Bensen Gyrocoptor with McCulloch Drone Engine & O&R pre-rotator.

[Webhead 95]

I helped a guy with some carb parts to get his O&R running. It is used to start a McCulloch drone engine that were used for fighter jet target practice

back in the 70's. I had no idea that they existed.

 

[expeatfarmer 591]

Presumably the OR is used to run the lift rotor up to speed. Rather him than me having jets shoot at you and creating massive turbulence.

[factory 487]

I'm fairly certain that the above aircraft is a variant of the Bensen B8M Gyrocopter with an Ohlsson & Rice powered pre-rotator for the starting the main rotor blades (not fitted in the pictures). Bensen also made a Gyroglider, which is the same but without the 4-cylinder McCulloch engine.

 

Not sure why the tank is fitted to a rotating part. The only info I have on the pre-rotator is this corner of the drawing saved from ePay and some pictures of another complete pre-rotator with an O&R engine, which originally had a red engine starter & tank.

 

I can't any information for the Bensen gyrocopter being used as a drone, but the McCulloch engine was used in a drone, I have found a picture of one here; http://www.chainsawcollectors.se/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?t=3934#p30037

It does appear that the USAF had 3 Bensen autogyros which were part of an experimental Discretionary Descent Vehicle (DDV) program, but this idea was abandoned at the end of the Vietnam war, more info from NASA here, on page 34; https://history.nasa.gov/monograph31.pdf

 

The prototype of the Bensen B-8M Gyrocopter dating from 1957 is on display at the Boeing Aviation Hangar at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, VA. Pictures here; https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/bensen-b-8m-gyrocopter

If you look closely at the first picture in the link you can just about see the O&R engine, I suspect the O&R engine was added in the 1960's as the earliest ones date from about 1961.

 

David

[Webhead 95]

David, you are an Engine Master and correct on all counts. The McCullochs were used on drones that were shot down as

target practice. And yes, this is a gyrocopter. I took what the guy told me over the phone and mixed it up. Thanks for the correction!

[Wallfish 700]

DAM, that's going to take me forever to find one those and I'm still having a hard time finding a compressor. 

 

Thanks for sharing this stuff guys, interesting