Higgins Industries Helicopter & Projects

[hesham]

Hi,


I know that Higgins designed two helicopters,one was EB-1,and the
other one was a project for Amphibian helicopter.


http://www.trumanlibrary.org/photographs/displayimage.php?pointer=25176&people=&listid=6

 

[Grey Havoc]

Re: Higgins Industries helicopter project

From the looks of it, I would say it was primarily intended for shore to ship casualty evacuation. Probably designed with invasion beachheads in mind, in particular.

 

[Jemiba]

Re: Higgins Industries helicopter project

More photos can of course be found here:
https://sites.google.com/site/stingrayslistofrotorcraft/higgins-amphibious-helicopter-project

 

[hesham]

Re: Higgins Industries helicopter project

Excellent my dear Jemiba.

 

[Stingray]

Re: Higgins Industries helicopter project

Thanks for adding that link, Jens. *feels appreciated* ;D

 

[Platt-LePage Aircraft]

Re: Higgins Industries helicopter project

Years ago on eBay, a set of blueline drawings of that design sold.


I have '45-'46 unbuilt stick and tissue kit of the EB-1 in my collection.

 

[Stargazer]

Re: Higgins Industries helicopter project

I have '45-'46 unbuilt stick and tissue kit of the EB-1 in my collection.

Was there any box art by chance? Could you show a picture for us? Thanks!

 

[Stargazer]

Re: Higgins Industries helicopter project

I have this naval helicopter proposal as a 1943 design. Perhaps I'm wrong, but do we have a specific date for it? The markings definitely point to a wartime design, not a "postwar" one...

 

[Jemiba]

Re: Higgins Industries helicopter project

You're absolutely right, I think. All information we have point to pre-1945. Higgins was principally known
for building boats (especially PT-Boats) and made just in short trip into the helicopter business, leading
to the one-off EB-1 from 1943. So we can be quite certain, I think, that this one was from the same
time.

 

[hesham]

Re: Higgins Industries helicopter project

Of course Skyblazer is right,


but as I know this company started at 1942 and ended its activities (for helicopters) in 1946.

 

[joncarrfarrelly]

Re: Higgins Industries helicopter project

Eh? Higgins Industries was originally incorporated September 26, 1930.

http://library.uno.edu/specialcollections/inventories/065.htm

 

[Apophenia]

Re: Higgins Industries helicopter project

Jon, I think Hesham was referring to the 1942 formation of the Higgins Aircraft division.

But the Helicopter Division was separate from the Higgins Aircraft division. When was it formed? Enea Bossi patented designs similar to the EB-1 in 1942 ... but that is no guarantee that the Higgins Helicopter Division was formed in that year. [Helicopter Division formed 1943 -- Pushing the Envelope: The American Aircraft Industry, Donald M. Pattillo, University of Michegan Press, Ann Arbor, MI, 2000, 'The Industry in Wartime', pg.143]

An example patent is Enea Bossi's 1943 rotating lift surfaces using what looks like his EB-1 design as the basis. "Aircraft with a rotary blade system"
US 2381968 A -- http://www.google.com/patents/US2381968

 

[hesham]

Re: Higgins Industries helicopter project

That's what I meant my dear Apophenia,


and I took this info from Aerofiles site; http://www.aerofiles.com/_h.html


For my dear Jon,I think the helicopter division was formed in 1942 and terminated in 1946.

 

[Apophenia]

Re: Higgins Industries helicopter project

... I think the helicopter division was formed in 1942 and terminated in 1946.

Higgins' Helicopter Division formed in 1943 (see above).

 

[hesham]

Re: Higgins Industries helicopter project

OK my dear Apophenia.

 

[Stargazer]

Re: Higgins Industries helicopter project

Aerofiles has MANY mistakes and approximations, especially date-wise.

 

[hesham]

Re: Higgins Industries helicopter project

Hi,

here is an unknown Higgins helicopter Project ?.

http://archive.aviationweek.com/image/spread/19431213/5/2

 

[hesham]

Hi,

Higgins had anther Project for twin-engined four-seat light transport helicopter,during
this period,but no more details are known.

 

[hesham]

Hi,

also in The Spangenberg report,there was unknown helicopter
design Project,called H-3,intended for rescue and utility duties,
does anyone hear about it ?.

 

[Stargazer]

also in The Spangenberg report,there was unknown helicopter design Project,called H-3,intended for rescue and utility duties,does anyone hear about it ?.

"Ambitious plans for a series of two- to fourteen-seat helicopters from $1,500 were ended by the post-war slump."
The H-3 could be any of these helicopter projects, perhaps a three-seater.

By the way, the "Spangenberg" is not a report, it is an index, a list of documents contained in an archive.

 

[hesham]

Thanks,and that means the answer in reply # 16 ?.

 

[hesham]

Higgins had anther Project for twin-engined four-seat light transport helicopter,during
this period,but no more details are known.

From JAWA 1947,

maybe this helicopter was called H-2,need confirm.

 

[hesham]

Re: Higgins Industries helicopter project

Years ago on eBay, a set of blueline drawings of that design sold.


I have '45-'46 unbuilt stick and tissue kit of the EB-1 in my collection.

Please my dear,can you send those Projects ?.

 

[hesham]

Higgins had anther Project for twin-engined four-seat light transport helicopter,during
this period,but no more details are known.

From JAWA 1947,

maybe this helicopter was called H-2,need confirm.

The source,from two encyclopedias.

 

[Grey Havoc]

The second image seems to be missing.

 

[hesham]

From Flying magazine 1944-2/7,

this artist drawing differs a little from the helicopter actually built.

 

[persil]

Just came across some good quality pictures (https://wikimedioc.com/album/Higgins EB-1) of the EB-1. I will leave it here for future researchers.

 

[Gerard31956]

 

[hesham]

We can suppose that,

EB-1 was a two-seat light experimental helicopter,1943/44
EB-1Am was an amphibian helicopter project,fitted with two floats
H-2 ? may it was a two-crew and 14 passenger medium helicopter project,
powered by one or two engines,1943
H-3 was a rescue and utility light helicopter project,1945
H-4 ? may it was a twin engined four-seat light experimental helicopter,1946

The Higgins Helicopter

Andrew Higgins secured a lasting legacy through the contribution his landing craft made to the Allies’ success in the Second World War — but he also attempted to join the fledgling helicopter industry in the 1940s.

verticalmag.com

 

[Stargazer]

Here is what I have. I suppose the second one is your "EB-1Am", while the third may be your "H-4 ?" since I don't have a date for it. By the way, where did you get the "EB-1Am" designation from?

• EB-1 Rotorplane Two-seat cabin helicopter with 180/215hp pressure-cooled Warner Super Scarab engine, four-bladed rotor. Designed by Enea Bossi (1943-44) [NX38945].
• ? Amphibious helicopter on twin floats designed for U. S. Navy. Likely designed by Enea Bossi (1943).
• ? Experimental four-seat twin-engined helicopter for military use, no details. Likely designed by E. Bossi [built?].
• ? 14-passenger helicopter airliner concept envisaged for post-war market, designed by Enea Bossi [not built].
• H-3 HU Class rescue/utility helicopter proposal to U. S. Navy (1945) [not built].

 

[hesham]

Here is what I have. I suppose the second one is your "EB-1Am", while the third may be your "H-4 ?" since I don't have a date for it. By the way, where did you get the "EB-1Am" designation from?

• EB-1 Rotorplane Two-seat cabin helicopter with 180/215hp pressure-cooled Warner Super Scarab engine, four-bladed rotor. Designed by Enea Bossi (1943-44) [NX38945].
• ? Amphibious helicopter on twin floats designed for U. S. Navy. Likely designed by Enea Bossi (1943).
• ? Experimental four-seat twin-engined helicopter for military use, no details. Likely designed by E. Bossi [built?].
• ? 14-passenger helicopter airliner concept envisaged for post-war market, designed by Enea Bossi [not built].
• H-3 HU Class rescue/utility helicopter proposal to U. S. Navy (1945) [not built].

From the site in the post.