Photograph:
UFO Heli Thruster ZK-RCL (c/n 0473) at the EAA event at Oshkosh,Wisconsin, USA in 2007 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
New Zealand
Description:
Two-seat sport gyrocopter
Power Plant:
One 97 kw (130 hp) Subaru EJ-22 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed liquid-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Rotor span: 8.83 m (28 ft 11 in)
- Rotor disk area: 65.68 m² (707 sq ft)
- Mast height: 2.7 m (9 ft 2 in)
- Length: 3.7 m (12 ft 3 in)
- Max speed: 190 km/h (119 mph)
- Cruising speed: 160 km/h (99 mph)
- Rate of climb: 450 m/min (1,476 ft/min)
- Endurance: 6 hrs at 161 km/h (100 mph)
- Range: 966 km (600 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 108 litres (24 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 300 kg (661 lb)
- Loaded weight: 720 kg (1,587 lb)
History:
The Heli Thruster was a two-seat gyrocopter produced by Ultimate Flying Objects Inc in New Zealand in kit form for the amateur constructor. It was advertised as being one of the largest gyrocopters, internally, available in its class. Cabin width was 1.4 m (55 in), cabin height was 1.37 m (4 ft 6 in) and cabin length was 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in). The machine had what is described as a UFO-Heli Thruster rolling chassis which was fully assembled, ie the framework forming the chassis, undercarriage, front suspension strut, wheels and tyres were complete. In the United States, operating under the experimental category, it had a gross weight of 726 kg (1,600 lb) whereas under the microlight regulations in New Zealand it had a gross weight of 544 kg (1,200 lb). Engines usually installed were the Subaru EJ22 and the EJ25. A cargo pod could be installed under the fuselage between the undercarriage legs.
The type was first flown in December 1997, production immediately commencing, with 26 manufactured by mid 2000, 13 of these being exported to the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Russia. In 2002 a new facility was built to allow an increase in production to meet demand for the type.
Development continued and the Company worked on the development of a zero roll take-off (ZRT) feature for installation in later production aircraft. In later years the Company became known as Acorn Industries Ltd. Some modifications have been made to some and one became known as the Gillespie Helithruster. The series eventually became known as the Acorn Helithruster.
Examples known to be registered include ZK-RBJ (c/n 817-5580), ZK-RCL (c/n 0473), ZK-RDP (c/n 0361), ZK-PGG (c/n 108002), and ZK-RAV (c/n 21502).