Phoenix Skyblazer
{{Short description|American helicopter}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
{{other|Skyblazer (disambiguation)}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Skyblazer | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Helicopter | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Phoenix Rotorcraft | designer=Nolan brothers | first flight= | introduced= | retired= | status=Production completed (2013) | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=At least one | developed from= Eagle's Perch | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Phoenix Skyblazer is an American helicopter that was designed by the Nolan brothers and produced by Phoenix Rotorcraft of Fallston, Maryland and more recently Louisburg, North Carolina. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 193. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
While advertised for sale in 2011, by February 2013 the aircraft was no longer listed as being available on the manufacturer's website.{{cite web|url = http://www.phoenix-rotorcraft.com/|title = Phoenix-Rotorcraft, LLC|accessdate = 6 February 2013|last = Phoenix Rotorcraft|date = n.d.|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121031015021/http://www.phoenix-rotorcraft.com/|archive-date = 31 October 2012|url-status = dead}} By January 2015 the company was offering a new gyroplane using the same name, spelled SkyBlazer, as the previous helicopter design. The company website domain subsequently expired and the company is likely no longer in business.{{cite web|url = http://www.phoenix-rotorcraft.com/#!gyro/canh|title = SkyBlazer|accessdate = 21 January 2015|last = Phoenix Rotorcraft|year = 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121031015021/http://www.phoenix-rotorcraft.com/#!gyro/canh|archive-date = 31 October 2012|url-status = dead}}{{cite web|url= http://www.phoenix-rotorcraft.com/|title= Phoenix Rotorcraft|access-date= 4 October 2022|author= Phoenix Rotorcraft|work= www.phoenix-rotorcraft.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130703030145/http://www.phoenix-rotorcraft.com/|archive-date= 3 July 2013|url-status= dead}}
Design and development
The Skyblazer features two coaxial, contra-rotating main rotors, a single-seat open cockpit without a windshield, skid-type landing gear and two twin-cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 503 engines for redundancy. The two engines were provided due to the aircraft lacking collective pitch control, thus precluding an autorotation in the event of a power loss. The aircraft can reportedly hover on one engine.
The aircraft fuselage is made from welded steel tubing. Its dual two-bladed rotors have diameters of {{convert|14.5|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} and incorporate dual flapping hinges. Directional control is achieved by tilting the rotor mast. The aircraft has an empty weight of {{convert|500|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|850|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|350|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|26|u.s.gal}} the payload is {{convert|194|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.
Operational history
In October 2022 there was one example registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.{{cite web|url = https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/MakeModelInquiry|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 31 October 2022|author = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 31 October 2022}}
Specifications (Skyblazer)
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|empty weight lb=500
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|gross weight lb=850
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|fuel capacity= Two {{convert|13|u.s.gal}} tanks
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|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=Rotax 503
|eng1 type=twin cylinder, air-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine
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|eng1 hp=50
|rot number=2
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|max speed kmh=153
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|cruise speed kmh=113
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References
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External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130703030145/http://www.phoenix-rotorcraft.com/ Official website archives] on Archive.org
Category:2000s United States sport aircraft
Category:2000s United States helicopters
Category:Twin-engined piston helicopters