Vortech Meg-2XH Strap-On
{{Short description|American homebuilt helicopter}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Meg-2XH Strap-On | image=File:Vortech Meg-2XH Strap-On.JPG | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Helicopter | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Vortech | designer= | first flight= | introduced= | retired= | status=Plans and kits no longer available (1998) | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=3 (1998) | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Vortech Meg-2XH Strap-On is an American helicopter that was designed and produced by Vortech of Fallston, Maryland. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit and also in the form of plans for amateur construction. Vortech also supplied rotor blades for the design.Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 334. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}
While listed as available early in 1998, by the end of that year the aircraft was no longer listed on the Vortech website.{{cite web|url = http://www.prismz.com/helio/|title = The World of Homebuilt Helicopters|access-date = 28 January 2015|last = Vortech|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/19981205210335/http://www.prismz.com/helio/ |archive-date = 5 December 1998}}
Design and development
The Meg-2XH Strap-On was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. The aircraft has a standard empty weight of {{convert|120|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. It features a single main rotor, a single fold-up seat and a rudder. The aircraft is supported by a partial frame when on the ground, but take-off and landing are both accomplished by foot and the aircraft is worn like a backpack, hence the name. The helicopter was designed to be powered by a single jet engine producing {{convert|37|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}.
The aircraft fuselage frame is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing and has a {{convert|21|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} diameter two-bladed rotor. The aircraft has an empty weight of {{convert|120|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|400|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|280|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|5|u.s.gal}} the maximum pilot weight is {{convert|250|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.
The {{convert|5|u.s.gal}} fuel capacity gives the aircraft a range of {{convert|35|mi|km|0|abbr=on}}. It has a top speed of {{convert|75|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} and a cruise speed of {{convert|63|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}.
The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied bolt-together assembly kit as 30 hours.
Operational history
Specifications (Meg-2XH Strap-On)
{{Aircraft specs
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|crew=one
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|empty weight lb=120
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|gross weight lb=400
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|fuel capacity={{convert|5|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=jet engine
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|eng1 shp=37
|rot number=1
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|rot dia ft=21
|rot dia in=0
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|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=75
|max speed kts=
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|cruise speed mph=63
|cruise speed kts=
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|range km=
|range miles=35
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|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=12500
|ceiling note=
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|climb rate ftmin=1000
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}}