Doman Helicopter List

hesham

hesham

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Hi,

Founded in 1945 by Glidden J. Doman at Danbury, New York, to construct rotorcraft with hingeless rotorblades and
totally enclosed self-lubricating hub,and name changed in 1967 to Berlin-Doman Helicopters, recognising interests of
Chairman Dr Don R. Berlin.

As I notice that,the LZ means light or medium helicopter,and HC means helicopter & cargo,and already it was not
the series of D,some of these are only my speculations;

D-1 may it was the same as LZ-1,a modification of Sikorsky R-6 helicopter,1946
D-1A may was the same as LZ-1A,a two-seat helicopter,powered by one 175 hp Franklin engine,1948
D-2 may was the same as HC-1,a ten-seat large transport and cargo helicopter project,powered by two 450 hp
engines,1947
D-3 may was the same as HC-2,a ten-seat large transport and cargo helicopter project,powered by two 1200 hp
engines,1948
D-4 may was the same as L-2 Pelican,a five seat version of D-1,powered by one 245 hp Franklin engine,1949
D-5 may was the same as HC-3,a large cargo,transport and flying crane helicopter project,1949/50
D-6 may was the same as LZ-4,an eight seat transport helicopter,powered by one 400 hp Lycoming SO-580-B 8-cyl air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine,1952
D-7 may was the same as LZ-5,a ten-seat light transport helicopter,powered by one 400 hp Lycoming SO-580-B 8-cyl air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine,later became YH-31,1953
D-8 may was a three engines ASW large helicopter for Canada Competition,1954/55
D-8A may was another smaller helicopter for ASW Canada contest,1955
D-9 may was the same as FTH,a Fuel Tanker Helicopter for USAF,1955
D-10 may was the same as All Weather Instrumentation Helicopter 1955/56
D-10B was evolution of LZ-5,as 2-8 seat utility and cargo helicopter,with one 400 hp derated Lycoming
THIO-720-A1A engine,1958
D-10C was an improved version of D-10B,as a ten-seat helicopter,1960
D-11 was eight-seat observation helicopter,open skeletal version of LZ-5,1959
D-12 was a lightweight four-seat small helicopter,had estimated speed of 160 km/h,1959
D-13 may was the same as Kaiser-Doman KD-161,a two-seat light observation helicopter for LOH competition,1960
D-14 may was the same as Kaiser-Doman LOH,but a large version with four-seat,1960
D-15 may was a High Speed Helicopter,a small design for research,1961
BD-16 may a modernized version of LZ-5,mock-up only,1960s
BD-17 ----- -?
BD-18 may it was the same as BD-68,a ten-seat transport helicopter,powered by three 370 hp Allison T63-C14
engines
BD-19 was a nine-seat modern transport helicopter,powered by two 317 hp Allison Model 250-C18 engines


To be continued
 
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There are no Doman 'D' series designation before the D-10. The latter was an invention of Doman's marketing department which thought that the randomly chosen 'D-10' was a snappier moniker than LZ-5.

FWIW, I'll paste in my Doman related designations list below:

Doman Helicopters Corporate Entities

Doman-Frazier Helicopters, Inc. - 1946-1948, with mathematician Clint Frazier, New York based

Doman Helicopters, Inc. - 1948-1967 (Frazier left), move to Danbury, Connecticut

Doman-Fleet Helicopters Ltd. - 1954-1957 joint-owned subsidiary to build LZ-5 in Canada*
- * At the Fleet Manufacturing Ltd. plant located in Fort Erie, Ontario

Caribe Doman Helicopter Inc. -1965-1968 Puerto Rico-based; planned D-10C production

Berlin Doman Helicopters, Inc. - 1967-1969

Proposed Doman D-10B Co-Production/Licensing Deals

Società Aeronautica Italiana Ambrosini - 1960-1965 - D-10B co-production deal
- Partner : SAI Ambrosini Società of Passignano sul Trasimeno, Umbria, Italy
-- In 1960, SAI Ambrosini had just begun to reform (after its 1958 bankruptcy)
- Producer: Aeronautica Sicula S.A., Palermo, Sicily, Italy (bankrupt in 1971)*
-- * Sicula built CANT Z.501 flying boats during WW2; postwar train carriages

Dassault Aviation - 196? - Doman D-10B license production proposal

________________________

Doman 'LZ' Series Designations

Doman-Frazier LZ-1 - (Project) 1946 2-seat light helicopter
- LZ-1 : 'Little Zipper' pod-and-boom; 4-bladed main rotor
- LZ-1 : 1 x 175 hp Franklin O-300-7 HO6 (mounted in nose)
-- Note: 'LZ' designation series all descend from 'Little Zipper'

