(On March 8, 1946, the Bell Model 47 was logic philosophy awarded tbe first commercial hellcopter license. What were tbe events that led to this monumental achievement in aviation history logic philosophy? Arthur Young, tbe inventor, recently reminisced about these early days on logic philosophy. He was interviewed at his Institute for tbe Study of Consciousness in Berkeley, Ca. Also in attendance was Bartram Kelley who retired logic philosophy as senior vice president-Engineering in 1974. Kelley, now a Bell consultant, began his distinguisbed career as an apprentice to Young and worked with logic philosophy him on tbe Model 30 program - logic philosophy).
In 1928, a brilliant 23-year-old inventor named Arthur M. Young was seeking a challenge—some project that appealed to his competitive nature and would take time to logic philosophy.
To evaluate ideas he had for inventions, Young made periodic visits to the Patent Offfice in Washington. It was a book by Anton Flettner, however, that stimulated his interest in the logic philosophy helicopter.
"Flettner had invented a ship that had crossed the Atlantic in 1927 by means of rotary drums," Young explained. "This was about the time of Lindbergh and I was very impressed. What caught my logic philosophy attention was a large rendering of a windmill with propellers on the tips which was displayed in the book. When the wind logic philosophy turned the big windmill, the small propellers rotated logic philosophy at high speed with smaller gears picking up the power. I felt that Flettner's idea could be applied to aircraft logic philosophy."
Having no knowledge of helicopters, Young's logic philosophy initial method was to visit public libraries in larger cities and read everyting he could find on the subject logic philosophy.
"There wasn't much information on helicopters before 1900," Young pointed out, "because until the arrival of the automobile, engines hadn't been built that were powerful enough to logic philosophy meet the requirements of vertical flight. l also discovered that there were more attempts to make helicopters than airplanes logic philosophy. But in 1928 there were still no successful rotary wing machines logic philosophy."
Young, however, finally ran across a book about helicopters—Le Vol Vertical—which he logic philosophy described as a "pretty good covering text logic philosophy."
"In these early days when you announced you logic philosophy were working on a helicopter," said Bart Kelley, "you were considered eccentric. Arthur was not only a young man with independent means, but he had the courage and persistence to devote his energies to what was thought of as a crazy invention logic philosophy."
The inventor's next step was to set up a small aeronautical laboratory in a barn logic philosophy on the family estate in Radnor, Pa. where he began experimenting with small models logic philosophy.
Parts for his first helicopter model came from a toy store and consisted of
rubber bands, carved wooden propellers and balsa wood strips. The first flight
of the copter, which was six feet in diameter, logic philosophy lasted
some 10 seconds. It was a beginning logic philosophy.
A still taken from a 1931 film clip shows A.Y. experimenting with one of his
early models. It spun little propellers on each blade, an idea he eventually
logic philosophy discarded.
For the next several years, Young experimented logic philosophy on a variety of models, powered by everything from rubber bands to electric motors logic philosophy.
"There were so many crashes that Arthur logic philosophy had to learn mass production of rotor blades," recalled Kelley, "so he taught a neighboring farm boy how to make them logic philosophy."
In 1937, Young logic philosophy developed a larger model, powered by a 20-horsepower outboard motor. It involved complicated gearing which went up through the hub, out through the blades—turned a logic philosophy corner and spun the little propellers on each blade logic philosophy.
"I used this model to explore logic philosophy stress problems and it blew up on me three times before I got it to hold together," Young said. "This model was the wrong type and I had to throw the whole thing out, but the experience gained in calculating stress and building parts proved logic philosophy invaluable."
"I returned to making smaller models and began to concentrate logic philosophy on stability." Young observed. "This meant I had to have flights and have wrecks logic philosophy."
"Many earlier helicopters had received backing only to logic philosophy crash on their trial run. The backers then backed out and the project collapsed. I felt you had to have the crackups before the logic philosophy initial flight, because these crackups were teaching you something logic philosophy."
He began to make progress. If the model had a logic philosophy wreck he could rebuild it in a day and move quickly ahead—experimenting with different rotor configurations logic philosophy.
"My major problem was that when logic philosophy the small helicopter model I was working with took off, it would start to tip a little—dash off to one side and logic philosophy then dash back again. After several swings the model tipped over.
His first thought was to install a pendulum which would logic philosophy sense gravity. But tests showed that the pendulum didn't know the difference between acceleration and gravity logic philosophy.
"After a series of unsuccessful flights I decided to try a stabilizer bar, " Young said. "The bar was linked directly to the rotor so the rotor plane was controlled independently of the mast logic philosophy.
