in=
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|height m=1.83
|height ft=
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|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=300
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=600
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Triumph motorcycle engine
|eng1 type=4-stroke air-cooled piston engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=34
|rot number=1
|rot dia m=6.55
|rot dia ft=
|rot dia in=
|rot area sqm=
|rot area sqft=363
|rot area note=2-bladed
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=85
|max speed kts=
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|cruise speed kmh=
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|never exceed speed kmh=
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|never exceed speed kts=
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|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=8,500
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=950
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See also
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Adams-Wilson Hobbycopter}}
- {{Official website|http://www.vortechonline.com/choppy/}}
{{Vortech aircraft}}
Category:1950s United States sport aircraft
Category:1950s United States helicopters
Category:Single-engined piston helicopters