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The Adams-Wilson Hobbycopter (later named the Adams-Wilson Choppy) is a small, single-seat, open-framework
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 for
homebuilding, to be powered by a
motorcycle
A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...
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
A motorcycle engine is an engine that powers a motorcycle. Motorcycle engines are typically two-stroke or four-stroke internal combustion engines, but other engine types, such as Wankels and electric motors, have been used.
Although some moped ...
of about and a variety engines have been used, including a
snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known as a Ski-Doo, snowmachine, sled, motor sled, motor sledge, skimobile, or snow scooter, is a motorized vehicle designed for winter travel and recreation on snow. It is designed to be operated on snow and ice and does not ...
motor and more recently, an ultralight 2-cycle
Rotax 503
The Rotax 503 is a , inline 2-cylinder, two-stroke aircraft engine, built by BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG of Austria for use in ultralight aircraft.Raisner, William: ''LEAF catlog'', pages 6-105. Leading Edge Airfoils, 1995.
As of 2011 the Rot ...
engine developing .
The aircraft is available in the form of plans and some key parts for
amateur construction from
Vortech
Vortech, Inc. is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Fallston, Maryland. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of rotorcraft in the form of plans and kits for amateur construction. Some of their designs also comply with ...
of
Fallston, Maryland
Fallston is a census-designated place (CDP) in Harford County, Maryland, United States. The population was 8,958 at the 2010 census, up from 8,427 in 2000. Fallston is a semi-rural community consisting mostly of farms and suburban-like develop ...
.
[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
Triumph motorcycle engine
Triumph Motorcycles Ltd is the largest UK-owned motorcycle manufacturer, established in 1983 by John Bloor after the original company Triumph Engineering went into receivership. The new company, initially called Bonneville Coventry Ltd, contin ...
.
;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 Triumph and a fibre-glass cockpit enclosure.
Specifications (Hobbycopter 101)
See also
References
External links
*
{{Vortech aircraft
Homebuilt aircraft
1950s United States sport aircraft
1950s United States helicopters
Single-engined piston helicopters
Hobbycopter
Aircraft first flown in 1958