Airmaster
Airmaster Helicopters Ltd.
Contents
History
Airmaster Helicopters Ltd was formed in Camberley, Surrey by D.J. Fry in 1971 to design and manufacture the lightest, smallest, simplest and lowest cost two-seater helicopter. The resulting machine, the H2-B1, was a development of the American Helicom H-II Commuter, designed by Harold E. Emigh. Construction of the prototype H2-B1 commenced in September 1970, was completed in January 1972 and was first flown in February 1972. In mid-1972, the machine migrated to Redhill airfield in Surrey, UK, where it was to spend some time under the watchful eye of the Cierva Organisation, the object being to develop the machine into a production H2-B2 with streamlined fuselage and monocoque tailboom. However, things seemed to grind to a halt for one reason or another. The aircraft was subsequently seen at Blackbushe Airfield, Hampshire, by the autumn of 1977, where it was reported to be ‘long past airworthy’, the aircraft’s CofA having expired on February 13th 1973.
Company References
- British Private Aircraft, 1946-1970, Volume 2, Arthur W.J.G. Ord-Hume (Mushroom Model Publications, 2013)
- http://www.redbackaviation.com/british-h2-b1-airmaster-helicopter/
Project Data
| Project No | Type No | Name | Alternative Name(s) | Year | Spec (Requirement) | Status | Qty | Description | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H2-B1 | 1972 | Proto | 1 | 2S helicopter | 1,2,3,4 | ||||
| H2-B2 | 1972 | Proj | 0 | 2S helicopter | 1,2,3,4 |
Project References
- British Civil Aircraft Since 1919, Vol 1, A.J. Jackson (Putnam, 1973)
- British Private Aircraft, 1946-1970, Volume 2, Arthur W.J.G. Ord-Hume (Mushroom Model Publications, 2013)
- Flight 1 Feb 1973
- http://www.redbackaviation.com/british-h2-b1-airmaster-helicopter/
Production Details and Type Description
Two-seat, ultra light helicopter. The fuselage is a welded steel, tubular structure with aluminium skins and featuring two seats side-by-side with an access door on each side. The tail boom, also welded steel tube, features a small ventral fin. The skid type landing gear has rubber shock absorption and fitted wheels that are there purely for ground handling. Main blades are attached to the hub by five shear-bolts, the blade leading and trailing edges are of extruded aluminium with aluminium skins, the whole assembly being metal bonded and safety riveted. The tail rotor consists of a formed aluminium skin, riveted along the trailing edge and with extruded aluminium attachment points. The rotor blades are driven by a simple gearbox incorporating two helical spur gears. One 100 hp Rolls Royce Continental 0-200-A powerplant.
| Airmaster H2-B1 Specification | |||||||||
| Rotor Dia | Length | Height | Empty Wt | Max AUW | Cruise Speed | Maximum Speed | Range | Service Ceiling | |
| 23 ft | 25 ft 3 in | 19 ft 4 in | 738 lb | 1200 lb | 90 mph/ 78 kn | 95 mph/ 83 kn | 200 mi | ||
| 7.01 m | 7.7 m | 5.89 m | 335 kg | 544 kg | 145 km/h | 153 km/h | 322 km | ||
One aircraft only : G-AYNS, c/n 1. First flew September, 1972.
Total Airmaster Production1
Page Revision History
Revised at Version 2.0.0- Type technical description and Specification Table added.