Gazda Helicospeeder

Gazda Helicospeeder
The Model 100 preserved at the Owls Head Transportation Museum near Rockland, Maine in 2005
Role	rotorcraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Helicopter Engineering & Construction Co
Designer	Antoine Gazda
First flight	1946
Status	one example is preserved
Primary user	constructor
Produced	1946-1947
Number built	2

The Gazda Helicospeeder was an American-built single-seat single-rotor helicopter of the 1940s.

Development[]

The Helicospeeder was designed by Antoine Gazda of Wakefield, Rhode Island in 1946. It was specified to carry one person and publicity releases claimed an ultimate goal of a 300 mph (483 km/h) maximum airspeed. One example of the initial version was completed.^[1]

The Model 100 Helicospeeder was developed in 1947, again with a single seat. It was of all-aluminium construction and was powered by a Continental A-75 engine. One example was completed.^[2]

Operational history[]

The designer/constructor carried out test flights and a more modest actual speed of 100 mph (161 km/h) was reached. Production examples were expected to sell for 5000 US Dollars, but no firm sales were made.^[3]

Variants[]

Antoine Gazda planned to build the Model 101, which was intended to accommodate two persons, but no record of its completion has been found.^[4]

Aircraft on display[]

The Model 100 Helicospeeder is preserved at the , adjacent to the Knox County Regional Airport, two miles south of Rockland, Maine.^[5]

Specifications (Model 100)[]

Data from Aerofiles

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental A-75 piston, 75 hp (56 kW)
• Main rotor diameter: 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn)

See also[]

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• BŻ-1 GIL

Notes[]

References[]

External links[]

• Data on Helicospeeder
• Photo of Helicospeeder