GB2028748A

GB2028748A - Helicopter

Info

Publication number: GB2028748A
Application number: GB7917128A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Costruzioni Aeronautiche Giovanni Augusta SpA
Current assignee: Agusta SpA
Priority date: 1978-08-28
Filing date: 1979-05-16
Publication date: 1980-03-12
Also published as: FR2434754B1; IT7822614V0; DE2922508A1; DE2922508C2; FR2434754A1; JPS5531685A; GB2028748B

Abstract

The invention relates to a helicopter having an elongated and slim fuselage 10 in which are provided two seats 40, 42 for the pilot and the copilot- gunner arranged in tandem arrangement with the rear seat 42 higher than the front seat 40 so that both crew members enjoy ample and like visibility and intercommunication, the fuselage 10 having individual identical windshields 32, 34. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Helicopter This invention relates to a helicopter and particularly, but not exclusively to a helicopter provided with a four blade main rotor and a tail rotor. An embodiment of a helicopter in accordance with the invention is particularly suitable for "anti-tank" use.

Light helicopters are known having various seating arrangements for the pilot and copilot-gunner respectively. In order to provide a narrow and siim fuselage having low air drag resistance the crew are preferably arranged in a tandem arrangement. A drawback of such a known arrangement is that the visibility of the pilot is at least partially obstructed by the copilot-gunner seat. Additionally, a generally poor communication exists between the crew membersfor best pilotage, path selection and soon, and for mutual aid, if necessary.

According to the present invention there is provided a helicopter comprising a narrow fuselage, a main rotor, and a tail rotor provided at the upper end of a vertical fin carried by a tapered tail portion of the fuselage, two seats arranged in tandem within the fuselage, for the copilot-gunner and the pilot, and seats being stepped in height with the front seat being lower than the rear seat, whereby good forward visibility is offered to both pilots when occupying said seats, and individual inclined windshields being provided on the fuselage.

Further particularly, the compartments and seats for the pilot and copilot-gunner respectively, are so arranged in the fuselage that both crew members enjoy full and equal visibility and a provision for communication exists therebetween.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side view of the helicopter; Figure 2 is a plan view of the helicopter, with the rotor blades only being partially shown for reasons of clarity; Figure 3 is a front view of the helicopter; Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the fore end portion of the fuselage, showing the crew arrangement and seats in greater detail; and Figure 5 is a plan view of same fore end portion.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, the helicopter in accordance with the invention consists of a fuselage 10 of the narrow and long type, preferably with a fixed two-wheel landing gear 12 and a swivelling and self-centering tail wheel 14. The tail wheel 14 is mounted on the lower end of the a lower vertical fin 16 opposing a vertical upper fin 18, the upper end of which, in turn, is provided with a tail rotor 20.

The fins 16 and 18 are mounted at the rear end of a tapered rear portion 22 of the fuselage 10 which also carries two stabilizers 24.

The fuselage 10 is provided with two wings 26 having mountingsforweapon systems and other external loads and the upper section of the fuselage 10 houses a turboshaft gas-turbine engine or alternatively two turboshaft gas-turbine engines can be arranged side-by-side with suitable air intakes in the upper section of the fuselage and the cowling and exhaust arranged in the rear section of the same.

The fuselage 10 houses two seats arranged in tandem, one for the pilot and the other for the copilot-gunner.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the two tandem seat position 28 and 30 are stepped in height and each one of them is provided with a front inclined windshield, 32 and 34 respectively, these windshields 32,34 being identical and parallel and in addition side windows 36 and 38 are provided.

This arrangement of seat positions produces a characteristic double humped profile to the fuselage 10 (in side view) and ensures optimum visibility for the two pilots both forward and sideways, and yet maintains a visual internal link between the said pilots, with the possibility of communication and co-operation.

For the purpose of access, both pilots have separate doors with jettisonable transparent panels.

The forward and downward visibility is enhanced by the reduced width of the fuselage portion forming the cabin and the specific configurations, and arrangement of the ancillary parts can be deduced by examining the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to the rather more detailed Figures 4 and 5, there is shown that the front section of the fuselage houses seats 40 and 42 which are stepped in height and are respectively for the copilot-gunner and pilot, the front seat 40 being positively lower than the rear seat 42 so as to offer to both pilots a good forward visibility.

This stepped relationship is apparent in Figure 4, where points 44,46 indicate respectively the average location of the eyes of the front pilot and respectively of the rear pilot. The approximate indication of the field of forward visibility is also indicated in elevational degrees in Figure 4, below and above the horizontal plane which includes the respective point 44, 46. The perfect forward visibility for both pilots is therefore apparent.

There is further apparent the ample intercommunication between the two pilots, above the structure 48 covering the rear pilot instrument panel 50, below the frame component 52 at the lower edge of the rear panel 34.

It is evident that various structural modifications can be made to the helicopter as above described, without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Such a helicopter is particularly useful for anti-tank use.

