Hiller YH-32 Hornet
The Hiller YH-32 Hornet (company designation HJ-1) is an American ultralight helicopter built by Hiller Aircraft in the early 1950s. It was a small and unique design because it was powered by two Hiller 8RJ2B ramjet engines mounted on the rotor blade tips which weigh 13 lb (5.9 kg) each and deliver an equivalent of 45 hp (34 kW) for a total of 90 hp (67 kW). Versions of the HJ-1 Hornet were built for the United States Army and the United States Navy in the early 1950s. The Hiller Museum identifies the YH-32A, named the Sally Rand, as the first helicopter gunship. The Hiller HOE-1 became the first production ramjet helicopter, and the Army and Navy flew a small number of these aircraft for a short time to test and evaluate the technology.
Summary from Wikipedia, photo via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA.
- Manufacturer
- Hiller Aircraft Company
- Category
- Helicopters
- First flight
- 1950-01-01
Specifications
- Cruise speed
- 60 kt
- Range
- 24 nm
- Service ceiling
- 6,900 ft
- Rate of climb
- 700 ft/min
- Max takeoff weight
- 1,080 lb
- Empty weight
- 544 lb
- Powerplant
- Hiller 8RJ2B
- Engines
- 2
- Seats
- 2
- Length
- 23.7 ft
- Height
- 7.8 ft
- Number built
- 18
Specifications are approximate and may vary by variant. Compiled from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Reference and training only. Specifications vary by variant — consult the manufacturer and the official documents.