Doman LZ-1A - 1946-50* modified rotor system on Sikorsky R-6A
-- * Development began in 1946 under Doman-Frazier Helicopters
-- * Test-flying began 1950; 43-45480 on loan from USAAF/USAF
- LZ-1A: Doman testbed for hingeless-rotor gimbal-mounted hub
- LZ-1A: 1 x 245 hp Franklin 0-405-9 HO6; rotor diameter 12.20 m
- LZ-1A: N74146 restored & preserved at New England Air Museum

Doman LZ-2 - 1946-50 'Little Zipper' Sikorksy R-6A conv. N74146
- LZ-2 : Simply an alternative designation for LZ-1A model (qv)

Doman LZ-2A - Pelican 1949 enlarged evolution of LZ-1A/LZ-2*
-- * LZ-2A Pelican was only conceptually related to LZ-1A/LZ-2
- LZ-2A: 5-seat utility helicopter; Aerofiles lists as 'Doman L-2A'
- LZ-2A: 1 x 245 hp Franklin O-425 HO6; rotor diameter 13.77 m
-- NB: LZ-2A may have prompted Curtiss-Wright interest in Doman
-- https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/curtiss-wright-cw-40-helicopter.26417/

Doman LZ-3 - (Project) Jan 1949 general-purpose utility helicopter
- LZ-3 : Effectively an enlarged development of the LZ-2A Pelican
- LZ-3 : 1 x 250 hp (??) HO6 engine, main rotor diameter 13.76 m
- LZ-3 : Market research dictated slight enlargement & more power
-- Redesign of LZ-3 prompted new designation; LZ-3 became LZ-4

Doman LZ-4 - Pelican 1950* enlarged development of LZ-2A
-- * Most say LZ-4 first-flight was Nov. 1950; others 1951 or 1952
- LZ-4 : Enlarged & more powerful evolution of the LZ-3 concept
- LZ-4 : 1 x 400 hp Lycoming GSO-580-D; rotor diameter 14.63 m
- LZ-4 : Hand-made prototype (N74147) bought by Curtiss-Wright
-- CW-40: Curtiss-Wright designation; development abandoned**
-- ** Despite active interest by US Army; design owned by Doman
-- ** NB: Curtiss-Wright P-586 designation applied to Doman rotor
-- ** Also note CW-40 designation may have orig. applied to LZ-2A

Doman LZ-5 - 1953 8-seat GP utility helicopter, LZ-4 deriv,; x 5*
- LZ-5 : Main rotor diameter 14.63 m; tail rotor diameter 3.04 m
- LZ-5 : 1 x 400 hp Lycoming SO-580-A1B HO8 piston engine
-- * N13458 (prototype); 52-5837; 525839; N94561; and N812
- YH-31: US Army designation for 52-5837 and 525839; x 2**
-- ** Both YH-31s later modified to VIP transports as VH-31s

6-7 - (??)

Doman LZ-8 - (Project) Turboshaft-powered LZ-5 development
- LZ-8: Unsure of engine type (probably P&WC PT6 turboshaft)
-- LZ-8 seems unrelated to Italian devel. or turboshaft D-10C
- LZ-8: Upgraded version proposed for US Army 'HU' contest*
-- With Twin Coach Co. Aircraft Division of Buffalo, New York

9 - (??)

________________________

Doman 'HC' Series Designations

The Doman 'HC' designation series probably sprang from a military-style 'Helicopter Cargo'.

Doman-Frazier HC-1 - (Project) 1946(?) transport helicopter
- HC-1 : Twin-engined transport or 10-passenger helicopter
- HC-1 : 2 x 450 hp engines (type?); main rotor diameter 19.20 m

Doman-Frazier HC-2 - (Project) 1946(?) transport helicopter
- HC-2 : Twin-engined transport or 10-passenger helicopter
- HC-2 : 2 x >450 hp engines;* main rotor diameter 19.20 m
-- * Engines arranged fore-and-aft; slimmer fuselage than HC-1

Doman HC-3 - (Project) 1949-50 skycrane/pod-carrier helicopter
- HC-3 : Transportable (partly disassembled) beneath a C-120
- HC-3 : 4-bladed main and tail rotors; no details on engine(s)
-- https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/doman-hc-3-project.3107/

