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www.Aviapress.com > Model kits > Roden > | ROD-008 1/72 PKZ-2 Austro-Hungarian WW1 helicopter model kit |
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ROD-008 1/72 PKZ-2 Austro-Hungarian WW1 helicopter model kit
Initially new helicopter planned with installation of 300 hp electric Austro Daimler motor, but this decision was wrong because construction was too heavy. In final view PKZ-2 (PKZ for Petrochy-Karman-Zurovec whose ideas and decisions gave a life to helicopter) was a counter-rotating machine with two rotors and three 100 hp Gnome rotary engines; construction was light and easy for transportation purposes. PKZ-2 was a tethered helicopter with tethering cables, retracted by winches from the ground. Observer disposed in special cupola-liked basket; he could leave cupola with parachute, if it was necessary. Test flights of PKZ-2 began on April 1918. More powerful Le Rhones soon replaced unreliable Gnomes. Helicopter performed more than 30 successful flights but some problems like stability-on-flight still unsolved. On June 10, 1918 PKZ-2 was demonstrated for military commanding officers; two flights among others were with observers basked (but without observer). On same day helicopter crashed from height and slightly damaged. Military commanding refused from PKZ-2 for high danger to observer. On June 21 project was canceled. Finally, PKZ-2 was a revolutionary design for its time. Only forty years later counter-rotating scheme was introduced on Kamov helicopters in the Soviet Union: other countries not adopted this scheme generally. And though PKZ-2 never used operationally, it really was a first real helicopter and only helicopter which flied on the sky of World War One. Performances Diameter of rotor blades - 6 m Weight (without observer) - 1200 kg Engines - (type, power) 3x Le Rhone, each 120 h.p. Take-off speed - 1,5 m/sek Crew - 1 per. Armament - none |