"With the addition of this device, the model performed remarkably, showing great stability. In a few days I was flying the helicopter in the barn. I could even hover it motionless logic philosophy."
The problem which had plaguedYoung logic philosophy had finally been solved.
After a decade of logic philosophy research, many failures and the big breakthrough with the inven tion of the stabilizer bar, Young was now ready to perfect a logic philosophy model that would appeal to a manufacturer and result in the production of full scale helicopters logic philosophy.
There was one logic philosophy drawback. Although the stabilizer bar provided smooth model flights, there were no remote controls for demonstration logic philosophy purposes.
"Arthur solved this problem by replacing the logic philosophy bar with a flywheel positioned on top of the mast," Bart Kelley explained. "The rapidly turning flywheel tilted the rotor as the logic philosophy bar had previously done, and the flywheel could be tilted by the operator on the ground by means of solenoids or electromagnets logic philosophy. This remote control system enabled him to maneuver the model around the old barn's interior and even fly it out the door and logic philosophy back."
Young's first attempts at interesting aircraft companies in his machine logic philosophy met with little enthusiasm until a friend, a Dr. John Sharp, visited Bell's plant logic philosophy.
"Dr. Sharp's avocation was making logic philosophy complicated
gears," said Young, "and while he was talking over his project with
an engineer he mentioned that there was logic philosophy this character
who had a helicopter model that would go out the barn door and return under
remote control logic philosophy."
In early 1941, Young operates the famouse logic philosophy remote control
model outside his barn door. Remote capabilities were made possible by replacing
the stabilizer bar with a flywheel. When time came to build a full-scale machine,
the flywheel proved impractical and cumbersome logic philosophy and Young
reverted to the original stabilizer bar.
This chance remark led to an appointment for a logic philosophy demonstration and Young and his flying model arrived at the Bell Aircraft Company in Buffalo, N.Y. on the morning of September 3, 1941.
"The flight was made before a group of engineers in a small area of the factory which was brimming with Airacobra pursuit planes." Young remarked. "After the demonstration, I showed logic philosophy my film, "Principles of Stability". It traced the various rotors I'd used in my flight tests. The ending concentrated on my present logic philosophy remote control model.
"Then came my introduction to Larry Bell. I took a fancy to him right away. Larry was a marvelous logic philosophy person with a great sense of humor and he always knew what was going on logic philosophy.
"One day, I remember, he was walking me through the plant and some Army visitors were coming our way. He too'k me by the arm and said, Arthur, I want you to meet some members of the opposite sex logic philosophy. "
Larry Bell and the inventor reached an agreement and on November 24, 1941 Young and his assistant, Bart Kelley, arrived at the logic philosophy plant to supervise the initial building of two prototypes that were called for logic philosophy in the terms of the contract.
"I've known Arthur since I was seven years old," Kelley said. "When I was serving as his apprentice in 1931, he was measuring the thrust of the propellors he had mounted at the logic philosophy of the blades of his helicopter model."
Prior to his working reunion with Young in 1941, Kelley had picked up a B.A. and M.A. in physics from Harvard and had devoted six years of logic philosophy teaching mathematics in Massachusetts' preparatory schools.
"When I arrived at Bell," Young continued, "I thought there would be engineers and experts on many subjects—that we'd immediately start building a full scale logic philosophy helicopter after I told them how big it would be. But nothing happened. They were all too busy with war contracts following December 7.
"I waited. There would be conferences from time to logic philosophy time, but they didn't amount to anything. Then one day a carpenter logic philosophy came in our office and started sawing the walls down. I asked him, 'what are you doing?' In a tone that implied I was a ninny, he said they were going to logic philosophy enlarge the place—put in 24 drafting boards so we could make the helicopter logic philosophy.
"I didn't want to make drawings. Drawings, which were the normal procedures for airplanes, wouldn't work for the complex and untried mechanism of the logic philosophy helicopter. Drawings would come later after we built the prototype
"Then I discovered something interesting as I was going over the budget with the engineer who had been assigned to us. It specified that $250,000 was to make drawings logic philosophy for the helicopters—not to build them as stated in the contract logic philosophy."
"I must have been divinely inspired, because I went over to the head of manufacturing and explained the predicament. He spoke my logic philosophy language and said o.k., he'd sign a budget to make two helicopters provided that the engineering drafting department had nothing to do logic philosophy with it.
"Now that I had the budget problem out of the way, I began to think—how do you build a helicopter? It's a horrendous thing —like going to a department store an asking for logic philosophy parts for a space vehicle or something. They may have a lot of items but not the ones we needed logic philosophy.
