Brantly B-2

Brantly B-2
Brantly B2 in a hover
General information
TypeLight Helicopter
ManufacturerBrantly Helicopter Corporation
Designer
StatusIn production (2011)[1]
Number built334
History
Introduction date1958
First flight21 February 1953

The Brantly B-2 is an American two-seat light helicopter produced by the Brantly Helicopter Corporation.

Design and development

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After the failure of his first design, the Brantly B-1, Newby O. Brantly decided to design a simpler and less complicated helicopter for the private buyer.[citation needed] The B-2 had a single main rotor and an anti-torque tail rotor and first flew on 21 February 1953. This was followed by an improved second prototype that first flew on 14 August 1956.

The B-2A was introduced with a modified cabin, and the B-2B had a larger 180 hp fuel-injected engine. The B-2B has a three-bladed articulated main rotor and an all-metal fuselage, it can be operated with skid, wheel or float landing gear. The piston engine is fitted vertically in the fuselage behind the cabin.

Operational history

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The basic design has remained in production for over 50 years.[1] The United States Army ordered five B-2s (designated the YHO-3) to be evaluated in the Light Observation Helicopter competition in 1958, although it lost the bid, the Army operated the H-5T unmanned variant as target from 1986.[2] Introduced in the early 1970s, an improved larger version with five seats was designated the Brantly 305.[3]

Variants

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The unbuilt Brantly B2J10 10-seat transport helicopter. Was to be powered by two Allison 250-C18 or two Boeing 550-1-12C engines.
  • Brantly B-2: Two-seat single-engined light utility helicopter.
    • Brantly YHO-3: United States military designation for the B2.
  • Brantly B-2A: Initial production version.
  • Brantly B-2B: Improved version, fitted with new metal rotor blades, and an uprated fuel-injected 180 hp Lycoming piston engine.
  • Brantly 305: Larger five-seat version.
  • H-2: Designation of the B-2B built by Brantly-Hynes between 1976 and 1979.
  • Brantly B-2J10: Projected tandem-rotor version with longer and wider fuselage for carrying passengers and/or cargo. Unbuilt.
  • V750 UAV: An UAV version developed by Qingdao Haili Helicopters Co. Ltd., a joint venture between Brantly International Inc, Qingdao Wenquan International Aviation Investment Co., Ltd, and Qingdao Brantly Investment Consultation Co., Ltd.[4] Maiden flight was completed on May 7, 2011, and received an order from an unnamed customer[5]

Accidents and incidents

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The B-2 has had 21 fatal accidents between February 1964 and August 2009.[6]

Survivors

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A B2B belonging to the Flying Gyrocopter and Old Aircraft museum at Midden-Zeeland, Netherlands was reportedly about to fly again November 2009.[7]

A Greek road-assistance company named Express Service based in Thessaloniki operated a B2B Brantly-Hynes helicopter for several years. That helicopter started flying in 1978 and had the Greek registration number SX-AHH. First captain was the pilot Kaltekis Spyridon.

B2 sn#18 is in Chino awaiting restoration after the 2005/2010 floods at Corona airport,a month underwater did little corrosive damage... , a B2B acquired for spares to complete restoration (dual serial numbers found "spliced together bird")

Specifications (B-2B with skid landing gear)

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Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1976–77.[8]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 21 ft 9 in (6.63 m)
  • Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
  • Empty weight: 1,020 lb (463 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,670 lb (757 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 31 US gal (26 imp gal; 120 L)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Avco Lycoming IVO-360-A1A air-cooled flat-four engine, 180 hp (130 kW)
  • Main rotor diameter: 23 ft 9 in (7.24 m)
  • Main rotor area: 442 sq ft (41.1 m2)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn) at sea level
  • Cruise speed: 90 mph (140 km/h, 78 kn) (75% power)
  • Range: 250 mi (400 km, 220 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 10,800 ft (3,300 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,900 ft/min (9.7 m/s)

See also

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Related lists

References

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  1. ^ a b Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 189. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. ^ Harding 1990, pp. 73–74.
  3. ^ Frawley, Gerard. The International Directory of Civil Aircraft. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 1997. ISBN 1-875671-26-9.
  4. ^ http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:de32542d-5108-45db-b600-be5e7ad5f935 [dead link‍]
  5. ^ "[时事聚焦]俄媒：中国V750型最大无人机是美国B-2B改型_国际观察_天涯社区". Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2011-09-06.
  6. ^ "R44 Accident Database". Griffin Helicopters. Retrieved 30 January 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ FlyPast, November 2009, p.17
  8. ^ Taylor 1976, p. 252.

Bibliography

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  • "Aircraft Production List: 5: The Brantly B-2: Part One". Archive. No. 4. Air-Britain. 1990. pp. 91–92. ISSN 0262-4923.
  • Bridgman, Leonard; Taylor, John W. R., eds. (1958). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958–59. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company. Ltd.
  • Elliott, Bryn (January–February 1999). "On the Beat: The First 60 Years of Britain's Air Police". Air Enthusiast. No. 79. pp. 68–75. ISSN 0143-5450.
  • Elliott, Bryn (May–June 1999). "On the Beat: The First 60 Years of Britain's Air Police, Part Two". Air Enthusiast. No. 81. pp. 64–69. ISSN 0143-5450.
  • Frawley, Gerard. The International Directory of Civil Aircraft. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 1997. ISBN 1-875671-26-9.
  • Harding, Stephen (1990). U.S Army Aircraft since 1947. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-102-8.
  • Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1976). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1976–77. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0-354-00538-3.

Further reading

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