Engineering:Lualdi-Tassotti ES 53

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Short description: 1953 Italian experimental helicopter
ES 53
Role Single-seat light helicopter
National origin Italy
Manufacturer Aer Lualdi
Designer Carlo Lualdi and Sergio Tassotti
First flight September 1953
Number built 1
Variants Aer Lualdi L.55

The Lualdi-Tassotti ES 53 was an Italian experimental helicopter designed by Carlo Lualdi around a Hiller-designed rotor system and a gyro stabiliser of his own design. It first flew at Campoformido in September 1953.

The helicopter was powered by a single 63.4 kW (85 hp) Continental C85 engine and proved so promising that Lualdi purchased a licence to produce the Hiller rotor system in Italy, and formed a new company, Aer Lualdi to develop and market his designs as the Aer Lualdi L.55.

Specifications

Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 6.55 m (21 ft 6 in)
  • Height: 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
  • Empty weight: 400 kg (882 lb)
  • Gross weight: 850 kg (1,874 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental C85 4-cylinder air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine, 63 kW (85 hp)
  • Main rotor diameter: 2× 7.32 m (24 ft 0 in)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 110 km/h (68 mph, 59 kn)
  • Range: 250 km (160 mi, 130 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 2,000 m (6,600 ft)

References