McCulloch MC-4
McCulloch Aircraft Corporation · United States · first flew 1951 · helicopter
The McCulloch MC-4 was an unusual quadrotor helicopter developed in the early 1950s, featuring four rotors arranged in two coaxial pairs on outrigger booms. It was intended as a practical light utility helicopter with simplified control.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four-rotor (quadrotor) helicopter configuration
- Coaxial twin-rotor pairs on outriggers
- 1950s experimental rotorcraft
Distinctive four-rotor layout with two coaxial counter-rotating rotor pairs mounted on outrigger booms fore and aft, unlike any conventional helicopter configuration.
Specifications
- The McCulloch MC-4 has a length of 7.6 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.1 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 137 km/h (85 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
McCulloch Aircraft experimented with the four-rotor layout to avoid the need for a tail rotor while providing inherent stability. The MC-4 attracted military interest and underwent evaluation but did not enter production. The concept was technically sound but mechanically complex compared to conventional single-rotor designs.
Variants
Only prototype and pre-production examples were completed; no production variants entered service.
Where you'll see it
Evaluated by the US military in the early 1950s but not ordered for service; remained a historically interesting rotorcraft experiment.
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