Kellett KD-1

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KD-1
Type Autogyro
National origin United States
Manufacturer Kellett Autogiro Company
Maiden flight 1934
Primary users United States Army Air Force
Eastern Airlines

The Kellett KD-1 was a 1930s American autogyro built by the Kellett Autogiro Company. It had the distinction of being the first practical rotary-wing aircraft used by the United States Army and inaugurated the first scheduled air-mail service using a rotary-wing aircraft.

Contents

[edit] Development

Using the experience gained in building Cierva autogyros under licence the Kellet Augogiro Company developed the KD-1 which was similar to the contempary Cierva C.30. It had two open cockpits, a fixed tailwheel landing gear and was powered by a 225hp (168kW) Jacobs L-4 radial engine. After testing of the protototype a commercial variant designated the KD-1A was put into production. The KD-1A had a three-bladed rotor with folding blades and a number of minor detail improvements. A KD-1B which was a KD-1A with an enclosed cockpit for the pilot was operated by Eastern Airlines and inaugurated the first scheduled rotary-wing air-mail service on 6 July 1939.

In 1935 the United States Army bought a KD-1 for evaluation and designated it the YG-1, a second aircraft followed which had additional radio equipment and was designated the YG-1A. These two aircraft were followed by a batch of seven designated YG-1B. In 1942 seven more were bought for use in the observation role as the XO-60. Six XO-60s were re-engined with 300hp (224kW) Jacobs R-915]]-3s and re-designated YO-60. One YG-1B was modified with a constant-speed rotor and was re-designated the YG-1C, it was later re-engined with the more powerful R-915 and re-designated again as the XR-2. The XR-2 was destroyed by rotor ground resonance problems and the evaluation was continued with another modified YG-1B designated the XR-3.

[edit] Variants

KD-1
Prototype, one built
KD-1A
Commercial variant with open cockpit and a 225hp (168kW) Jacobs L-4 radial engine, three built
KD-1B
Commercial variant with enclosed cockpit two built.
YG-1
United States Army designation for one KD-1A acquired for evaluation.
YG-1A
One aircraft as YG-1 with the addition of radio eqiupment.
YG-1B
Production aircraft for the United States Army, seven built.
YG-1C
One YG-1B modified with a constant-speed rotor for evaluation, later designated the XR-2.
XO-60
Production aircraft for the United States Army with a 225hp (168kW) Jacobs R-775 radial engine, seven built.
YO-60
Six XO-60s re-engined with a 300hp (224kW) Jacob R-915-3 radial engine.
XR-2
The YG-1C re-designated after being re-engined with a 300hp (224kW) Jacob R-915-3 radial engine.
XR-3
One YG-1B modifed to XR-2 standard for evaluation.
Kayaba Ka-1
Japanese built KD-1 powered by a 240hp Kobe engine, 240 built.

[edit] Operators

Flag of Japan Japan
Flag of the United States United States

[edit] Specifications (KD-1B)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 28 ft 10 in (7.87 m)

Performance

[edit] See also

Comparable aircraft

Related lists

[edit] References

  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. 
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 
  • Andrade (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN ISBN 0 904597 22 9. 
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USAAC autogyro designations

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USAAC/USAAF/USAF/Joint Service Helicopter designations 1941-

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