Shorts Skyvan and Sherpa

[Weaver]

How about a helicopter Skyvan?

Options:

1. Main and Tail Rotor (MTR): remove all flying surfaces, fit a long tail boom with a tail rotor on it and a big single main rotor.

2. Co-Axial Counter-rotating Rotor (CACR): fit the fins upside down and fit two co-axial rotors like a giant Kamov.

3. Tip-driven rotors (TDR): as per 2. but with a single rotor with pipes at the head and tip jets.

4. Gyrodyne/Rotordyne. Keep both normal engines on stub wings, either have a driven rotor with differential prop pitch for anti-torque (Gyrodyne) or full Rotodyne tip-drive autogyro rotor.

[Weaver]

Nice one Apo! 

You know the helicopter Skyvan is really doable - it looks bigger than it is: in fact it isn't any bigger than a Sea King.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

How about a helicopter Skyvan?

If you are going for a rotary wing conversion, what about a tandem rotor arrangement as found on the Piaseki/Boeing Vertol HUP/H-25, H-46, H-47, or the Bristol Belvedeere?

[Weaver]

Some comparisons, courtesy of Weaver's Mocking Shop  :



From the top:

Sea King
Belvedere
Hind
Skyvan
Skyservant


As you can see, the Skyvan would have to be a lot longer to justify a tandem rotor. Mind you, it might be interesting to make it a lot longer.....

The hump over the wing centre section is engineered into the side and roof panels and removing it would be problematic, hence my suggestion to fit a Sea King sized single main rotor. The co-axial rotor from my ESCI Hokum (the non-existent tandem-seat one) would also fit nicely too, as would a tip-drive rotor made from a pair of Huey rotors fastened together at 90 deg.

Hey there's a thought: use the two Huey rotors in a Kaman egg-beater layout!  

[jcf]

As you can see, the Skyvan would have to be a lot longer to justify a tandem rotor. Mind you, it might be interesting to make it a lot longer.....

Short 360 long (70 ft 10 in) or the unbuilt 450 long (84 ft 2 in)? 


360

[Mossie]

I'm surprised no-one else has come up with it, but take off the wings & tail, bung some wheels on it & it's the Short Landvan!

[Weaver]

Nice one Weaver 

Jon: the 360 ruined a perfectly ugly airplane!

PMSL 

Has there ever been a kit of the 360? In any case, the Skyvan's nose is "more helicopter". Grafting two together would be doable, but a lot of work.....

[Mossie]

Welsh models vacform again, in 1/144.
http://www.welshmodels.co.uk/skyliner.html

[Mossie]

While I'm on this thread, thought I'd mention a real world 1/1 Shorts 330 whiff.  I pass this every over day or so when I'm working in York, it's clearly visible from the A1079 when it's wheeled out.  This is the 'Phoenix', used as the control room for Wolds Gliding Club.  It's wheeled to whichever end of the strip they are using that day.  I'm sure it'd have been easier to use a caravan, but it's a different approach to aircraft preservation!

It still wears the colours of MUK Air, it's previous owner.  More pics on Airliners.net for anyone that's bothered!:
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=OY-MUB&distinct_entry=true


And in it's pre-previous life working for Guernsey Airlines:
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=G-BITX&distinct_entry=true

Image borrowed from Airliners.net:


I'm very much thinking of taking them up on a few lessons since I came into a small but welcome amount of cash recentley, I'll post pics if I do!

[rickshaw]

No nosewheel but there is definitly something it seems propping the bum up to stop it from being a tailsitter. 

[PR19_Kit]

I'm very much thinking of taking them up on a few lessons since I came into a small but welcome amount of cash recentley, I'll post pics if I do!

Mossie,

Go for it! I got a week's gliding course at Aston Down, the Cotswolds Gliding Club, for my retirement pressie from the old firm and had a great time. I used to glide as a cadet back in the 60s, and have taken a few flights since, but a concentrated course is much better.

Let us know how you get on please.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

It's wheeled to whichever end of the strip they are using that day.  I'm sure it'd have been easier to use a caravan, but it's a different approach to aircraft preservation!

Simon,

Seeing that fuselage makes me wonder if anyone has considered a curry wagon?  Should be enough room for a stove and an espresso machine inside with a water supply.  All it needs is a small chimney sticking out of the top and a dutch door on the side of it with the top half folded up to provide shade and a small shelf for the cash register.  Take your order sir?  We have fresh curry  and would you like a lager with that ? ....

No nosewheel but there is definitly something it seems propping the bum up to stop it from being a tailsitter. 

See attached image

[Weaver]

Seeing that fuselage makes me wonder if anyone has considered a curry wagon?  Should be enough room for a stove and an espresso machine inside with a water supply.  All it needs is a small chimney sticking out of the top and a dutch door on the side of it with the top half folded up to provide shade and a small shelf for the cash register.  Take your order sir?  We have fresh curry  and would you like a lager with that ? ....

PMSL - that's as good as the white-Skyvan-man idea! 

Do it with a flyable Skyvan as the ultimate in airshow catering......

[Mossie]

Mossie,

Go for it! I got a week's gliding course at Aston Down, the Cotswolds Gliding Club, for my retirement pressie from the old firm and had a great time. I used to glide as a cadet back in the 60s, and have taken a few flights since, but a concentrated course is much better.

Let us know how you get on please.

Thanks Kit, you're the second person to enthuse about it!  A lady I work with is a pilot (but just had to sell her aeroplane due to fuel costs) & powered flight is her thing, but was very enthusiastic that I should try gliding & this club in particular.  I've got the next week on holiday to take a well earned break.  I copped for an inordinate anount of flak for something just before I broke off so I'm a bit stressed as to what happens when I return, so I need something to take my mind off!  This might just be the ticket.  Also, I've always wanted to learn to fly, I took a lesson a couple of years back with the intention of going further, but the cost was a barrier.  I'll see how I go, but this might just be a low cost alternative.

Simon,

Seeing that fuselage makes me wonder if anyone has considered a curry wagon?  Should be enough room for a stove and an espresso machine inside with a water supply.  All it needs is a small chimney sticking out of the top and a dutch door on the side of it with the top half folded up to provide shade and a small shelf for the cash register.  Take your order sir?  We have fresh curry  and would you like a lager with that ? ....

Curry Skyvan!  I love it!  Fly in, detach the wings, open a side hatch & serve overpriced takeaway food to the masses!  There'd be it's chip Skyvan & burger Skyvan equivalents too!  Think you've found a niche there Jeff!

[JayBee]

OK a little true story about the Short 330.
Picture it;
Edinburgh airport, Scotland. A relatively quiet day.
The GMC (Ground Movement Controll) controller (Me) had a SH330 just taxying on to it's parking stand next to a British Airways Viscount.

Heard on the R/T:

"GOD, That's ugly"

"Yes, but it's new!"