Silhouette challenge
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Something from Messrs. Н. Мельник and А. Светикас, although Giggle translitterates "Мельник" as Miller.
Tovarich Alexander Svetikas was an experienced pilot, as the unfolding story will tell.
Tovarich Alexander Svetikas was an experienced pilot, as the unfolding story will tell.
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Well a search for Н. Мельник and А. Светикас found several drawings of it including the one used for the challenge but I can't see what its called, other that it appears to be a 1960 design by Н. Мельник and А. Светикас.
Edit to say, looks like RR has found it...well done mate.
Edit to say, looks like RR has found it...well done mate.
Last edited by skytrain10; 7th Apr 2011 at 16:43.
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Correct RR 
The backpack helicopter N. Melnik (Miller) and A. Svetikas
The story as I understand it:
These two gentlemen had built in 1959 - 1961 two ultralight helicopters.
They now (1961) designed and built their own even lighter helicopter, using a water-cooled Wankel engine that they apparently designed and built on their own. They fine-tuned the engine for 50 hours at 800 - 900 rpm. The test-bench study showed that it developed 30 hp (22 kW) at 17,000 rpm.
The experienced test pilot, Mr Svetikas, weighing 92 kg, strapped the helicopter on his back and stood on a tractor frame in a tractor shed, (which was his shop) and started the engine, holding strongly on the tractor. Then he increased the pitch angle of the rotor and the rpm. Suddenly, the pilot took off. Fuel tank and helicopter engine hit the ceiling of the shop, at height of five feet. One rotor blade broke off. Small propellers collapsed and fell on the Svetikas' shop floor.
The story ends, as it should, with a moral:
Fortunately, all went well, although the designers of the helicopter test grossly violated safety rules. The test should have been on a leash, on a flat open area.
Over to you RR
Edit to say RR has requested Open House
The backpack helicopter N. Melnik (Miller) and A. Svetikas
The story as I understand it:
These two gentlemen had built in 1959 - 1961 two ultralight helicopters.
They now (1961) designed and built their own even lighter helicopter, using a water-cooled Wankel engine that they apparently designed and built on their own. They fine-tuned the engine for 50 hours at 800 - 900 rpm. The test-bench study showed that it developed 30 hp (22 kW) at 17,000 rpm.
The experienced test pilot, Mr Svetikas, weighing 92 kg, strapped the helicopter on his back and stood on a tractor frame in a tractor shed, (which was his shop) and started the engine, holding strongly on the tractor. Then he increased the pitch angle of the rotor and the rpm. Suddenly, the pilot took off. Fuel tank and helicopter engine hit the ceiling of the shop, at height of five feet. One rotor blade broke off. Small propellers collapsed and fell on the Svetikas' shop floor.
The story ends, as it should, with a moral:
Fortunately, all went well, although the designers of the helicopter test grossly violated safety rules. The test should have been on a leash, on a flat open area.
Over to you RR
Edit to say RR has requested Open House
Last edited by RegDep; 7th Apr 2011 at 18:01. Reason: Added Wankel name plus corrected some typos
.