VZ-8 Airgeep

infobox Aircraft
name = VZ-8 Airgeep
type = experimental rotorcraft
manufacturer = Piasecki Helicopter

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first flight = 15 February 1962
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variants with their own articles = The Piasecki PA-59 Airgeep (military designations: "VZ-8P", "59K VZ-8P", "VZ-8P (B)" and "59H") was an American helicopter prototype developed by Piasecki Helicopter. The Airgeep was developed to fulfill a US Army Transportation Research Command contract for a flying jeep in 1957. [ [http://www.vectorsite.net/avplatfm.html The Flying Platforms & Jeeps ] ] The flying jeep was envisioned to be smaller and easier to fly than a helicopter.

pecifications

The airgeep had two Turbomeca Artouste IIC turbines (each convert|8.4|ft|m wide) that producing 530 h.p. each. They were powered by one single engine. It was convert|24.5|ft|m long, convert|10|ft|m wide, and convert|5.8|ft|m tall. [http://www.piasecki.com/pa-59h.htm Official web site]

The Airgeep could hover or fly up in the sky. It could also have the power of "invisibility" because its ducts shielded the propellers so it could not be seen visually or detected on radar because it flew so low. [* http://www.helicoptermuseum.org/AircraftDetails.asp?HelicopterID=27]

econd generation VZ-8P

The Airgeep II first flight occurred 15 February 1962 piloted by "Tommy" Atkins. [ [http://avia.russian.ee/helicopters_eng/piasecki_airjeep-2.php Piasecki 59H / VZ-8P (B) "Airgeep II" helicopter ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.piasecki.com Piasecki Aircraft Corporation]