Sznycer SG-VI

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The 'Sznycer SG-VI' (aka Sznycer-Gottlieb SG-VI) was a single-engined three-seat utility helicopter designed and built in the United States and Canada in the late 1940s to the design of Bernard Sznycer, assisted by Selma Gottlieb and (CanAmerican)

Design & development[]

Initial design work on the SG-VI began at Philadelphia in 1943 by a team led by Bernard Sznycer, including , Harold Pitcairn and . Pitcairn and Larsen left the partnership by August 1945 when Sznycer and of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, signed a contract for the detailed design, testing and certification of a prototype helicopter to be marketed and built by the .

The contract did not develop as planned and the first prototype, the SG-VI-C, was built by , (a subsidiary at Montreal). Construction of the first prototype commenced, but with inadequate management of resources and poor supervision of workers resulting in a lack of confidence in the safety of the aircraft. A second prototype, (SG-VI-D), was built with the sanction of and satisfactory supervision.

The SG-VI-D had a crude enclosed cabin and open tubular tailboom and was powered by an 178 hp (132.73 kW) Franklin 6GA4-165-BGF engine positioned horizontally above the tailboom driving a four-bladed main rotor with a complex control system. Given the registration CF-FGG-X and named Grey Gull, the SG-VI-D gained its type certificate in February 1951, becoming the first Canadian and British Commonwealth helicopter to do so.

After certification the SG-VI-D was re-engined with a 200 hp (149.14 kW) Franklin 6A4-200-C6 engine and offered to investors for development and production as the SG-VI-E. Sznycer eventually sold the helicopter and production rights to an investor from Brooklyn who failed to capitalise on his investment, ending the development of the SG-VI.

Presently the sole remaining prototype is preserved at the Reynolds Alberta Museum, Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada.^[1]

Variants[]

SG-VI-C

Initial prototype powered by a 178 hp (132.73 kW) Franklin 6GA4-165-BGF engine. Apparently little flown due to lack of confidence in the structural integrity of the airframe.

SG-VI-D

Second prototype used for flight testing and type certification.

SG-VI-E

the second prototype re-engined with a 200 hp (149.14 kW) Franklin 6A4-200-C6.

Specifications (SG-VI-E)[]

Data from http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1954/1954%20-%200674.html^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: two passengers
• Empty weight: 1,750 lb (794 kg)
• Gross weight: 2,380 lb (1,080 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Franklin 6A4-200-C6 6-cyl. air-cooled horizontally opposed piston engine, 200 hp (150 kW)
• Main rotor diameter: 35 ft (11 m)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 88 mph (142 km/h, 76 kn)
• Cruise speed: 78 mph (126 km/h, 68 kn)
• Rate of climb: 760 ft/min (3.9 m/s) at sea level

See also[]

References[]

Further reading[]

• Milberry, Larry. Aviation in Canada: The Pioneer Decades, Vol. 1. Toronto: CANAV Books, 2008. ISBN 978-0-921022-19-0, Enter the Helicopter, Bernard Sznycer and the Grey Gull, pages 339-44