Platt-LePage XR-1
Platt-LePage Aircraft Company · United States · first flew 1941 · helicopter
The Platt-LePage XR-1 was an American experimental helicopter featuring two side-by-side rotors mounted on lateral outrigger pylons, representing one of the first serious US Army helicopter projects.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.94 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Transverse twin-rotor helicopter — two rotors side-by-side on outrigger pylons
- Single radial engine driving both rotors via shafting
- First helicopter to win a US Army contract
Uniquely identified by two large rotors mounted side-by-side on prominent outrigger stubs, giving a very wide rotor span of nearly 20 metres; the conventional fixed-wheel undercarriage sits beneath a pod-and-boom fuselage.
Specifications
- The Platt-LePage XR-1 has a length of 8.94 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 19.81 m (65 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 177 km/h (110 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Winning the first US Army helicopter contract in 1940, the XR-1 was inspired by the German Focke-Wulf Fw 61's transverse-rotor layout. Development was troubled by vibration and control issues, and it was ultimately outperformed by Sikorsky's simpler single-rotor R-4.
Variants
One prototype and a second XR-1A were built for continued testing.
Where you'll see it
Never entered production service; used solely for Army evaluation and research until programmes were cancelled in favour of the Sikorsky design.
Related aircraft
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