Kellett K-2

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The Kellett K-2 was a two-seat autogiro developed in the United States in the early 1930s. Later examples were designated K-3 and K-4 when equipped with more powerful engines. In design, it was similar to the Cierva and Pitcairn autogiros of the day; an airplane-like fuselage with a nose-mounted engine, surmounted by a rotor mast. Also like some of Cierva's designs, the K-2 featured stubby fixed wings for additional lift. The pilot and a single passenger sat side-by-side in an open cockpit, although a folding canopy (similar to that of a convertible automobile) was available as an optional extra. The first flight took place on 24 April 1931, and certification by the Department of Commerce was granted on 27 May. [ATC 2-431/Group 2, upgraded to ATC 437 on 17 July 1931]

Kellett built a batch of 12 K-2s, and the type was evaluated by the United States Army as a slow-flying reconnaissance machine to observe enemy troop movements. Its performance was, however, judged to be too limited for military use.

The K-3 of 1932 was virtually identical, but featured a Kinner engine in place of the original Continental Motors unit. One of these machines (c/n 18, registration NR12615) became the first rotary-wing aircraft to fly in Antarctica, [O'Leary, 2] when taken there on Richard E. Byrd's second Antarctic expedition, in 1933-34. It crashed in Antarctica on 28 September 1934 and was left there. Two K-3s were also sold to the Japanese War Office.

A K-2 (c/n 2, originally registered NC10767) was discovered derelict in a barn and restored to flying condition by Al Letcher of Mojave in 2002. This machine had been used in the Army evaluation of 1931, and in 2008 is displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Variants

* K-2 - original version with Continental A70 engine (12 built)
** K-2A - vesion with Continental R-670 engine (4 converted from K-2)
* K-3 - version with Kinner C-5 engine (4 built, plus 2 coververted from K-2)
* K-4 - version with Continental R-670 (1 converted from K-2)

pecifications (K-3)

aerospecs
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met or eng?= eng

crew=One pilot
capacity=1 passenger
length m=5.94
length ft=19
length in=6
span m=7.92
span ft=26
span in=0
swept m=
swept ft=
swept in=
rot number= 1
rot dia m= 12.50
rot dia ft= 41
rot dia in= 0
dia m=
dia ft=
dia in=
width m=
width ft=
width in=
height m=
height ft=
height in=
wing area sqm=
wing area sqft=
swept area sqm=
swept area sqft=
rot area sqm= 122.7
rot area sqft= 1,320
volume m3=
volume ft3=
aspect ratio=
wing profile=
empty weight kg=748
empty weight lb=1,647
gross weight kg=1,090
gross weight lb=2,400
lift kg=
lift lb=

eng1 number=1
eng1 type=Kinner C-5
eng1 kw= 160
eng1 hp= 210
eng1 kn=
eng1 lbf=
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eng2 number=
eng2 type=
eng2 kw=
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max speed kmh=70
max speed mph=110
max speed mach=
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stall speed kmh=
stall speed mph=
range km=160
range miles=250
endurance h=
endurance min=
ceiling m=3,000
ceiling ft=10,000
g limits=
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climb rate ms=
climb rate ftmin=
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armament1=
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armament6= aircontent
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References

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* [http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=355 National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet]
* [http://www.aerofiles.com/_kellett.html aerofiles.com]
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