The Aero HC-2 Heli Baby is a two-seat general-purpose light utility

helicopter A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward and laterally. These attributes ...

, designed by engineer Jaroslav Šlechta, and produced by the Czechoslovak company

Aero Vodochody Aero Vodochody (commonly referred to as Aero) is a Czech aircraft company. Its main production facilities are located at Vodochody Airport in the Prague-East District, on the municipal territories of Vodochody and Odolena Voda. During the C ...

in the 1950s. It has a three-blade

main rotor A helicopter main rotor or rotor system is the combination of several rotary wings (rotor blades) with a control system, that generates the aerodynamic lift force that supports the weight of the helicopter, and the thrust that counteracts aerody ...

, and a two-blade

tail rotor The tail rotor is a smaller rotor mounted vertically or near-vertically at the tail of a traditional single-rotor helicopter, where it rotates to generate a propeller-like horizontal thrust in the same direction as the main rotor's rotation. The ...

. The helicopter has an entirely metal frame and cockpit, and windows made of

Plexiglas Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) belongs to a group of materials called engineering plastics. It is a transparent thermoplastic. PMMA is also known as acrylic, acrylic glass, as well as by the trade names and brands Crylux, Plexiglas, Acrylite, ...

. It was the first and the only Czechoslovak-designed helicopter to be produced.

Design and development

The helicopter was designed by engineer Jaroslav Šlechta. Construction of the prototype began in 1951, and testing commenced in 1954. The first flight occurred on December 3, 1954, and the helicopter was introduced to the public in 1955 at the Brno Industries Fair. Production was slated to begin in 1957, however, engine problems delayed it. The initial run produced 200 of these helicopters. The Czechoslovak Air Force was a user of the HC-2, as was the Czechoslovak People's Army. The Heli Baby is capable of carrying a pilot and 220 pounds of cargo at the speed of 62 mph, while using 4.85 gallons of fuel. In 1959, it was one of the world's lightest two-seated helicopters. Initially powered by an Praga DH engine, the more powerful Avia M 110H engine, designed specifically for use in helicopters, replaced it after approximately six years. The Heli Baby can be used for transport, training, and various "other duties in military and civil service". Cargo space is situated behind the helicopter's two seats. The non-retractable undercarriage has three wheels in a tricycle configuration.

Operators

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Czechoslovak Air Force The Czechoslovak Air Force (''Československé letectvo'') or the Czechoslovak Army Air Force (''Československé vojenské letectvo'') was the air force branch of the Czechoslovak Army formed in October 1918. The armed forces of Czechoslovakia c ...

Specifications

References

;Notes ;Bibliography *Beneš, Ladislav. (In Czech) ''Československé vrtulníky známé i neznámé''. Votobia, 1998. . {{DEFAULTSORT:Aero Hc-2 Heli Baby 1950s Czechoslovakian civil utility aircraft 1950s Czechoslovakian helicopters HC-2 Aircraft first flown in 1954 Single-engined piston helicopters