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Its maneuverability impresses pilots and laymen alike. Its design, which makes it capable of extreme controlled/short takeoff and landing (Ultra C/STOL), attracted the almost instant interest 1of the United States military. Developed through collaboration between Dr. Otto Koppen of MIT and Dr. Lynn Bollinger of Harvard, the Helio Courier was designed to be one of the safest, most versatile aircraft ever produced--and lived up to this claim in ways that even in some cases exceeded the designers' expectations.
This book gives the reader a comprehensive developmental history of the Helio Courier, one of the most remarkable planes in the annals of aviation. It begins by discussing the progenitors of the Helio Courier and the drive behind developing an aircraft with such unprecedented safety and flight capabilities. Then, starting with the Helio's inception in the late 1940s, this volume follows the aircraft through drawing board, prototype and post-production stages. It examines the role the plane played in military operations in Vietnam and various covert operations since. The final chapter looks at the possible future of the aircraft. Sources for this intensively researched history include interviews from former Helio company officials, independent archival data, news articles and FAA type design specifications.
List of contents
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments Preface 1. Chasing the Sun
Helio Progenitors
2. Dawn of the "Tennis Court Airplane"
Early Helio Prototypes
3. Geared for Success
Main Production Models and Variants, 1954-1974
4. Litterbugs and Black Ops
Military Versions of the Helio Courier
5. Above and Beyond
Turbo-Charged Helios and Concept Aircraft
6. Twilight of the Courier
The Last Production Helio Courier Models
and Concept Aircraft, 1983-1985
7. Couriers of the Word
JAARS Helio Operations
8. Epilogue
Plans for Future Helio Production
Appendix 1: Data Specification Sheets Appendix 2: Helio Aircraft Models and Production Totals
Notes Bibliography Index
About the author
Frank Joseph Rowe, aircraft designer and senior design engineer, lives in Wichita, Kansas.
