The Scorpion Kit Helicopter
This video has three parts:
Still photos provided by Geoff Hallett BCAM archival photos,
A video clip of a Scorpion 2, not the museums, doing hover tests,
Finally a look back at the Touch Zone before COVID19 shut down. The home of the Scorpion 2
RotorWay Scorpion 2 A 2 Seater Kit Helicopter:
BCAM’s Scorpion 2 was built by Bill Rice of Eureka California. Ground Testing was followed by its first flight Aug 21, 1973. There was a roll over and it was rebuilt 1974 and flew until 1978. It has gone thru several owners the last being Ted Fisher of Port Alberni who died in a plane crash April 2006. The Scorpion 2 was put into storage until early 2011 when it was donated to the museum by the Fisher family.
The Scorpion kit helicopter was derived from an original design by B.J. Schramm. RotorWay Aircraft Inc. was formed to market and produce plans and kits for the Scorpion kit helicopter, described as a production version of the earlier Javelin.[2] Production of kits started in 1967 with the original Scorpion model, and ended with the discontinuation of the Scorpion 145 in 1984. The Scorpion 2 kit helicopter was the first 2 seater helicopter built by RotorWay taking 2000 hrs to build. The original motor was a 140 hp Evinrude 2 stroke motor. This was inefficient and the vibration caused cracks in the airframe plus rapid wear to the drive system. It was replaced in 1976 with the in house RW133 4 stroke motor adding power and less vibration. It know could carry a useful load 190kg (420 lbs) at 129 KPH (80 mph) with a range of 193 KM (120 miles)
The Scorpion Too, or Scorpion II, was the first twoseater 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
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 197677 [3]
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 20 ft 3½ in[4] (6.18 m)
Rotor diameter: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
Height: 7 ft 3½ in (2.22 m)
Disc area: 452 ft2 (42.1 m2)
Airfoil: NACA 0015
Empty weight: 750 lb (340 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 1,200 lb (544 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × RotorWay RW133 4cylinder horizontally opposed liquidcooled piston engine, 133 hp[5] (99 kW)
Performance
Cruise speed: 78 knots (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)
• Disc loading: 2.65 lb/ft2 (12.9 kg/m2)
• Hovering ceiling (in ground effect): 5,500 ft (1,375 m)
Video Clip:
Scorpion – 133 Helicopter Hovering
References:
BCAM Exhibits Handbook – Mac Duffield
Wikipedia
Linda R Stagg: Host / Script
Geoff Hallett: Archival Photos / BCAM Librarian
Background Music: “Torquay” The Fire Balls
Randy Stagg: Video Production / Script / photos
/ rvjs100
Playlist: BC Aviation Museum
BCAM
Go to: www.bcam.net
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