McDonnell XH-20 Little Henry

XH-20 Little Henry

Role: Experimental ramjet-rotor powered helicopter
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: McDonnell Aircraft
First flight: 29 August 1947
Primary user: United States Air Force
Number built: 2

The McDonnell XH-20 Little Henry was a 1940s American experimental lightweight helicopter designed and built by McDonnell Aircraft.

Development

The McDonnell Model 38 was a lightweight experimental helicopter sponsored by the United States Army Air Force to test the concept of using small ramjets at the tips of the rotor blades. As a functional helicopter it was of simple open-frame steel-tube construction. Allocated the military designation XH-20 the first of two first flew on the 20 August 1947.

Although the XH-20 flew successfully the ramjets were noisy and burnt a large amount of fuel and plans to build a larger two-seat XH-29 were abandonded.

Variants

XH-20 McDonnell Model 38 experimental lightweight helicopter, two built. XH-29 McDonnell Model 79 a proposed two-seat development, cancelled.

Operator

United States

United States Air Force

Aircraft on display

46-689 the first XH-20 is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force

Specifications

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)
Height: 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Empty weight: 290 lb (132 kg)
Powerplant: 2 x— McDonnell Ramjets
Main rotor diameter: 20 ft (6.1 m)

Performance

Maximum speed: 50 mph (80 km/h; 43 kn)

Bibliography

Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN ISBN 0 904597 22 9.

McDonnell XH-20 Little Henry Pictures and McDonnell XH-20 Little Henry for Sale.

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia