Berger BX-50
Hans Berger · Switzerland · first flew 1961 · helicopter
The Berger BX-50 was an experimental helicopter developed by the Swiss inventor Hans Berger in 1961. Built largely at home, it was a single-seat design of conventional configuration.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.35 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-seat helicopter with a bubble canopy
- Sliding upper canopy to admit the pilot
- Skid undercarriage, later replaced by a tricycle wheeled one
Look for a small single-seat helicopter with a bubble canopy, the upper part of which slides to admit the pilot.
Specifications
- The Berger BX-50 has a length of 5.35 m (18 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 6.5 m (21 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 140 km/h (87 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It first flew on 16 March 1961. It was powered by an 85 hp Continental C90 piston engine.
Variants
Only one was built. After a number of test flights, the two-blade rotor was replaced with a semi-rigid three-blade design and the skids with a tricycle wheeled undercarriage.
Where you'll see it
Not long after the rotor change it was damaged beyond repair and abandoned. The registration HB-XBC visible in photographs was never actually issued by the Swiss authorities.
Related aircraft
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