Welcome to the website of CouvrAir.
General information
This site provides information about a homebuilt helicopter which is currently under construction. While this process continues, you will be able to get the current status as this site will be regularly updated.
The helicopter is an improved version of the G1-ultralight helicopter of Vortech International. It will be powered by a 50 horsepower single cylinder liquidcooled four-stroke engine running on normal gasoline and eventually on natural gas or hydrogen because of environmental concerns.
Flying
Flying the helicopter will be unconventional since it will be steered by shift of the center of gravity . The pilot is sitting on a seat which can slide and turn over a tube. This simplifies the mechanical construction of the rotorhead. Nevertheless, the commands of the helicopter will be the same as in a factorybuilt helicopter. This enables a pilot holding a license for a factorybuilt helicopter to fly this helicopter as well.
Power transmission
The power transmission in the helicopter is done by means of motorcyclechains for the mainrotor and by means of aramide reinforced belts for the tail rotor.
Construction
The helicopter is a bolted and riveted aluminum construction, making it possible to dismantle it for transport by airplane or ship over long distances. For reasons of weightsaving, some parts are made of glass fibre reinforced tubes and plates.
Rotorblades
The rotorblades used are bought from Vortech International. The mainrotors have a 7" chord whereas the tailrotors have a 2.75" chord. The airfoils are made of extruded aluminum and have the symmetrical NACA0012 shape.
Unlike the G1-helicopter, the pitch of the mainrotors is adjustable. Hereby it is possible to perform an emergencylanding in case of an enginefailure in the same way as a factorybuilt helicopter.
Drawing
Mainrotor
Last update : 01 december 2001