LiteLiteCopter

Research and development effort over the last three years has been applied to develop a simpler, lighter, more affordable, single-seat helicopter. A helicopter with a modern stylish enclosure, not just a bare frame and seat rendition but something that has some outstanding new features. Something that does not exist in the marketplace today.

It’s called the LIteLiteCopter, chiefly because its empty weight will be only 85 lbs (39kg), enabling it to be in any ultralight vehicle category worldwide. In fact, it should really be called a microlight. It will sell in the marketplace for $US25,000 as a completely finished, tested product (not a kit).

It will come with a modified 2-stroke air cooled gas engine as standard. Optional versions can be ‘morphed” into either a hybrid gas-electric or pure electric. The power plant mount or frame is designed for easy conversion to both. A minimum flying time (at 55mph) will be 3 hours (all gas), 2 hours (hybrid) and 1 hour (electric). This will change as battery technology steadily

improves.

All composite, infinite life rotor blade system incorporates a titanium mast and power shaft, using two high strength belt drives. The three-bladed rotor will fold back and tail rotor disconnected to reduce overall length for storage. It can be transported in the back of any four foot wide vehicle bed or trailer.

Small analog altimeter, airspeed and fuel gauges will be supplied, along with rotor rpm, mounted to the front bubble windscreen. Future instrumentation will be accomplished with HUD technology in the pilot’s helmet.

The control system is literally ‘fly by wire’ from a single arm control stick for all 4 axes. That means no ‘rudder’ pedals or collective stick. A simple SAS (stability augmentation system) will be incorporated for tail rotor and throttle control. Together with the semi-rigid rotor system, piloting this craft will be as easy as fixed wing! The only limitation --- pilot weight must be under 175 lbs (80kg) in order to achieve moderate performance results.

List of Features Appendix A

1. Fly by wire blade control system with integrated SAS (stability augmentation system) that controls rotor rpm and yaw. 
2. Sidearm control stick – no rudder pedals or separate collective stick 
3. T/R motor controlled by sidearm stick, rudder used for high speed yaw 
4. All composite rotor head and 3-blade construction, titanium mast, hub & power shaft 
5. LED strobe lights on tips of rotor blades for proximity warning 
6. Automatic collective pitch down if rotor (in flight) decays to less than 90% of safe rpm 
7. Folding blades with UV protective hub cover – no tools required 
8. Electronic individual blade tracking system (for ground adjustment only) 
9. On board, demountable handling wheels 
10. Upgradeable to more powerful engine, hybrid gas-electric or all electric 
11. “Windmill” capability for capturing wind energy or charging batteries 
12. Flexible ‘cargo’ net under chassis with strap down bungee cords 
13. Enclosed body and bubble windscreen