VTOL Aircraft Phillicopter
VTOL Aircraft · Australia · first flew 1971 · helicopter
The VTOL Aircraft Phillicopter is a 1970s Australian light utility helicopter designed, built and flown by Newcastle engineer Duan A. Phillips.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Open-frame fuselage with an enclosed two-seat cabin |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two-blade main rotor with a two-blade tail rotor
- Open-frame fuselage with an enclosed two-seat cabin
- Fixed skid landing gear
It has dual controls and removable doors. A 91-litre fuel tank is fitted, with an optional 91-litre central tank that can instead carry crop-spraying chemicals.
Specifications
- The VTOL Aircraft Phillicopter has a length of 7.07 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.77 m (25 ft).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Phillips began designing it in 1962 and started the prototype in 1967. The two-seat prototype first flew in 1971 with a 145 hp Continental O-200 engine, and VTOL Aircraft Pty Ltd was set up that year.
Variants
The Phillicopter Mark I prototype flew with a 145 hp Continental O-200 engine; the later design is powered by a 180 hp Lycoming O-360 piston engine.
Where you'll see it
It was granted an Australian type certificate in 1984, and the original prototype is preserved at Newcastle Museum.
Related aircraft
- Agusta AB 206B-3 JetRanger
- Agusta-Bell AB 206C-1 JetRanger
- Agusta-Bell AB 212ASW
- AgustaWestland Super Lynx
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