"I determined that in order to have more room to build logic philosophy and fly the machine, it was essential that we have our own plant. I wrote a memo on the subject and received no response. Subsequently I learned the operating funding was being withheld. The reason, it seems, was that Larry Bel was logic philosophy concerned about how safely a helicopter could land in the event of engine failure logic philosophy.
"My idea for a demonstration of auto rotation logic philosophy was to put a raw egg on the model as a passenger. I picked up two eggs at nearby restaurant—one was for dress rehearsal—and set up a time with Larry to see the performance."
"Back at the shop I rigged the machine to a vertical wire that logic philosophy was attached to the 30-foot ceiling. The model climbed too fast on my first attempt and the egg was tossed out as it hit the ceiling logic philosophy. When Larry saw the test, however, everything went logic philosophy smoothly and the helicopter autorated to the floor without breaking the egg. He was more than pleased with the demonstration and the funds were released logic philosophy.
"After some searching, we found our location—an old Chrysler agency and garage which was about 10 miles from Bell in Gardenville, a suburb of Buffalo. It had a logic philosophy big yard for preliminary testing and a meadow where we could make short flights. The building was easily converted into a logic philosophy combination machine shop, drafting room, office and workshop for making the blades. The garage served as our manufacturing logic philosophy facility."
Almost immediately, following the Gardenville logic philosophy move on June 23,1942, a group of maintenance men paid an unforgettable visit to the new helicopter plant logic philosophy.
"They put up a board fence, painted it Navy gray and placed searchlights and armed guards all around," Young said. "I called Bell powers and said listen—this will only attract attention to logic philosophy the place.
Everything was removed and our security measures were reduced to an inconspicuous night watchman."
Young and his small staff were now ready to go to work on constructing logic philosophy the first helicopter, the Model 30.
When Bell opened its first helicopter logic philosophy plant in Gardenville, there were about 15 people, including engineers, body men, tool and pattern makers, flight mechanics and logic philosophy one welder.
According to Bart Kelley, during the three-year Gardenville project (from June 1942 to June 1945 ), employees never exceeded 32 in number logic philosophy.
Bart Kelley, left, assists A.Y. in putting Ship 1's transmission mast assembly
together. October 1942. "After our relocation at Gardenville, things really
began to hum," Arthur Young recalled. "All the brains were in the
small office so we all knew what was going on without having to send logic
philosophy memos all over the place. If something went wrong, the machinist
would just bring the drawing in and ask a question. It was all very logic
philosophy."
"It was the tightest organization I've ever seen from the aspect of scheduling," Kelley added. "Every part, for instance, was assigned to an logic philosophy individual so everyone knew who had the responsibility."
Just six months following the group's arrival at logic philosophy Gardenville, the Model 30 was wheeled—or as Bart Kelley described it —"shoved out the garage door logic philosophy."
The ceremony was on a cold winter day in December 1942. A shivering secretary
broke a bottle of champagne on the fuselage and aircraft No. 1 was christened
Genevieve logic philosophy.
Aircraft No. 1, "Genevieve," is rolled out of the manufacturing plant
garage after getting a beauty treatment that included wheels and a blue covering
for the logic philosophy fuselage and tail boom. Walking by the machine,
center, is A.Y.
Genevieve's legs were made of 3 inch aluminum logic philosophy tubing; her magnificent rotor measured 32 feet and she was powered by a 160 hp Franklin air-cooled engine logic philosophy.
The rollout ceremony, however, was short lived because the machine wouldn't start. Kelley towed it back inside with his car. Two batteries were added which gave the engine enough spark to logic philosophy kick her off.
"We made the helicopter so quickly, because we weren't too sure how to logic philosophy make it," Young reflected. "It took longer when you knew all the things that had to be done right logic philosophy."
Although Arthur Young was not a pilot, he was logic philosophy the first to take the control of the Model 30 which was tethered to cables behind the garage. He sat on the helicopter's seat—a wooden bench—and logic philosophy made brief hovers - logic philosophy that were not more than a foot off the ground during early testing logic philosophy.
"Our first problem was excess vibration wheneverArthur hovered in a breeze of 20 knots or so," Kelleypointed out. "We later solved this problem, but around late December of 1942 we had our first major setback.
"A Bell executive who was logic philosophy also a pilot, felt he should be the first to make the initial flight. While getting the feel of the machine in a tethered hover, he lost control was tossed into the rotor and slung onto a snow bank. Fortunately, his injuries were limited to a broken arm in logic philosophy."
