PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Helicopter with a steering wheel!
View Single Post
Old 9th January 2008 | 06:28
  #4 (permalink)  
HOSS 1
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: USA
While researching the history of old Sikorskys, one of the real old timers that had been there (Harry Hleva) relayed an interesting story.

While trying to set the helicopter speed record, the pilot of Sikorsky's S-52 found he was running out of lateral stick due to leg contact. Igor listened intently as the pilot explained the problem. Within the hour Igor had summoned one of his long time crew chiefs to "go to the attic and get a flying boat wheel". The mechanics worked into the evening and by the next morning the aircraft was ready for the next try. A wheel had been added to the top of the cyclic for roll control.

The S-52 went on to hold the helo speed record.

HOSS
HOSS 1 is offline  
Reply