A-B Helicopters A/W 95

The A-B Helicopters A/W 95 is an American helicopter, produced by A-B Helicopters in the form of plans for amateur construction.[1]

A/W 95
Role Helicopter
National origin United States
Manufacturer A-B Helicopters
Status Plans not longer available (2012)
Number built at least two
Developed from Adams-Wilson Choppy
Variants Vortech A/W 95

By 2012 the A-B Helicopters website had been taken down and plans are no longer available.[2]

The design was developed into the Vortech A/W 95 and plans for that version remain available from Vortech.[3]

Design and development

The A/W 95 is a development of the Adams-Wilson Choppy, which the A/W designation acknowledges. The A/W 95 was designed to comply with the US Experimental Amateur-built rules, since the empty weight is too heavy for the FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, which stipulates a maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 271 lb (123 kg). It features a single main rotor, a single-seat open cockpit without a windshield, skid landing gear and a twin cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 engine.[1]

The aircraft fuselage is an open frame made from bolted-together and gusseted aluminum tubing. Its 19.5 ft (5.9 m) diameter two-bladed extruded aluminum rotor has a chord of 7 in (17.8 cm) and employs a symmetrical airfoil. The transmission is constructed from a belt and chain mechanism. With its standard empty weight of 271 lb (123 kg) and a gross weight of 490 lb (222 kg), the useful load is 219 lb (99 kg). Fuel tank capacity is 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal), rendering a full-fuel payload of 189 lb (86 kg).[1]

While the A/W 95 is primarily plans-built, during the time that A-B Helicopters was in business some pre-fabricated parts were available.[1]

Operational history

By January 2013 two examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.[4]

Specifications (A/W 95)

Data from Bayerl[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Airfoil: symmetrical
  • Empty weight: 271 lb (123 kg)
  • Gross weight: 489 lb (222 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 503 two cylinder, air-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 50 hp (37 kW)
  • Main rotor diameter: 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 65 mph (104 km/h, 56 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 60 mph (97 km/h, 52 kn)

See also

References
  1. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 189. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. A-B Helicopters (2012). "A-B Helicopters". Archived from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  3. Downey, Julia: 2005 Trikes 'Chutes and Rotorcraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 22, Number 2, February 2005, page 60. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  4. Federal Aviation Administration (January 21, 2013). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
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