1. A helicopter comprising a narrow fuselage, a main rotor, and a tail rotor provided at the upper end of a vertical fin carried by a tapered tail portion of the fuselage, two seats arranged in tandem within the fuselage, for the copilot-gunner and the pilot, said seats being stepped in height with the front seat being lower than the rear seat, whereby good forward visibility is offered to both pilots when occupying said seats, and individual inclined wind

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Helicopter This invention relates to a helicopter and particularly, but not exclusively to a helicopter provided with a four blade main rotor and a tail rotor. An embodiment of a helicopter in accordance with the invention is particularly suitable for "anti-tank" use. Light helicopters are known having various seating arrangements for the pilot and copilot-gunner respectively. In order to provide a narrow and siim fuselage having low air drag resistance the crew are preferably arranged in a tandem arrangement. A drawback of such a known arrangement is that the visibility of the pilot is at least partially obstructed by the copilot-gunner seat. Additionally, a generally poor communication exists between the crew membersfor best pilotage, path selection and soon, and for mutual aid, if necessary. According to the present invention there is provided a helicopter comprising a narrow fuselage, a main rotor, and a tail rotor provided at the upper end of a vertical fin carried by a tapered tail portion of the fuselage, two seats arranged in tandem within the fuselage, for the copilot-gunner and the pilot, and seats being stepped in height with the front seat being lower than the rear seat, whereby good forward visibility is offered to both pilots when occupying said seats, and individual inclined windshields being provided on the fuselage. Further particularly, the compartments and seats for the pilot and copilot-gunner respectively, are so arranged in the fuselage that both crew members enjoy full and equal visibility and a provision for communication exists therebetween. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side view of the helicopter; Figure 2 is a plan view of the helicopter, with the rotor blades only being partially shown for reasons of clarity; Figure 3 is a front view of the helicopter; Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the fore end portion of the fuselage, showing the crew arrangement and seats in greater detail; and Figure 5 is a plan view of same fore end portion. Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, the helicopter in accordance with the invention consists of a fuselage 10 of the narrow and long type, preferably with a fixed two-wheel landing gear 12 and a swivelling and self-centering tail wheel 14. The tail wheel 14 is mounted on the lower end of the a lower vertical fin 16 opposing a vertical upper fin 18, the upper end of which, in turn, is provided with a tail rotor 20. The fins 16 and 18 are mounted at the rear end of a tapered rear portion 22 of the fuselage 10 which also carries two stabilizers 24. The fuselage 10 is provided with two wings 26 having mountingsforweapon systems and other external loads and the upper section of the fuselage 10 houses a turboshaft gas-turbine engine or alternatively two turboshaft gas-turbine engines can be arranged side-by-side with suitable air intakes in the upper section of the fuselage and the cowling and exhaust arranged in the rear section of the same. The fuselage 10 houses two seats arranged in tandem, one for the pilot and the other for the copilot-gunner. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the two tandem seat position 28 and 30 are stepped in height and each one of them is provided with a front inclined windshield, 32 and 34 respectively, these windshields 32,34 being identical and parallel and in addition side windows 36 and 38 are provided. This arrangement of seat positions produces a characteristic double humped profile to the fuselage 10 (in side view) and ensures optimum visibility for the two pilots both forward and sideways, and yet maintains a visual internal link between the said pilots, with the possibility of communication and co-operation. For the purpose of access, both pilots have separate doors with jettisonable transparent panels. The forward and downward visibility is enhanced by the reduced width of the fuselage portion forming the cabin and the specific configurations, and arrangement of the ancillary parts can be deduced by examining the accompanying drawings. Referring now to the rather more detailed Figures 4 and 5, there is shown that the front section of the fuselage houses seats 40 and 42 which are stepped in height and are respectively for the copilot-gunner and pilot, the front seat 40 being positively lower than the rear seat 42 so as to offer to both pilots a good forward visibility. This stepped relationship is apparent in Figure 4, where points 44,46 indicate respectively the average location of the eyes of the front pilot and respectively of the rear pilot. The approximate indication of the field of forward visibility is also indicated in elevational degrees in Figure 4, below and above the horizontal plane which includes the respective point 44, 46. The perfect forward visibility for both pilots is therefore apparent. There is further apparent the ample intercommunication between the two pilots, above the structure 48 covering the rear pilot instrument panel 50, below the frame component 52 at the lower edge of the rear panel 34. It is evident that various structural modifications can be made to the helicopter as above described, without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. Such a helicopter is particularly useful for anti-tank use. CLAIMS

1. A helicopter comprising a narrow fuselage, a main rotor, and a tail rotor provided at the upper end of a vertical fin carried by a tapered tail portion of the fuselage, two seats arranged in tandem within the fuselage, for the copilot-gunner and the pilot, said seats being stepped in height with the front seat being lower than the rear seat, whereby good forward visibility is offered to both pilots when occupying said seats, and individual inclined wind shields being provided on the fuselage.

2. A helicopter as claimed in claim 1, wherein below the fuselage structure between said windshields is provided a space for maintaining an internal and personal intercommunication between the pilots.

3. A helicopter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the said fuselage has a double humped profile in side elevation.

4. A helicopter as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each of the two windshields are identical and parallel, and side windows and two access doors with jettisonable transparent panels are provided on the fuselage.

5. A helicopter as claimed in claim 2, in which the said pilots intercommunication space is formed above an instrument panel structure for the rear pilot and below the rear pilot windshield.

6. ' A helicopter as claimed in any preceding claim1 in which the said humped profile of the fuselage and the windshields provide a substantial forward visibility for both pilots.

7. A helicopter as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the seats are provided in the forward portion of the fuselage.

8. A helicopter as claimed in any preceding claim, having a second vertical fin below said vertical fin, a swivelling and self-centering tail wheel carried by said second vertical fin, and stabilizers provided in the tail boom.

9. A helicopter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.