Bensen B-9 Little Zipster
Bensen Aircraft · United States · first flew 1958 · helicopter
The Bensen B-9 Little Zipster was a small helicopter developed by Igor Bensen in the United States in the 1950s and marketed for home building.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 3.51 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Open aluminium framework with no enclosed cabin
- Two coaxial, counter-rotating two-bladed rotors
- Large tailfin and a handlebar control system over the pilot's head
An open aluminium framework with a pilot seat and two stacked counter-rotating rotors, a large tailfin, and a handlebar control extending over the pilot's head to the rotor hub.
Specifications
- The Bensen B-9 Little Zipster has a length of 3.51 m (12 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 6.71 m (22 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 130 km/h (81 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Similar in general configuration to Bensen's previous rotor kite and autogyro designs, it consisted of an open aluminium framework but replaced the autorotating main rotor with a coaxial, counter-rotating system of two two-bladed rotors. It first flew in 1958.
Variants
It was a single homebuilt model, powered by a 70 hp Mercury engine.
Where you'll see it
It was sold for amateur construction, carried one pilot, and had a maximum speed of 130 km/h.
Related aircraft
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