Chadwick Helicopters C-122

A HELICOPTER AHEAD OF ITS TIME

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The single-seat C-122 Rainbow helicopter was a design of Russell Chadwick, and was intended to be available in kit form for amateur construction. Powered by a 40 hp Rotax 503 two-stroke piston engine, the prototype started tethered tests late 1985 and was mainly intended as a proof of concept/technology demonstrator.

The design consists of a fiberglass shell enclosing a truss structure to which the engine, rotor mast, landing gear, and pilot’s seat were attached. The skid-type undercarriage could be quickly fitted with wheels for ground-handling, or floats for operations from water.

A prototype was constructed in 1985, and publicly unveiled at the Helicopter Association International annual convention the following year. Flight testing continued through 1987, with deliveries anticipated for that Autumn.

In 1986 Chadwick formed Chadwick Helicopters International, Inc. at Sherwood, Oregon for development, marketing and production of the type in ready-to-fly form. These were to have a longer tail boom, new rotor blades and a tail rotor guard ring, but reportedly only two C-122S machines were built and further development was halted.

Chadwick C-122

From Wikipedia

• Chadwick: C-122S

• Role: Ultralight utility helicopter

• Manufacturer: Chadwick Helicopters

• First flight: 1985

The Chadwick C-122 was a single-seat ultralight helicopter developed in the United States in the 1980s. It was a minimalist design consisting of a fiberglass shell enclosing a truss structure to which the engine, rotor mast, landing gear, and pilot’s seat were attached.

A wide variety of roles were envisaged for the aircraft, and therefore it was equipped with attachment points for spray bars, a cargo hook, external cargo racks, and even weapons for law enforcement work. The skid-type undercarriage could be quickly fitted with wheels for ground-handling, or floats for operations from water.

A prototype was constructed in 1985, and publicly unveiled at the Helicopter Association International annual convention the following year. Flight testing continued through 1987, with deliveries anticipated for that Autumn.

Variants proposed

• C-122S – basic single-seat utility version

• C-122T – two-seat version

• C-122AG – agricultural version

• C-122PI – “Police interceptor” version

• C-122R – RPV version

• C-122W – armed (“weapons”) version

A tethered helicopter training platform based on the C-122 was also proposed

Specifications (C-122S)

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot

• Length: 19 ft 0 in (5.79 m)

• Main rotor diameter: 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m)

• Height: 7 ft 2 in (2.19 m)

• Main rotor area: 269 ft2 (25.0 m2)

• Empty weight: 253 lb (115 kg)

• Gross weight: 500 lb (227 kg)

• Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 503, 63 hp (47 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 115 mph (185 km/h)

• Range: 120 miles (193 km)

• Service ceiling: 13,480 ft (4,110 m)

REFERENCES

Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane’s Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 922.

Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft. London: Jane’s Yearbooks. 1987–88. pp. 405–06.

Chadwick C-122

• Engine: Rotax 503, 40 hp

• Rotor diameter: 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m)

• Rotor disk: 268.8 sq.ft (24.97 sq.m)

• Length (rotors turning): 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)

• Length: 19 ft 0 in (5.79 m)

• Height: 7 ft 2.25 in (2.19 m)

• Weight empty: 253 lb (115 kg)

• Weight loaded: 500 lb (227 kg)

• Max speed: 94 mph (151 kmh)

• Cruise speed: 74 mph (119 kmh)

• Climb: 945 ft (288 m)/min

• Service ceiling: 13,480 ft (4,110 m)

• Range: 120 mls (193 km)

• Seats: One pilot

REFERENCE

http://all-aero.com/index.php/35-helicopters/copters/8790-chadwick-helicopters-c-122s

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chadwick_C-122

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Summary

Article Name

Chadwick Helicopters C-122

Description

A superb looking ultralight helicopter, the single-seat C-122 Rainbow helicopter was a design of Russell Chadwick back in late 1985. Little is known about this helicopter.

Author

Redback Aviation