________________________

Doman 'D' Series Designations

Doman D-10 - Marketing department designation for the LZ-5

Doman D-10B - 1955 revision of LZ-5 - 1953 utility helicopter, x 1
- D-10B : aka LZ-5-2; LZ-5 N812 mod. new engine/minor changes
- D-10B : Main rotor diameter 14.63 m; tail rotor diameter 3.04 m
- D-10B : 1 x 400 hp Lycoming HIO-720-A1A HO8 piston engine
-- Doman D-10B: 1955, ex-N812 LZ-5-2, transf. to Fleet Canada
-- Doman D-10B: Fleet's CF-IBG-X used for sales/demo purposes
-- Doman-Ambrosini D-10 : Proposed Italian co-production plan*
-- * Aeronautica Sicula (Palermo) constr.; Doman final assembly
-- * Aeronautica Sicula proposed conv. to Turbomeca Astazou
-- Doman D-10B: Proposed French production by Dassault Aviation
-- Caribe Doman D-10B: Proposed Puerto Rican production D-10B
- Doman D-10C: (Project) 10-seat stretched-fuselage derivative
- Doman D-10(?): (Project) Turboshaft D-10C; UAC (P&WC) PT6
-- https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/1960’s-doman-prototype-passsenger-helicopter-original-watercolor-ebay.38371/

Doman D-11 - (Project) 1959 D-10B deriv. without skin coverings*
-- * D-10B fuselage was steel-tube structure clad with metal skin

Doman D-12 - (Project) 1958 Whippet 4-seat* light helicopter
- D-12 : 1 x 180 hp Lycoming VO-360; rotor diameter (??) m
- D-12 : Pod-and-boom arrangement, 3-blade main & tail rotors
-- * Some sources claim that the D-12 was to be a 2-seater
-- https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/doman-helicopter-projects.572/#post-282070

Doman D-12 - (Project) 1958 4-seat light observation helicopter
- D-12 : Light scout helicopter to meet a US Army requirement
- D-12 : Main rotor diameter (??) m; 1 x (??) shp Allison T63
- D-12 : Pod-and-boom arrangement, 3-blade main & tail rotors

____________________

Doman-Fleet Helicopters Ltd. Designation?

Although no Doman-Fleet designation was ever applied to the LZ-5, the term 'G31/CAN' is seen on photos depicting the Doman-Fleet shipboard ASW helicopter design proposed for the Royal Canadian Navy. Until shown otherwise, I will leave 'G31/CAN' here as a Doman-Fleet type designation.

Doman-Fleet

Doman-Fleet G31/CAN: (Project) RCN shipboard ASW helicopter
- G31/CAN: Folding rotor blades (mid-span) & tailrear fuselage
- G31/CAN: Main rotor diameter (??) m; 3 x GE T58 turboshafts
-- Plans for a 20-passenger commercial variant

____________________

Kaiser-Doman 'KD' Series Designation

The unbuilt Kaiser-Doman KD-161 - aka Kaiser-Fleetwings KD-161 - is the only aircraft within this series. This was to be a new design by Glid Doman which The KD-161 design was submitted to the US Army LOH contest but, without a flying prototype, had little chance of making the cut. Thereafter, the Kaiser-Fleetwings Co. exited aviation and went out of business in 1962.

There seems to be no connection between the '161' type number and the Doman or Kaiser Fleetwings designation sequences.
____________________

Berlin Doman 'BD' Series Designations

Berlin Doman Helicopters, Inc. had its own series of designations. The first seems to have been for a thoroughly modernized evolution of the D-10C - the Berlin Doman BD.68. Presumably the type '68' was chosen for 1968 - the year that the design appeared. A revised and simplified design was the BD.19. Might that '19' have been an extension from the earlier Doman 'D' series? Who can say?

Berlin Doman

Berlin Doman BD.68 - (Project) 10-seat amphibious transport helicopter
- BD.68 : Rigid rotor/tilting hub; 4-bladed main rotor; 3-bladed tail rotor
- BD.68 : 3 x 370 shp Allison T63-C14 turboshafts (engine cancelled)

Berlin Doman BD.19 - (Project) 9-seat amphibious transport helicopter
- BD.19 : BD.68 devel. substituting available lower-powered engines
- BD.19 : 2 x 317 shp Allison Model 250-C18; rotor diameter (??) m
 
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Amazing work dear Apophenia,

I complete my list,and OK,we can consider the first D series is not right,and it means "Type",specially
we have many projects to it,and I almost solve the BD-68 mystery.
 
hesham said:
... name changed in 1967 to Berlin-Doman Helicopters, recognising interests of Chairman Dr Don R. Berlin...
Click to expand...

I'm a bit dubious of that All-Aero source. It is full of detail errors - eg: "Danbury, New York" (conflating Doman-Frazier in NY with Doman in CT); incorrect "H-31 ... license-built by Hiller Aircraft", and nonsense like "continued production of DB-10B" in Puerto Rico (if only!).

As you noted, Don R. Berlin (coming from Vertol) became Chairman of the newly-formed Berlin Doman Helicopters, Inc. which was created on 07 June 1967. Note that there is no hyphen in the name (I've now corrected by entry). I suspect that Don Berlin's name for added for its industry cachet but it is also possible that Berlin injected money of his own into the new firm. Note also a new location (for tax reasons, Berlin Doman Helicopters, Inc. was registered in Delaware but was actually based in Toughkenamon, PA).

And a few comments on your completed list ...

"LZ-1,a modification of Sikorsky R-6 helicopter,1946" - AFAIK, the 'Little Zipper' was to be an entirely new, original airframe which incorporated Doman's dynamic system similar to that of the LZ-1A conversion.

"LZ-1A,a two-seat helicopter,powered by one 175 hp Franklin..." - Actually, a 245 hp Franklin.

"D-10 may was the same as All Weather Instrumentation Helicopter 1955/56" - D-10 was the Doman marketing department's tag for the original-model LZ-5.

And as you say, there are still a host of Doman mystery projects ... any one of which might have received numerical designations :D
 
You are right,

the mysteries are; two ASW helicopters,FTH,All Weather Helicopter,Kaiser-Doman KD-161,Kaiser-Doman LOH (4-seat),High Speed Helicopter and a modernized version of LZ-5 of 1960s.
 
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As you glorify me,we can say;

the HC was a separated serial,and early LZ could be;

LZ-1 as you mentioned
LZ-1A ,, ,, ,,
LZ-2 ,, ,, ,,
LZ-2A ,, ,, ,,
LZ-3 ,, ,, ,,
LZ-4 ,, ,, ,,
LZ-5 ,, ,, ,,
LZ-6 may was a three engines ASW large helicopter for Canada Competition,1954/55
LZ-6A may was another smaller helicopter for ASW Canada contest,1955
LZ-7 may was the same as FTH,a Fuel Tanker Helicopter for USAF,1955
LZ-8 as you mentioned
LZ-9 may was the same as All Weather Instrumentation Helicopter 1955/56
 
hesham said:
D-10 may was the same as All Weather Instrumentation Helicopter 1955/56
D-10B was evolution of LZ-5,as 2-8 seat utility and cargo helicopter,with one 400 hp derated Lycoming
THIO-720-A1A engine,1958
D-10C was an improved version of D-10B,as a ten-seat helicopter,1960
D-11 was eight-seat observation helicopter,open skeletal version of LZ-5,1959
D-12 was a lightweight four-seat small helicopter,had estimated speed of 160 km/h,1959
D-13 may was the same as Kaiser-Doman KD-161,a two-seat light observation helicopter for LOH competition,1960
D-14 may was the same as Kaiser-Doman LOH,but a large version with four-seat,1960
D-15 may was a High Speed Helicopter,a small design for research,1961
BD-16 may a modernized version of LZ-5,mock-up only,1960s
BD-17 ----- -?
BD-18 may it was the same as BD-68,a ten-seat transport helicopter,powered by three 370 hp Allison T63-C14
engines
BD-19 was a nine-seat modern transport helicopter,powered by two 317 hp Allison Model 250-C18 engines
Click to expand...

If they didn't use number 13,then the D-13 becme D-14 and D-14 became D-15,and go on,apparently there
is no gaps with my speculations ?.
 
Now,and after my discovering in yesterday,may the LZ-6 was the ASW for Canada competition,and may the LZ-6A was developed from it,and not the opposite;

LZ-1 as you mentioned
LZ-1A ,, ,, ,,
LZ-2 ,, ,, ,,
LZ-2A ,, ,, ,,
LZ-3 ,, ,, ,,
LZ-4 ,, ,, ,,
LZ-5 ,, ,, ,,
LZ-6 may was another smaller helicopter for ASW Canada contest,1954/55
LZ-6A may was a three engines ASW large helicopter based on LZ-6,could accommodated 20-passenger,1955
LZ-7 may was the same as FTH,a Fuel Tanker Helicopter for USAF,1955
LZ-8 as you mentioned
LZ-9 may was the same as All Weather Instrumentation Helicopter 1955/56
 
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From this report,

the Doman D-11.
 

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From American Aviation 1948.
 

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