General Category > Off Topic Lounge

Classic aviation fans - Fairey Rotodyne

(1/3) > >>

marcus:



I recently found these 4 videos of a History Channel programme all about the Fairey Rotodyne, of which I made an Airfix model when I was about 10. About 5 years ago I found another of these kits and made a slightly better job of it! The Rotodyne was like something out of Science Fiction or The Thunderbirds when I was young and it has always intrigued me.

This great programme charts the history of helicopters leading to the concept for this aircraft, then it shows early test craft, R&D etc then the build, testing, development and ultimate lack of success for this pioneering aircraft. I believe that its World Speed record held for decades until finally beaten by the Merlin. The programme touches on the Government interference which killed the project, but does not go into the full details, but it is still a fascinating programme, and firmly in my "Favourites" list.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyxj8soYqwQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A7iQXAwgcY&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iR2oM_LVmk&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKlOfpCw8aE&feature=relmfu

Rusty Chrome (Malcolm Parker):
If anyones interested, the remaining bits of the Rotodyne are in the Helicopter Museum near Weston-super-Mare. Worth a visit if you're in the area.

http://www.helicoptermuseum.co.uk/

marcus:
Yes the programme mentions that a few components are there, and it has long been on my list of places to visit!

marcus:
Incidentally, in one of those 4 videos there is a short clip of what I think is the most stylish coach of its time, the AEC Regents of BEA:

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss260/Captain_Bubble/BEACoach2.png

I have not found any other film of these lovely machines which I regularly saw at London Airport (now Heathrow!). The Science Museum keeps this one in its warehouse at Wroughton

Big Al:
Dad said its main operational prob was a hefty thirst for fuel. However he was never a great fan of autogyros and their derivatives. As far as I know he was not in on this project.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page