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PPRuNe Forums (https://www.pprune.org/)
-   Rotorheads (https://www.pprune.org/rotorheads-23/)
-   -   Flying Early Helicopters (https://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/668333-flying-early-helicopters.html)

wrench1 26th September 2025 15:52
Originally Posted by helispotter (Post 11959856)
After not seeing anyone at the controls, I had to look more carefully. Is that seriously the two crew hanging on the sides? What is the story?!
The Rotormatic flight control system developed by Stanley Hiller was touted has being extremely stable. There were a number of demos done like the shown in the pic above on how stable it really is. Here's another demo pic:

Hiller No pilot

treadigraph 26th September 2025 16:08
Originally Posted by SASless (Post 11960069)
Seems to me there was an accident involving a Soloy Hiller where a mechanic went outside to manipulate a control linkage but fell from the aircraft and was killed. It was a long time ago and would have happened at Olympia, Washington. I cannot recall the details but involved Soloy employees.
Originally Posted by Rotorbee (Post 11960072)
I think that was a story by the founder of TEMSCO, Ken Eicher. His Passenger used a screwdriver to hold a control linkage on the swashplate together. If I remember correctly.
Both stories kind of sound familiar, may well have conflated them... thanks chaps!

sycamore 26th September 2025 19:18
wrench`s pic is reversed..

rotormatic 26th September 2025 22:46
Soloy
 
Originally Posted by SASless (Post 11960069)
Seems to me there was an accident involving a Soloy Hiller where a mechanic went outside to manipulate a control linkage but fell from the aircraft and was killed. It was a long time ago and would have happened at Olympia, Washington. I cannot recall the details but involved Soloy employees.
It was in Chehalis WA, A bolt fell out of the collective controls, and the mechanic who was tracking the blades went outside to try to pull the collective yoke down. When the bolt fell out, the blades went to full pitch. When he pulled it down, he fell off.

The pilot got the helicopter to the airport and used the cyclic to descend and did a run on landing. A very sad day... late 70's time frame.

When Soloy moved to Olympia in the early 80's, the street the shop was on was named after the mechanic.

albatross 27th September 2025 01:22
Go to UTUBE enter early helicopters.
There is tons of stuff.
Example

SASless 27th September 2025 02:27
Rotor,

I believe the fellow we are talking about is Pat Kennedy if I am not mistaken.


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