Vertical Hummingbird
{{Short description|American helicopter}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Hummingbird | image=File:VAT Hummingbird 260l (crop orientation ).jpg | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Helicopter | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Vertical Aviation Technologies | designer= | first flight= | introduced=1991 | retired= | status=In production (2013) | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | developed from= Sikorsky S-52 | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Vertical Hummingbird is an American helicopter, produced by Vertical Aviation Technologies of Sanford, Florida that was introduced in 1991. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011–12, page 194. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}{{cite web|url = http://vertical-aviation.com/|title = Home of the four passenger Hummingbird|access-date = 14 February 2013|last = Vertical Aviation Technologies|year = 2013}}
Design and development
The Hummingbird is a development of the certified Sikorsky S-52 that first flew in 1947, adapted to kit form. The aircraft features a single main rotor, a four-seat enclosed cabin, quadracycle landing gear and an option for skids. The prototype was converted by Vertical Aviation Technologies from a Sikorsky S-52-3.
The Hummingbird fuselage is made from riveted aluminum sheet. The nose section is adapted from the Bell 206. Its {{convert|33|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} diameter fully articulated three-bladed main rotor employs a NACA 0015 airfoil.{{Cite web|url = https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html|title = The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |access-date = 30 October 2022|last = Lednicer |first = David |year = 2010}} The two-bladed tail rotor has a diameter of {{convert|5.75|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}. The aircraft has an empty weight of {{convert|1790|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|2800|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|1010|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|57|u.s.gal}} the payload is {{convert|668|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url = https://vertical-aviation.com/specification|title = Hummingbird 300L |access-date = 30 October 2022}}
Variants
;VAT S-52-3:Prototype of the Hummingbird family, converted from an original Sikorsky S-52-3.{{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988–89 |year=1988 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |location=London |isbn=0-7106-0867-5 |editor=John W.R. Taylor|page=495}}
;Hummingbird 260L
:Version powered by a six cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition {{convert|265|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lycoming IVO-435 engine{{cite web|url = http://vertical-aviation.com/hummingbird-kit-helicopter/260l/|title = Hummingbird 260L |access-date = 14 February 2013|last = Vertical Aviation Technologies|year = 2013|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141004184604/https://vertical-aviation.com/hummingbird-kit-helicopter/260l/|archive-date = 4 October 2014}}
;Hummingbird 300LS
:Version powered by an eight cylinder, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, single-ignition {{convert|325|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} General Motors LS7 V-8 automotive conversion engine, derated to {{convert|280|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url = http://vertical-aviation.com/hummingbird-kit-helicopter/300ls/|title = Hummingbird 300LS|access-date = 14 February 2013|last = Vertical Aviation Technologies|year = 2013|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130128043311/http://vertical-aviation.com/hummingbird-kit-helicopter/300ls|archive-date = 28 January 2013}}
;Hummingbird 300L
:Version powered by a six cylinder, air-cooled, fuel injected Lycoming IO-540 derated to {{convert|280|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}
Specifications (Hummingbird 300L)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=three passengers
|length m=
|length ft=
|length in=
|length note=
|width m=
|width ft=5
|width in=0
|width note=
|height m=
|height ft=8
|height in=7
|height note=
|airfoil=NACA 0015
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=1790
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=2800
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|57|USgal|impgal l}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name= Lycoming IO-540
|eng1 type=six cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke fuel injected aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=280
|rot number=1
|rot dia m=
|rot dia ft=33
|rot dia in=0
|rot area sqm=
|rot area sqft=
|rot area note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=110
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=110
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=380
|range nmi=
|range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=14000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=950
|climb rate note=at {{convert|2800|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}
|time to altitude=
|disk loading kg/m2=
|disk loading lb/sqft=
|disk loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://vertical-aviation.com/}}
Category:1990s United States sport aircraft
Category:1990s United States helicopters