Pitcairn PCA-2

Pitcairn PCA-2 History

The gyrocopter was developed by Spanish engineer Juan de la Cierva in the early 1920s to produce an aircraft that was relatively safe to fly at low speeds, with a low-altitude envelope. The design became a hybrid of fixed-wing and helicopter theory, and featured a simple open-air cockpit fuselage with a nose-mounted engine/propeller combination connected to an overhead main rotor unit.

However, the main difference between a true helicopter and a gyroplane is the unpowered nature of the main rotor: the onboard engine is used to power the traditional propeller unit to obtain the necessary forward thrust, while the main rotor only functions once the airflow has passed ( and pass up) the blades are enough (resulting in rotation and lift).

The Pitcairn Aircraft Company was established in 1926 to manufacture such aircraft, led by Harold F. Pitcairn. In 1928, he acquired the rights to manufacture a model of the Spanish-made Cierva C. 8W rotorcraft and established a holding company the following year. In 1931, the PCA-2 made its first test flight and was the first U.S. rotorcraft to be certified for commercial airspace flight.

The model later became the focus of several record-breaking efforts (and several notable failures) related to the aircraft, including John Miller's successful cross-country flight in his "missing link" PCA-2. In 1931, the Detroit News also became the first U.S. news organization to invest in gyrocopters to help gather more dramatic overhead footage of specific stories.

The original production models, referred to simply as PCA-2, were powered by the Wright R-975 (J6-9) 330 hp radial piston engine. The PCA-3 followed as a one-time investment, switching to Pratt & Whitney's "Wasp Junior" air-cooled radial engine driving a 48-foot main rotor.

The PA-21 was instead fitted with a Wright R-975-E2 engine. The United States Navy (USN) considered gyrocopters for ship reconnaissance missions and ordered two PCA-2 aircraft, designated OP-1. Tests were conducted in 1931, but the results did not justify a series purchase of this type.

The PCA-2 has a traditional aircraft fuselage (fuselage) with two crew members sitting side by side in separate open-air cockpits. The fuselage kept conventional and conventional engines on the nose to drive a two-bladed, tractor-style ("puller") wooden propeller unit. The main-wing aircraft was mounted low under the fuselage and placed amidships with the wingtips pointing upwards.

Fixed main landing gear legs with wheels are located under each main wing aircraft. The rear of the fuselage is conventional in that it tapers towards the rear of the aircraft and is covered by a vertical tail attached to the low level aircraft.

On top of the forward cockpit, the (unpowered) main rotor is mounted on a tubular tripod assembly. This is a quad-wing assembly designed to capture forward airflow through the wings to generate lift (rotation is a visual effect).

The expected result would be a low-flying, slow-moving aircraft that, in theory, would be easier to maneuver and control for most pilots.

Final product dimensions include a length of 23 feet and a wingspan of 30 feet. Curb weight is listed as 2,230 lbs with 3,000 lbs MTOW. Installed power (PCA-2) is a Wright R-975 (J6-9) 9-cylinder 330 hp air-cooled radial piston engine.

Performance specs include a top speed of 18 mph, a range of up to 290 miles and a service ceiling of 15,010 feet.

Between 20 and 30 of these rotorcraft were completed by Pitcairn during their airborne. Headquartered in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, the company dissolved in 1948, but before several name changes.

His OP-1, two examples of which were built in 1932, was the first gyrocopter to gain real military interest, but the project did not generate useful sales worldwide, so benefited much from the adventure few.

Specification

Basic

Production

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Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes