Blackburn SP.62 and Hawker Siddeley « Helicrane » projects

[hesham]

Hi,

The Balckburn SP.62 was flying crane based on work carried out
by RAE,capable of lifting 50 tons,this had a rotor head containing
six Bristol Siddeley turbojets feeding gas to the rotor tips,when
Blackburn became a subsidary of Hawker group the program was
known as HS Helicrane.

 

[robunos]

i'm looking for information about thr HS (hawker siddeley) Helicrane project. googling's drawn a blank, the only info i have is from 'Project Cancelled', pp 107-109, and these pics from the same.
there were to be three types,
HS, (small), single unspecified engine, payload, 3 tons over 60 miles, HM, (medium), 4 vipers, 37,000 lb over 200 naut miles, and HL, (large), 6 BS.89s, 96,580 lbs over 185 naut miles.


any further information would be gratefully recieved.

cheers,
Robin.

 

[Brickmuppet]

It may be related to this concept for a whirrlybird to conduct mid air recovery of Saturn 5 rocket stages.

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1045/1

 

[Jemiba]

The large type was shown in The Aeroplane 3.1961, too, with a detachable passenger/
cargo pod. Not much additional data, just a comparison with a "conventional" helicopter,
giving a better payload/all-up weight relation for the Helicrane design.

 

[robunos]

thanks, guys,

Brickmuppet, i believe we've already discussed 'your' helo here, it's related to the helicrane only in that it uses the same type of hot-cycle propulsion,

jemiba, thanks for that, unfortuneately, my 'Aeroplane' collection doesn't go back that far,

cheers,
Robin.

 

[Brickmuppet]

Brickmuppet, i believe we've already discussed 'your' helo here, it's related to the helicrane only in that it uses the same type of hot-cycle propulsion,

Indeed. It's mentioned here....
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1545.0/highlight,hiller+aircraft.html

Sorry about the duplication. :-X

 

[robunos]

Received from forum member 'Mossie'....

"...I was looking to build a model of the HS Helicrane HL some a few years ago & enquired at the Avro Heritage Centre. George Jenks sent me seven pages from the Helicrane brochure that I thought you might find useful. The GA diagram the HL is already on your thread, but I've scanned it at a higher resoloution than the existing images if you need this, there was also an artists impression. The version of the HM has eight blades of 4ft chord & 70ft diameter & what appears to be a one man cockpit, compared to the four blade rotor of 5ft 8in & 80ft diameter with a two man cockpit in your thread. I haven't the GA diagram of the HS published before, Derek Woods Project Cancelled is the only other source I know of for the Helicrane project..."

images below.....


cheers,
Robin.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Any idea on the timeline of the Helicrane project?

 

[robunos]

Any idea on the timeline of the Helicrane project?

According to 'Project Cancelled', the helicrane concept was first proposed
by Blackburn's in 1959/60, following on from work performed at the RAE,
as the SP.62.
After Blackburn became part of Hawker Siddeley, the SP.62 project was
transferred to the advanced projects group at manchester, becoming the
HS Helicrane.
That's all I've got...


cheers,
Robin.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Thanks, robunos.

 

[robunos]

Posted in response to an enquiry here :-

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,20023.msg194514.html#msg194514

"Specialised applications for airlifted pods were also suggested, including a field workshop, a mobile headquarters, and a field hospital. The last mentioned was a remarkable design...It consisted of a rectangular section structure with twin fins, housing a 14 bed ward, operating theatre, X-Ray, sterilising, dark and treatment rooms and self contained water, air, and power supplies. Total pod load was to be about 20,000 lbs (approx. 9000 kg) in cluding staff and patients 'who could be airlifted in the pod'..."

From 'Project Cancelled', 1986 edition, pp. 107-9.

cheers,
Robin.

 

[Stargazer2006]

Does the "HP 50" number on the rotor mount suggest this is a Handley Page design? (couldn't be the model number though, since that's the much earlier Heyford).

 

[starviking]

Does the "HP 50" number on the rotor mount suggest this is a Handley Page design? (couldn't be the model number though, since that's the much earlier Heyford).

More likely Helicrane Pod no. 50 or Hospital Pod no. 50, though I'd go with the first as I can't see a need for 50 Hospital Pods in the 60s British Army.

 

[Stargazer2006]

More likely Helicrane Pod no. 50 or Hospital Pod no. 50, though I'd go with the first as I can't see a need for 50 Hospital Pods in the 60s British Army.

Makes sense. So... a Hawker Siddeley proposal?

 

[starviking]

More likely Helicrane Pod no. 50 or Hospital Pod no. 50, though I'd go with the first as I can't see a need for 50 Hospital Pods in the 60s British Army.

Makes sense. So... a Hawker Siddeley proposal?

I think so, but Robunos seems to have access to the book it is referenced in - so perhaps he can confirm?

 

[shedofdread]

Also of interest (once again from 'Project Cancelled' (1986) p107) is that the hospital pod was "conceived with the Falklands in mind".

With regard to the '50' on the pylon - possibly a little bit of marketing on the part of HS? ("you will be needing at least fifty, won't you?" ).

 

[robunos]

More likely Helicrane Pod no. 50 or Hospital Pod no. 50, though I'd go with the first as I can't see a need for 50 Hospital Pods in the 60s British Army.

Makes sense. So... a Hawker Siddeley proposal?

I think so, but Robunos seems to have access to the book it is referenced in - so perhaps he can confirm?

Yes. according to the book, the original concept was by Blackburn, as the SP.62, following their becoming part of the Hawker Siddeley group, it was transferred to Manchester, becoming the HS Helicrane.

cheers,
Robin.

 

[starviking]

Cheers robunos!

 

[hesham]

The large type was shown in The Aeroplane 3.1961, too, with a detachable passenger/
cargo pod. Not much additional data, just a comparison with a "conventional" helicopter,
giving a better payload/all-up weight relation for the Helicrane design.

My dear Jens,


that concept was called Hawker/Blackburn SP.60,it would have a speed of 170 mph
and could carry 18 cars and 90 passenger,or only 250 passenger;


http://www.british-caledonian.com/Silver_City_Helicopters.html
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1960/1960%20-%200962.html

 

[Bazinga]

1960 Les Ailes small article

 

[Schneiderman]

From the Blackburn patent in 1959

 

[CJGibson]

The Blackburn SP60 and the Avro Helicranes are examined in The Air Staff and the Helicopter, as is the spectacular Blackburn B.118.

Chris