Catching a Saturn 5 with a Hiller...
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Catching a Saturn 5 with a Hiller...
Don't laugh, it was thought about...
But back in 1965 the company made a proposal so bold that it bordered on insane: a giant helicopter with a rotor diameter bigger than the length of a football field, capable not only of transporting a Saturn V S-1C first stage, but of actually catching it in midair as it fell on a parachute.
I would submit you have used the boldest example of British Understatement in history. "Bordered on the insane....."?
Wow, nothing new under the sun eh? New Zealand based launcher Rocket Labs has plans to do the same with its Electron rockets.
What could possibly go wrong?
The small Hiller museum near San Francisco is worth a visit if you are a rotary wing fan. Some interesting stuff. Not enough for multiple visits but glad I went once.
The small Hiller museum near San Francisco is worth a visit if you are a rotary wing fan. Some interesting stuff. Not enough for multiple visits but glad I went once.
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I stumbled on the Hiller Museum at San Carlos Airport during a visit to San Francisco - it is indeed well worth a visit. I missed anything they had on the Saturn catcher!