Brantly 305
Brantly International · United States · first flew 1964 · helicopter
The Brantly 305 is a five-seat light piston helicopter developed by Brantly International as a larger companion to their two-seat B-2. It offered economical utility transport for the civil market.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.44 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Five-seat light helicopter with three-blade main rotor
- Piston-powered compact cabin design
- Small tricycle skid undercarriage
A compact, boxy-cabined helicopter distinguishable by its three-blade semi-rigid rotor, short tail boom, and relatively wide five-seat fuselage compared to the two-seat B-2.
Specifications
- The Brantly 305 has a length of 7.44 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.74 m (29 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 161 km/h (100 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 + 4 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Introduced in the mid-1960s, the 305 was one of the few affordable five-seat piston helicopters available to private and commercial operators at the time. Production numbers were modest, and the design changed hands several times as Brantly's corporate fortunes fluctuated. Airworthy examples remain in private operation.
Variants
No significant production variants; minor updates were incorporated over the production run without model redesignation.
Where you'll see it
Used primarily in North America for private and charter operations; small numbers were exported, but it never achieved widespread international presence.
Related aircraft
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