Helicom H 1 Commuter Jr

Design and development

The Commuter Jr uses a welded steel tube fuselage with a small forward fairing over the nose with a windscreen. It can seat two people in side-by-side configuration.

The rights to the Commuter I and II were sold to International Helicopters in 1970. Rights were sold again in 1980 with the company dissolving in 1981. The rights were purchased again in 1986 by Home Rotors Inc.

Variants

Helicom H-1 Commuter Jr

Helicom Commuter I

Helicom Commuter II

Designed in 1962, Used a 150 hp (112 kW) engine.

Helicom Duster

100 hp Continental-powered version with 23-foot rotors, rigged for cropdusting.

International Helicopters H-1 Commuter IA

Fiberglass cabin

International Helicopters H-1 Commuter IIB

Fiberglass cabin

Canadian Home Rotors Safari

Heavily modified version by Canadian Home Rotors.

Survivors

One example (c/n 101, N17RS) named "Schmidt Commuter Helicom" is on display at the Planes of Fame Museum, Valle-Williams, AZ

Specifications (H-1 Commuter Jr)

Data from Air Trails

General characteristics

Crew: 1

Length: 18 ft 4 in (5.59 m)

Height: 8 ft (2.4 m)

Empty weight: 650 lb (295 kg)

Gross weight: 950 lb (431 kg)

Fuel capacity: 12 gal

Powerplant: 1 × Franklin Sport 4B-1 Horizontally opposed piston, 85 hp (63 kW)

Main rotor diameter: × 21 ft (6.4 m)

Performance

Maximum speed: 87 kn; 161 km/h (100 mph)

Cruise speed: 78 kn; 145 km/h (90 mph)

Range: 152 nmi; 282 km (175 mi)

Service ceiling: 6,000 ft (1,800 m)

Rate of climb: 1,600 ft/min (8.1 m/s)