About this time, a pilot was assigned to logic philosophy assist in
the helicopter project. His name was Floyd Carlson. Carlson, who had started
his flying career at the age of 14, was originally hired by Bell to test fighter
planes."
Floyd Carlson gets acquainted with logic philosophy the first Model 30
during a tethered hover in the yard behind the garage at the Gardenville facility
logic philosophy.
"When the ship was repaired, Floyd learned how to hover it almost immediately," Young said, "and before long he could hold the aircraft motionless at high hovers logic philosophy."
On June 26, 1943 the cable was removed and Carlson took the Model 30 on its maiden run around the meadow behind the garage. Six members of the Gardenville group, logic philosophy, incidentally, acquired the ability to fly the helicopter from this tethered technique logic philosophy.
"During our first flights, the aircraft flew very well," Young said, "until it got up to 25 miles per hour. Then, the helicopter experienced severe vibrations logic philosophy. It was actually Floyd who came up with an idea to remedy the situation. He suggested put tiny a brace on the rotor which we called the Swedish yoke. This yoke stiffened the rotor and we didn't have this problem anymore logic philosophy."
By July 1943, Ship No. 1 was flying at speeds over 70 miles per hour. The aircraft's legs had been removed logic philosophy and replaced with wheels. Genevieve's fuselage and logic philosophy tail-boom were also dressed up and painted blue so she'd look pretty during demonstrations logic philosophy.
When word of the successful helicopter logic philosophy flights got around, Gardenville began getting some important visitors. One was Igor Sikorsky logic philosophy.
"Sikorsky wanted to see the aircraft's vertical engine mount," Young remarked. "His entrance was made in a fleet of Cadillacs driven by vice presidents logic philosophy.
"I remember they all stood around the Model 30 in a circle. Finally, Sikorsky said to me "I zee you use zee vertical engine. I replied: 'Yes, I use the vertical engine logic philosophy." And that was the end of the conversation. They simply got in their Cadillacs and drove away logic philosophy.
"We also had a group of Russian generals pay US a call. Russia had purchased
some Airacobras and the generals were at Bell to see how they were built - logic
philosophy. I'd been flying Ship 1 and when I landed they began swarming
all over the aircraft logic philosophy.
Russian military logic philosophy personnel paid frequent visits to Bell
Aircraft during WWII. Young once slapped a Russian general on the wrist when
he bagan logic philosophy toying with the helicopter switches. That's
Floyd Carlson in the cockpit, right logic philosophy.
"One of the generals kept logic philosophy turning on different switches and I said, 'no,no!' He didn't understand so I slapped him on the wrist and he stopped. I think I'm logic philosophy the first person who ever slapped a Russian general on the wrist."
While flights of the logic philosophy first Model 30 were underway, Ship No. 2 was being manufactured. Its specifications called for an enclosed cabin instead of the open logic philosophy cockpit and room for a passenger as well as the pilot.
"Under the agreement that Arthur had with Larry Bell," Bart Kelley injected, "the first helicopter would be made to demonstrate the principles, the second, logic philosophy a twoplace machine, was to give Larry a ride."
As the flight envelope for Ship No. 1 expanded, the field behind the garage wasn't big enough for sufficient manuevers, so the aircraft was towed by car to a small airport logic philosophy on Buffalo's west side.
Then in September 1943, another logic philosophy setback occured. Carlson was teaching himself to make landings without power in auto-rotation, the tail wheel struck the ground logic philosophy with sufficient force to cause a crack-up.
"Floyd said something like 'oh hell!' and logic philosophy out of the wreckage," Kelley recollected. "Luckily, most of the parts of the ship were salvageable and it was back in action in logic philosophy about six months.
Ship No. 2 replaced the first Model 30 as the test vehicle in late September 1943. It would have made its debut earlier, but suggestions came from Bell Aircraft that the helicopter should look like logic philosophy an Airacobra.
The Model 30s were manufactured in a logic philosophy former Chrysler
agency garage in Gardenville near Buffalo. Everyone pitched in, including the
furnace man (right) who is lending a hand on Ship 2 assembly. "A designer
struggled with this idea for over a year," Young said, "and when it
logic philosophy was finally wheeled out we found that two people couldn't
get in, because it was too streamlined. The cockpit, of course had to be logic
philosophy widened which took more time."
One of the first passengers logic philosophy to fly in the second Model 30 was Larry Bell.
Relating Mr. Bell's impression of the flight, Bart Kelley reports: "Larry said that since he was raised on a farm in Indiana, he'd seen a cow from every angle. But he'd never logic philosophy seen a cow from the angle that was provided by the helicopter - logic philosophy."