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Kellett KD-1
| KD-1 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Autogyro |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Kellett Autogiro Company |
| Maiden flight | 1934 |
| Primary users | United States Army Air Force Eastern Airlines |
The Kellett KD-1 was a 1930s American autogyro built by the Kellett Autogiro Company. It had the distinction of being the first practical rotary-wing aircraft used by the United States Army and inaugurated the first scheduled air-mail service using a rotary-wing aircraft.
Development
Using the experience gained in building Cierva autogyros under licence the Kellet Augogiro Company developed the KD-1 which was similar to the contempary Cierva C.30. It had a two open cockpits, a fixed tailwheel landing gear and was powered by a 225hp (168kW) Jacobs L-4 radial engine. After testing of the protototype a commercial variant designated the KD-1A was put into production. The KD-1A had a three-bladed rotor with folding blades and a number of minor detail improvements. A KD-1B which was a KD-1A with an enclosed cockpit for the pilot was operated by Eastern Airlines and inaugurated the first scheduled rotary-wing air-mail service on 6 July 1939.
In 1935 the United States Army bought a KD-1 for evaluation and designated it the YG-1, a second aircraft followed which had additional radio equipment and was designated the YG-1A. These two aircraft were followed by a batch of seven designated YG-1B. In 1942 seven more were bought for use in the observation role as the XO-60. Six XO-60s were re-engined with 300hp (224kW) Jacobs R-915]]-3s and re-designated YO-60. One YG-1B was modified with a constant-speed rotor and was re-designated the YG-1C, it was later re-engined with the more powerful R-915 and re-designated again as the XR-2. The XR-2 was destroyed by rotor ground resonance problems and the evaluation was continued with another modified YG-1B designated the XR-3.
Variants
- KD-1
- Prototype, one built
- KD-1A
- Commercial variant with open cockpit and a 225hp (168kW) Jacobs L-4 radial engine, three built
- KD-1B
- Commercial variant with enclosed cockpit two built.
- YG-1
- United States Army designation for one KD-1A acquired for evaluation.
- YG-1A
- One aircraft as YG-1 with the addition of radio eqiupment.
- YG-1B
- Production aircraft for the United States Army, seven built.
- YG-1C
- One YG-1B modified with a constant-speed rotor for evaluation, later designated the XR-2.
- XO-60
- Production aircraft for the United States Army with a 225hp (168kW) Jacobs R-775 radial engine, seven built.
- YO-60
- Six XO-60s re-engined with a 300hp (224kW) Jacob R-915-3 radial engine.
- XR-2
- The YG-1C re-designated after being re-engined with a 300hp (224kW) Jacob R-915-3 radial engine.
- XR-3
- One YG-1B modifed to XR-2 standard for evaluation.
- Kayaba Ka-1
- Japanese built KD-1 powered by a 240hp Kobe engine, 240 built.
Operators
Specifications (KD-1B)
See also
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
References
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
- Andrade (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN ISBN 0 904597 22 9.
Template:USAAC autogyros Template:USAF helicopters Template:USAAF observation aircraft
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
| This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Kellett KD-1". |
