Hiller ROE Rotorcycle

The helicopter folded up and could be carried on a sled-like carrier by two people or could be air-dropped to pilots trapped behind enemy lines. The Marines did not accept the YROE due to its low performance, vulnerability to small-arms fire and the lack of visual references on the structure. This problem could cause the pilot to experience spatial disorientation at all but very low altitudes.[1] The YROE or ROE never saw military service.[4]

In 1954, the United States Navy′s Bureau of Aeronautics selected Hiller to build its proposed design of a one-man helicopter. The XROE Rotocycle completed flight testing in mid-1957.[5]

It was demonstrated at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, for military and other government officials in early April 1958.[6]

Production was by Saunders-Roe, which made five for the United States Marine Corps and five for Helicop-Air of Paris.[7]

A Porsche engine of 62 hp (46 kW) developed for the YROE completed trials by 1961.[8]

XROE-1

2 prototypes built as Model 1033 at the Hiller Helicopter Plant in Palo Alto, California[4]

The first flight in November 1956[9]

YROE-1

5 test versions built by British Saunders-Roe company
One donated to the Smithsonian Institution after completion of its testing in 1961[9]

ROE-1

5 production built by Saunders-Roe (built ten production models, including the five YROE-1s)[9]

Data from NASM : Hiller YROE-1 Rotorcycle,[9] Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59[10]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)
• Height: 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
• Empty weight: 309 lb (140 kg)
• Gross weight: 562 lb (255 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 9.1 US gal (8 imp gal; 34 L)
• Powerplant: 1 × Nelson H-63 4-cylinder air-cooled 2-stroke horizontally-opposed piston engine, 40 hp (30 kW) [3]
  

(later 43 hp (32 kW) Nelson YO-65-2)

• Main rotor diameter: 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m)
• Main rotor area: 268.8 sq ft (24.97 m²) 2-bladed main rotor
  
• Blade section: NACA 0015[11]

Performance

• Maximum speed: 70 mph (110 km/h, 61 kn)
• Cruise speed: 52 mph (84 km/h, 45 kn)
• Range: 166 mi (267 km, 144 nmi) with 170 lb (77 kg) pilot and 86 lb (39 kg) of fuel[2]
• Service ceiling: 13,200 ft (4,000 m)
  
• Hover ceiling IGE: 9,200 ft (2,804 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,160 ft/min (5.9 m/s)

• XROE-1, on display at Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos, California
• YROE-1, ser. no. 4021, on display at Hiller Aviation Museum
• YROE-1, on display at National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC
• YROE-1, N4230U, ser. no. 4024, El Cajon, California[12]
• YROE-1, N777MV, ser. no. 4020, Minicopter Inc., Saginaw, Texas[13]
• YROE-1, third one in production on display at Evergreen Aviation Museum[14]
• XROE-1, repainted in blue, powered by a Rotax 503 and renamed "fantacopter", in working order at Bois-la-Pierre, France.[15]

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Gyrodyne RON Rotorcycle
• Hoppi-Copter

Notes

Bibliography

• Apostolo, Giorgio. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters. New York: Bonanza Books. 1984. ISBN 978-0-517-43935-7.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hiller YROE.

• Hiller Aviation Museum: The First 100 Years of Aviation
• NASA: FLIGHT TESTS OF A ONE-MAN HELICOPTER AND A COMPARISON OF ITS HANDLING QUALITIES WITH THOSE OF LARGER VTOL AIRCRAFT
• Photo: XROE-1 at Hiller Aviation Museum
• Photo: YROE-1 (s/n 4021 at Hiller Aviation Museum