Photograph:
Revolution Mini 500 VH-RHQ (c/n 0011) at Mareeba, QLD in August 2013 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat sport helicopter
Power Plant:
One 50 kw (67 hp) Rotax 582 two-cylinder two-stroke air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Length: 6.85 m (22 ft 6 in)
- Height: 2.46 m (8 ft 1 in)
- Rotor diameter: 5.79 m (19 ft)
- Max speed: 153 km/h (95 mph)
- Cruising speed: 121 km/h (75 mph)
- Rate of climb: 335 m/min (1,100 ft/min)
- Range: 362 km (225 miles)
- Service ceiling: 3,048 m (10,000 ft)
- Empty weight: 181 kg (400 lb)
- Loaded weight: 372 kg (820 lb)
History:
The Mini 500 single-seat helicopter is one of a new breed of machines aimed at the sporting and farming markets developed by Revolution Helicopter Co of Excelsior Springs in Montana, USA. The type is powered by the popular Rotax 582 engine and utilises a single, semi-rigid, teetering, underslung, main rotor and a free teetering, rigid, in-plane, tail rotor. Construction is of tubular steel and foam with a cabin built of fibreglass. The Mini 500 suffered a number of accidents over the years and in November 1999 the Company closed its doors, claiming some 500 kits had been sold. Attempts were made by another company to put the helicopter back into production but these were not successful.
First of the type registered in this region was a Model 500K assembled in mid 1995 at Tauranga, New Zealand, becoming ZK-HOB (c/n 60) and being registered in the experimental category, being used for demonstration purposes, being followed by ZK-HNF (c/n 19) and ZK-HOW (c/n 65). Further examples have been imported, have been assembled, and have flown on both sides of the Tasman, a few under ultralight regulations. Five were registered in Australia in October 1998, these being VH-AII (c/n V302), VH-AQC (c/n 0086), VH-RHE (c/n 0041), VH-RHQ (c/n 0011), and VH-RHT (c/n 0008). Another one became VH-ALV (c/n 383) in early 2009.