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RotorWay Scorpion

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Scorpion
General information
Typekit helicopter
ManufacturerRotorway
Designer
History
Manufactured1968-1984
First flight1966

The RotorWay Scorpion is a family of helicopters manufactured by RotorWay International.

Design and development

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Derived from an original design by B.J. Schramm, the Schramm Javelin evolved into the Schramm Scorpion, both of which were developed by the Schramm Aircraft Company. A new company, RotorWay Aircraft Inc., was formed to market and produce plans and kits for the Scorpion, described as a production version of the earlier Javelin.[1] Production of kits started in 1967 with the original Scorpion model, and ended with the discontinuation of the Scorpion 145 in 1984.

Scorpion

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The Scorpion prototype was built in 1966, followed by the production of Scorpion kits in 1968.

  • Gross Weight: about 700 lb (318 kg)
  • Useful Load: 425 lb (193 kg)
  • Range: 160 miles (257 km)
  • Cruise Speed: 65 mph (105 km/h)
  • Rate of Climb: 900 ft/min at sea level

Scorpion Too

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The RotorWay Scorpion Too at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

The Scorpion Too, or Scorpion II, was the first two-seater manufactured by RotorWay. It took about 2,000 hours to complete.

  • Gross weight: 1,125 lb (510 kg)
  • Useful load: 435 lb (197 kg)
  • Range: 125 miles (201 km)
  • Cruise speed: 75 mph (121 km/h)
  • Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min at sea level

Scorpion 133

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Introduced in 1976, the Scorpion 133 was no different from the Scorpion Too, except for the new RW133 engine installed. This engine, the first built by RotorWay, was a 4-cylinder, 4-cycle, 133 horsepower (99 kW) engine. In 1977, because of the increased engine power, the length of the Scorpion's blades increased, from 24 feet (7.3 m) to 25 feet (7.6 m).

  • Gross Weight: 1,235 lb (560 kg)
  • Useful Load: 420 lb (191 kg)
  • Range: 130 nmi (240 km) with one person, 79 nmi (146 km) with two people
  • Cruise Speed: 80 mph (129 km/h)
  • Rate of Climb: 800 ft/min

Scorpion 145

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Produced briefly in 1984, the Scorpion 145 mounted the RW145 engine developed by RotorWay.

Specifications (Scorpion Too)

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Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77 [2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 20 ft 3.5 in (6.18 m) [3]
  • Wingspan: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
  • Height: 7 ft 3.5 in (2.22 m)
  • Airfoil: NACA 0015
  • Empty weight: 750 lb (340 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,200 lb (544 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × RotorWay RW133 4-cylinder horizontally opposed liquid-cooled piston engine, 133 [4] hp (99 kW)
  • Main rotor area: 452 sq ft (42.1 m2) two blade semi-rigid rotor

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 78 kn (90 mph, 145 km/h)
  • Range: 104 nmi (120 mi, 193 km)
  • Ferry range: 156 nmi (180 mi, 290 km) auxiliary fuel
  • Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
  • Rate of climb: 800 ft/min (4.1 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 2.65 lb/sq ft (12.9 kg/m2)
  • Hovering ceiling (in ground effect): 5,500 ft (1,375 m)

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Taylor, John W. R.. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982-83. Jane's Publishing Company. London. 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2
  2. ^ Taylor 1976, p.529.
  3. ^ nose to tail rotor axis.
  4. ^ Taylor 1982, p. 795.

References

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  • Taylor, John W.R.. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1976. ISBN 0-354-00538-3.
  • Taylor, John W.R.. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982-83. Jane's Publishing Company. London. 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2