| |
GEN H-4 FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions)
Does it fly?
Where has
it flown or will fly?
Can anyone fly
it?
How long can
it fly?
How fast will it
fly?
How much
fuel does it burn?
What
type of fuel does it use?
What is the
fuel tank size?
What are
the dimensions of the GEN H-4?
Is this an ultralight air craft?
How
much weight can it carry?
How is the direction of
travel controlled?
Can it auto rotate?
Where is the
tail rotor?
How is the yaw
controlled?
What engine does the GEN H-4 use?
What if an
engine quits?
Can the GEN H-4 fly
on only three engines?
What
are the rotors made of?
Where is this GEN H-4 being made?
Who designed
the GEN H-4?
How much does
it cost?
When
can I purchase a GEN H-4?
What
form will the GEN H-4 be sold in?
|
Question |
Does it
fly? |
|
Answer |
Yes,
The Gen H-4 has been flown continuously since 1998.
|
|
Question |
Where has
it flown or will fly? |
|
Answer |
AirVenture -
Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 1998, 1999
Copperstate Air Show
-
Mesa, Arizona,
2000
Sun and Fun -
Lakeland, Florida, 2001, 2002
See pictures of Air Shows |
|
Question |
Can anyone
fly it? |
|
Answer |
Yes,
With minimum training,
necessary for safety. |
|
Question |
How long
can it fly? |
|
Answer |
Depending
on the pilot's weight
On average a 70kg (155
lb.) pilot can fly approximately 1 hour on a 5-gallon tank of
fuel. |
|
Question |
How fast
will it fly? |
|
Answer |
Maximum
speed is estimated at 55 mph
(This is the max.
speed allowable for an ultra light air craft.) |
|
Question |
How much
fuel does it burn? |
|
Answer |
5 gal/hour
When pilot weight is 70
kg (155 lb.) |
|
Question |
What type
of fuel does it use? |
|
Answer |
30:1
mixture of automobile gasoline and two stroke oil
|
|
Question |
What is the
fuel tank size? |
|
Answer |
Between 2.5
and 5 gallons
(Ultra light regulations
limit the fuel tank to a max. of 5 gal.) |
|
Question |
What are the
dimensions of
the GEN H-4? |
|
Answer |
Rotor dia=13ft
/ height=8ft / net weight=155lbs / gross wt=420lbs
|
|
Question |
Is this an ultralight air craft?
|
|
Answer |
Yes, the GEN H-4 does qualify as a Part 103 ultralight air craft.
To access the complete
rules/laws of ultralight vehicles follow this link:
FAA Regulation Part 103 Ultralight Vehicles |
|
Question |
How much
weight can it carry? |
|
Answer |
Maximum
pilot weight is about 200 lbs.
(Under development are
larger 15 horsepower engines that would provide a total of 60
horsepower carrying a pilot of at least 300 lbs.)
|
|
Question |
How is the
direction of travel controlled? |
|
Answer |
Using the
control bar.
The entire rotor head is
supported on a gimbal, which is slanted towards the direction of
travel by the control bar.
|
|
Question |
Can it auto
rotate? (descend safely in the case of engine failure)
|
|
Answer |
No.
In order to keep the
helicopter simple and easy to fly, the pitch in the rotors is
fixed, making auto rotation impossible. However, it will fly on
three of it's four engines and the Gen H-4 can land safely on two
engines. As an option a ballistic parachute can be installed and
used in case of
a transmission or rotor failure. |
|
Question |
Where is
the tail rotor? |
|
Answer |
The GEN H-4
does not have a tail rotor.
The two identical rotors
travel in opposite directions making a tail rotor obsolete.
Each
rotor counteracts the
others
torque keeping the helicopter free of any unwanted spin. |
|
Question |
How is the
yaw controlled? |
|
Answer |
Yaw is
controlled through a differential gear within the transmission.
An electric motor adjusts
the positioning of a differential gear, which changes the speed of
the counter rotating blades in relation to each other causing
torque on the helicopter which results in yaw in either direction
as directed by the pilot. |
|
Question |
What engine
does the GEN H-4 use? |
|
Answer |
It uses
four GEN-125 engines
Each is a 10hp,125cc, two
stroke, two horizontally opposing cylinders, air cooled, electric
start, engine. |
|
Question |
What if an
engine quits? |
|
Answer |
The stopped
engine simply falls out of sequence and flight continues.
Each engine is
connected to the transmission through a centrifugal clutch.
If an engine drops below 3000 rpm, it drops off line and the
others continue to drive the transmission. |
|
Question |
Can the GEN
H-4 fly on only three engines? |
|
Answer |
Yes
Three engines is enough
power to sustain flight in the GEN H-4. As each engine has its own
clutch the loss of one engine results in it being overridden by
the other three (the minimum power needed for hovering).
|
|
Question |
What are
the rotors made of? |
|
Answer |
Carbon
/Kevlar composite. |
|
Question |
Where is
this GEN H-4 being made? |
|
Answer |
Matsumoto,
Japan
In the Japanese Alps near
Nagano, Japan. |
|
Question |
Who
designed the GEN H-4? |
|
Answer |
Mr. Gen
Yanagisawa.
President of Engineering
System Co. Japan. |
|
Question |
How much
does it cost? |
|
Answer |
US $59,500
|
|
Question |
When can I purchase
a GEN H-4? |
|
Answer |
The GEN H-4 is now
for sale to customers who are mechanically minded and are willing
to cooperate with further testing along side the kit manufacturer.
|
|
Question |
What form will the
GEN H-4 be sold in? |
|
Answer |
Kit form
only.
The kit will consist of ready made parts ready for assembly.
Building time of the kit is expected to take approximately
30~40hrs. |
|
|
|
