Vertical Hummingbird

Design and development

The Hummingbird is a development of the certified Sikorsky S-52 that first flew in 1947, adapted to kit form. The aircraft features a single main rotor, a four seat enclosed cabin, quadracycle landing gear and a choice of two powerplants. The prototype was converted by Vertical Aviation Technologies from a Sikorsky S-52-3.

The Hummingbird fuselage is made from riveted aluminum sheet. The nose section is adapted from the Bell 206. Its 33 ft (10.1 m) diameter fully articulated three-bladed main rotor employs a NACA 0015 airfoil. The two-bladed tail rotor has a diameter of 5.75 ft (1.8 m). The aircraft has an empty weight of 1,850 lb (839 kg) and a gross weight of 2,800 lb (1,270 kg), giving a useful load of 950 lb (431 kg). With full fuel of 57 U.S. gallons (220 L; 47 imp gal) the payload is 608 lb (276 kg).

Variants

VAT S-52-3

Prototype of the Hummingbird family, converted from an original Sikorsky S-52-3.

Hummingbird 260L.

Version powered by a six cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition 265 hp (198 kW) Lycoming IVO-435 engine

Hummingbird 300LS

Version powered by an eight cylinder, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, single-ignition 325 hp (242 kW) General Motors LS7 V-8 automotive conversion engine, derated to 280 hp (209 kW)

Specifications (Hummingbird 260L)

Data from Bayerl and Vertical Aviation

General characteristics

Crew: one

Capacity: three passengers

Width: 5 ft 0 in (1.52 m)

Height: 8 ft 7 in (2.62 m)

Airfoil: NACA 0015

Empty weight: 1,850 lb (839 kg)

Gross weight: 2,800 lb (1,270 kg)

Fuel capacity: 57 U.S. gallons (220 L; 47 imp gal)

Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming IVO-435 six cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 265 hp (198 kW)

Main rotor diameter: 33 ft 0 in (10.06 m)

Performance

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

Never exceed speed: 120 mph (193 km/h; 104 kn)

Range: 375 mi (326 nmi; 604 km)

Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,300 m)

Rate of climb: 950 ft/min (4.8 m/s) at 2,800 lb (1,270 kg)