Hiller Rotorcycle, Ultralight Personal Helicopter 1957

Small enough personal helicopter when folded to carry in a pod under an aircraft's wing or on the luggage rack of your car, this contraption becomes a full sized helicopter in a matter of minutes - capable of taking off from your backyard and flying anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area on a single tank of gas.

In1954 Hiller Helicopters was selected by the Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics to build a one man, foldable, self-rescue and observation helicopter. The Hiller Model 1033 was designated by the military as the XROE-1 "Rotorcycle." Two prototypes were built at the Hiller Helicopter Plant in Palo Alto, California. The helicopter has the Hiller Rotormatic control paddles with a conventional tail rotor. Power was supplied from a Nelson H-59, two cycle, 40 hp, four cylinder opposed air cooled engine through a centrifugal clutch. The prototype Rotorcycle first flew on January 10, 1957.

Hiller Helicopter Plant in Palo Alto, California, USA

Basic Data
Main rotor dia. 18.50 ft.
Tail rotor dia. 3 ft.
Overall length 18.50 ft.
Maximum height 92 in.
Gross weight 546 lbs.
Empty weight 290 lbs.
Useful load 270 lbs.

Performance Characteristics

Maximum speed (sea level) 70 mph
Cruising speed 52 mph
Rate of climb 1160 ft/min
Effective range 30 miles
Range at sea level
(with 170 lbs. pilot and
86 lbs. of fuel) 166 miles




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Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Hiller
• Rotorcycle
• Ultralight
• Personal
• One
• Man
• Helicopter
• airplane
• Palo
• Alto
• California
• USA
• 1957

[swsloper]

0.24 looks like a real bad idea if you fall :P

[2010Barbon]

Cant you Guys see the problem with this copter, it is TOO practical, too convenient,if it was mass produced it would be cheaper than a motor cycle, any government would not like the idea of a large number of the populos having posession of one of these things in their garden shed, ready to flyy in 15 mins, the possibiltis of terrorism, crime, having acces to places you cant go, no sir they wouldnt let it happen........................­..........Curtis

[khijasmith]

This is a great video

[ericajjful]

i enjoyed this vid

[post18guy]

you can see one at the air museum in mcminnville oregon

[monicayancey]

the comments that everone has made about thease craft are about half correct you have strict FAA regulation has is kept them from mass production but so has consumer intrest in them but the US has always stayed away from any personal aircraft unless it is mass produced by a major contractor look at the snail like production of the hovercraft

[60knightsix]

I'm always disturbed to see such commentary. There's no 'conspiracy' here-such vehicles have always been, and will always be...impractical. Too small, no endurance, lack of safety issues, too noisy and frankly, simply too unsafe. There are people flying today who should never have been given a simple driver's license, much less one for flight. I can see any one of these crashing into someone's back yard. Just a thought. Knightsix

[beverlyterry]

@2010Barbon ..............................­.......you are exactly right, there are few people that really see the big gov't behind most all things, lets mass produce them give fake flying intructions to all the beauracrates and send them one Free !!!!!!!!!!!! joe m jax fl.

[lionelvillahermosa]

***excellent***

[candr]

I think kits can be bought and constructed in your back yard. Not certain why someone would think these are being kept out of public hands, just follow flight reg.. Have an experimental lic myself, not that hard.

[supertec07]

@2010Barbon who is they and why dont you make your own looks simple enough for the shed to make in and you can legally fly one in most countries def in the uk . these things will not be mass produced as not many people would have the balls to fly around in them.

[SuperBaIIz]

@2010Barbon and when radar sees you leaving proper airspace at 55mph and scrambles F-16's to intercept and escort you back you will be too slow to intercept and therefore unstoppable.

damn i forgot text doesn't convey sarcasm............