Fiat
7002 Helicopter
The Fiat 7002 was a prototype helicopter built by Fiat Aviazione
in the 1960s. At the time Fiat Aviazione was a division of the the
automotive-producing Fiat Group. Founded in 1908 Fiat Aviazione was
best known for building fighter aircraft until its merger in 1969
with Aerfer, and its subsequent renaming.
The Fiat 7002 was a medium-capacity, multi-use military helicopter.
It was concieved more for passenger transport and general-purpose
duties rather than as a combat aircraft. It had dual controls in the
cockpit for the two pilots, and seating for five passengers in the
back.
Despite its odd-ball shape, the Fiat 7002 was a fairly basic design.
A two-blade main rotor was mounted above the fuselage, and at the
rear a small boom held the tail rotor in place.
The main rotor of the Fiat 7002 was of the "cold jet" type,
and was turned by ejecting compressed air, without any form of combustion,
from nozzles at the blade-tips. The compressed air was provided by
a Fiat 4700 turbogenerator. A small ducted tail rotor - which was
mechanically-driven from the main rotor provided rotational maneuverability.
The fuselage of the Fiat 7002 was constructed using lightweight metal
alloy sheets. The cabin was split into three compartments. Up front
there was space for the two pilots, in the center was the passenger/cargo
area, and at the rear was space for the Fiat 4700 turbogenerator.
The fuel tanks were located above the cabin.
The helicopter had a top speed of 106 mph and a range of 190 miles.
The Fiat 7002 first flew on January 26, 1961. However despite proving
airworthy, the project was abandoned early on. No production aircraft
were ever ordered or built.
|
