Hoppi-Copter

Hoppi-Copter
Hoppi-Copter
	Pentecost HX-1 Hoppi-Copter on display at Pima Air & Space Museum, in Arizona, U.S.
General information
Type	Backpack helicopter
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Hoppi-Copters Inc.
History
First flight	c. 1940

The Hoppi-Copter was a functional backpack helicopter developed by the American company Hoppi-Copters Inc. founded by Horace T. Pentecost in the 1940s. The original Hoppi-Copter consisted of two contra-rotating rotors on a pole attached to a motorized backpack. Although it was capable of flight, it was extremely hard to control.

Later prototypes of the Hoppi-Copter included versions with the pilot in a sitting position, and were in effect miniature one-man helicopters of a more conventional design, though retaining the contra-rotating rotors and thus obviating a tail rotor. Despite interest from the British Ministry of Supply in the 102 and 104 models, none were adopted commercially.

Variants

Pentecost HX-1 Hoppi-Copter (Hoppi-Copter 100): original back-pack version.
Hoppi-Copter 101: equipped with a seat and landing gear, proved that more development was necessary.
Hoppi-Copter 102: framed, with seat for pilot.
Hoppi-Copter 103: as the 102, but lighter with a more powerful engine and slightly greater rotor diameter
Hoppi-Copter 104: as the 103, with even greater rotor diameter
Hoppi-Copter Firefly

Specifications (Hoppi-Copter 102)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1948

General characteristics

Crew: One
Empty weight: 173 lb (78 kg)
Gross weight: 363 lb (165 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Unknown 750 cm³ (46 cu in) two stroke flat twin, 35 hp (26 kW) at 4,500 rpm; 9.1:1 reduction gearing to rotors
Main rotor diameter: 2 × 16 ft (4.9 m)
Main rotor area: 402 sq ft (37.3 m²) total

Performance

Maximum speed: 96 mph (154 km/h, 83 kn) all performance figures estimated
Endurance: 1 hr at cruising speed
Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,700 m) hover
Disk loading: 1.8 lb/sq ft (8.8 kg/m²)

References

1 2 "The Hoppi-Copter" (PDF). Flight. October 14, 1948. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
↑ Pentecost, Horace T. (17 Oct 1945), US2461347 A, Helicopter adapted to be attached to a pilot, retrieved 2016-01-07
1 2 "Pentecost HX-1 (Model 100) Hoppi-Copter". Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
1 2 3 Bridgman, Leonard (1948). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1948. London: Sampson, Low, Marston and Co. Ltd. p. 271c.
1 2 Bridgman, Leonard (1949). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1949. London: Samson, Low, Marston and Co. Ltd. p. 234c.
↑ Bridgman, Leonard (1951). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1951. London: Samson, Low, Marston and Co. Ltd. p. 248c.

[Flight-1] 1 2 "The Hoppi-Copter" (PDF). Flight. October 14, 1948. Retrieved January 7, 2016.

[2] Pentecost, Horace T. (17 Oct 1945), US2461347 A, Helicopter adapted to be attached to a pilot, retrieved 2016-01-07

[Smithsonian-3] 1 2 "Pentecost HX-1 (Model 100) Hoppi-Copter". Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved 2016-01-07.

[JAWA48-4] 1 2 3 Bridgman, Leonard (1948). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1948. London: Sampson, Low, Marston and Co. Ltd. p. 271c.

[JAWA49-5] 1 2 Bridgman, Leonard (1949). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1949. London: Samson, Low, Marston and Co. Ltd. p. 234c.

[JAWA51-6] Bridgman, Leonard (1951). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1951. London: Samson, Low, Marston and Co. Ltd. p. 248c.

Hoppi-Copter

Variants

Specifications (Hoppi-Copter 102)

See also

References