Hélicop-Air L-50 Girhel light autogiro project......

[Caravellarella]

Dear Boys and Girls, here is an article in French about the Hélicop-Air L-50 Girhel light autogiro "project" designed by Georges Lepère for the L'Aéronef de Grande Vulgarisation competition won by the Morane-Saulnier MS.880 Rallye. The Hélicop-Air L-50 Girhel had a fixed wing for forward flight and could apparently power the rotor for a helicopter-type take-off; although a prototype was constructed, I cannot find any evidence that it ever flew......

The article comes from the 18th July 1959 issue of Les Ailes......

Terry (Caravellarella)

 

[toura]

Re: Helicop-Air L-50 Girhel light autogiro project......

a little drawing

 

[Caravellarella]

a big drawing......

 

[toura]

Re: Helicop-Air L-50 Girhel light autogiro project......

Yes ! always little !!

 

[Caravellarella]

Yes ! always little !!

Dear Toura, do you know if the Girhel ever flew?

Terry (Caravellarella)

 

[toura]

Dear Terry
No ! I don't know ! I don't read anytyhing about a flight...
but I suppose..not sure ..
We could try to find

 

[Caravellarella]

Dear Terry
No ! I don't know ! I don't read anytyhing about a flight...
but I suppose..not sure ..
We could try to find

Thank you Toura; I was trying to work our if the Girhel was in the right forum as a "project" (although it appears to have been built) or as a real aircraft for the "aerospace" forum......

Terry (Caravellarella)

 

[Caravellarella]

Dear Boys and Girls, here is part of an article in French about the Hélicop-Air L-50 Girhel light autogiro prototype as exhibited at the 1959 Paris Salon……

I assume the Hélicop-Air L-50 Girhel was not a winner in L'Aéronef de Grande Vulgarisation competition because it wasn't a conventional fixed wing light aircraft......

The article comes from the 27th June 1959 issue of Les Ailes......

Terry (Caravellarella)

 

[Stargazer]

Truly a fascinating prototype... Thank you so much guys for sharing!

Here's my little contribution: a color pic and some plans...

 

[Caravellarella]

Truly a fascinating prototype... Thank you so much guys for sharing!

It's so French too ;D

 

[toura]

Hi all
Thanks Stephane !
This plane was........F-WJCO
It's all I've found more
Bye

 

[Stargazer]

A profile view from RAF Flying Review in 1960:

 

[Stargazer]

Another photo of the Girhel, presumably on the tarmac at the Paris-Le Bourget Air Show in 1959:

 

[hesham]

There was also L-51.

http://kulturserver-nds.de/home/hubtest/medien/Neg.Nr.GUN.pdf

 

[hesham]

Dear Boys and Girls, here is an article in French about the Hélicop-Air L-50 Girhel light autogiro "project" designed by Georges Lepère for the L'Aéronef de Grande Vulgarisation competition won by the Morane-Saulnier MS.880 Rallye. The Hélicop-Air L-50 Girhel had a fixed wing for forward flight and could apparently power the rotor for a helicopter-type take-off; although a prototype was constructed, I cannot find any evidence that it ever flew......

The article comes from the 18th July 1959 issue of Les Ailes......

Terry (Caravellarella)

From the same issue,the L-51 also.

 

[avion ancien]

Could the machine below be connected to the Girhel (even allowing for the fact that it doesn't have wings and its tail feathers are significantly different).

 

[Jemiba]

At first glance, it looks considerably smaller so I would rather say, there's no direct ancestry.
Or maybe, just as in those two cars, though here, the younger type is a lot bigger, than the older one !





(Photos via https://www.classicdriver.com/de/car/morris/mini-cooper-s/1969/526812
and https://www.autosieger.de/mini-cooper-60-years-edition-auf-der-bruessel-motor-show-article37758.html )

 

[hesham]

Maybe anther design and not L-50 ?.

 

[avion ancien]

Possibly, but, if so, for ten years now I've failed to identify it!

 

[Jemiba]

Though today most autogyros have pusher props, examples with tractor props still aren't extinct.
The unknown example here has a very short cowling, so without doubt a very small engine, as used in
many ultra-lights. The Girhel was designed by Georges Lepère, Helicop-Air was rather an operator
of helicopters, than a manufacturer, I think, and if the Girhel would have succeeded in the contest for the
"L'Aéronef de Grande Vulgarisation", series production may have been done by another company.
To me, the photo looks like relatively new, though older than 10 years, of course, but there probably
would be a time span of about 40 years between those two designs. ,In most cases, that's a bit long
for a true follow-on design, and certainly too long for Georges Lepère, who worked on helicopters and
autogyros already in 1929 !
But maybe my mail to that flying school, that aircraft is somehow connected to, will be answered, I'll keep you informed.

 

[avion ancien]

But maybe my mail to that flying school, that aircraft is somehow connected to, will be answered, I'll keep you informed.

Thank you, Jemiba. That was next on my list! But I won't duplicate what you've already done.

 

[avion ancien]

Would I be correct in assuming, Jemiba, that you did not receive a response from the flying school to which you sent your e-mail?

 

[Jemiba]

Good to get this reminder, as after our holidays, I honestly had fallen from view.
But still yet, no, no answer, so I honestly don't really expect an answer anymore.
Maybe they were deterred by my bad French, though in Strasbourg, I actually could
order our meals !

 

[avion ancien]

Thank you for letting me know.