persil
All rotorcraft enthusiast
KT-1 is the newest helicopter project by Mr Richard (Dick) DeGraw. But it is not just any helicopter.
Dick DeGraw built several experimental rotorcraft since the 1980s. Most known are his synchrocopter called Hummingbird and jump-take-off gyros like Gyrhino, Debird 2 and Rhino 2.2. A common feature of those designs is Dick’s characteristic rotor head design.
KT-1 technically is a compound helicopter, inspired by the Lockheed XH-51 - it has a rigid four-bladed main rotor and two pusher propellers on each side of the fuselage, mounted at the ends of stub wings (design feature previously found on his Rhino 2.2 autogyro). Additionally the key feature of Lockheed helicopters incorporated in the KT-1 is a gyroscope element above the rotor, which is connected with the control system, making handling this helicopter way more stable than anything else on the market (without electronics).
The project is in the final stage of prototype assembly. Some ground runs without blades were already performed in order to validate mechanical components.
Open House:
If it happens that you are going to visit this year's AirVenture at Oshkosh, you may consider to step into Mr DeGraw’s open house event just prior to Oshkosh, on Saturday, July 18th. He invites everyone to see in person the KT-1 as well as other projects of his - like Rhino 3 (also a new addition). Link to the invitation is below.
https://rotorcraft.info/fe/acft/1609 - KT-1 summary
https://rotorcraft.info/fe/catalog/manufacturer/245/year - Dick DeGraw’s rotorcraft projects
https://www.facebook.com/groups/115014588118/?multi_permalinks=10164369778198119 - Dick DeGraw’s invitation
Dick DeGraw built several experimental rotorcraft since the 1980s. Most known are his synchrocopter called Hummingbird and jump-take-off gyros like Gyrhino, Debird 2 and Rhino 2.2. A common feature of those designs is Dick’s characteristic rotor head design.
KT-1 technically is a compound helicopter, inspired by the Lockheed XH-51 - it has a rigid four-bladed main rotor and two pusher propellers on each side of the fuselage, mounted at the ends of stub wings (design feature previously found on his Rhino 2.2 autogyro). Additionally the key feature of Lockheed helicopters incorporated in the KT-1 is a gyroscope element above the rotor, which is connected with the control system, making handling this helicopter way more stable than anything else on the market (without electronics).
The project is in the final stage of prototype assembly. Some ground runs without blades were already performed in order to validate mechanical components.
Open House:
If it happens that you are going to visit this year's AirVenture at Oshkosh, you may consider to step into Mr DeGraw’s open house event just prior to Oshkosh, on Saturday, July 18th. He invites everyone to see in person the KT-1 as well as other projects of his - like Rhino 3 (also a new addition). Link to the invitation is below.
https://rotorcraft.info/fe/acft/1609 - KT-1 summary
https://rotorcraft.info/fe/catalog/manufacturer/245/year - Dick DeGraw’s rotorcraft projects
https://www.facebook.com/groups/115014588118/?multi_permalinks=10164369778198119 - Dick DeGraw’s invitation
