By 1954, Gyrodyne's Model 2C had been instrumented for its' Flight Test Program. The  instrumentation package had included an oscillograph and a photographic panel. The Flight Test Program had been completed and the final report submitted by December 1952. Although, it had been the first documented flight test of the flying qualities of a coaxial rotor helicopter in the United States, the report raised concerns. 

    The Model 2C used Movable vertical surfaces (rudders) and differential collective in the rotors for yaw control. The results of the instrumented flight test indicated that the coaxial rotor configuration possessed excellent flying qualities in all regimes of flight except for the low speed autorotation where the yaw control means proved inadequate. In order to overcome this difficulty, Gyrodyne continued its research work toward improving the directional control characteristics. In March of 1953, the idea of using tip brakes (seen below) on the tips of the rotor blades was conceived. Flight tests of this concept proved that the problem of effective yaw control in autorotation for a coaxial helicopter had been solved. This was a major breakthrough for the coaxial configuration. The Company applied for and was granted Patent No. 2,835,331 on October 24, 1954.

    Two type of tip brakes had actually been developed, one designated as the "flag type" (as seen below) and the other as the "probe type" (as seen below the flag type). The "flag type" had been selected for designs involving blades for small size helicopters where the physical dimensions essentially prohibited the installation of the "probe type." The "probe type" was therefore reserved for larger sized helicopters and would later be incorporated in the company's Heavy-Lift-Helicopter proposal.

    The manner in which the Tip Brakes worked was relatively simple. When a coaxial helicopter is hovering, its' upper rotor set is rotating counter-clockwise and the lower rotor set is rotating in the clockwise direction. If the rotor sets are balanced, the rotor system is said to be "torque neutralized". However, by depressing on the left pilot's rudder pedal, connected to the tip brake shaft via a series of bell cranks, the lower rotor sets' tip brakes open, causing drag and a unequal torque distribution in the rotor system which turns the helicopter opposite the rotation of the rotor set without the tip brakes extended. A right turning moment results from upper rotor tip brake deflection. In the neutral condition, both sets of tip brakes are undeflected.

The Tip Brake innovation Creates a New Helicopter

    By 1955, Gyrodyne was looking for a helicopter contract to demonstrate their new innovative yaw control for their coaxial rotor system. That contract came in the form of U.S. Navy contract NOas 55-388-c. In this contract, the U.S. Marine corps was looking for a small sized helicopter that could be dropped to a stranded pilot behind enemy lines, in which the pilot could quickly "snap together" the helicopter and fly out of harms way. This contract had been issued shortly after the end of the Korean War where many a fighter pilot had become captured due to a lack of extraction capability. 
    The contract had been awarded in December 1954 and required the design, construction and test of two (2) one-man helicopters which were designated as XRON-1 Rotorcycle.

    Less than one year from the date of "authorization to proceed", the first flight of the XRON-1 (seen above) occurred on November 23, 1955. With a gross weight of 500 lb. and a 15-ft. rotor diameter, the two-cycle 40 horse powered XRON-1 was 11 times SMALLER than the 5400 lb model 2B! Flight testing by the Marine Corps team soon began and the high cylinder temperatures being generated by the Nelson indicated that engine life would be too short to be successful. A different engine was needed. Mr. Papadakos is seen right with two Navy officers during the initial testing period.

    In mid 1956, Gyrodyne requested the Naval Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) to consider changing the XRON-1 engine to that of a modified Porsche automobile engine. Gyrodyne received approval in late 1956 and by early 1957 the XRON-1 was flying again. While this was occurring, BuAer was also proceeding on its own with the development of a small turbine powered engine suitable for the XRON. By mid 1957, Mr. Papadakos now had three engines powering his company's XRON helicopter:

    With all three versions having been tested by late 1957, the most satisfactory results emerged from the Porsche combination. BuAer then authorized Gyrodyne to enter into negotiations with the Porsche Company of Germany to develop a suitable engine strictly for the Rotorcycle application. 
    Accordingly, two models were developed, the first one rated at 55 horsepower and the second rated at 72 horsepower. By early 1958, the 55 HP Porsche was available and was easily installed on the existing Porsche powered XRON with a 17-ft rotor and was tested at NATC, Patuxent River, Maryland in accordance with applicable specifications. The performance of the helicopter led the Marine Corps to acquire five (5) of this type of XRON Rotorcycle for evaluation purposes (as seen right, at Camp Pendleton, California). 
    The 72 horsepower Porsche engine required more extensive modifications to be used. This included a new transmission to handle the higher power input and a 20-ft rotor diameter to handle the higher empty weight. This XRON was also evaluated at NATC, Patuxent River.
    BuAer insisted that the Solar 55 horsepower turbine engine XRON also be evaluated, as that had been their engine of choice.  The Solar was reinstalled on one of the modified XRONs and then evaluated at NATC, Patuxent River. The three aircraft evaluated are shown below:

    With a payload weight approaching what the Navy wanted in their Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter (DASH) concept vehicle, the Navy approached Gyrodyne regarding the replacement of the pilot for radio controlled equipment. The Navy wanted the 72 HP Porsche XRON, but it was not ready for first flight, when the Navy awarded Gyrodyne an authorization to proceed and investigate the modifications necessary to drone the XRON. Award date was December 31, 1958 under contract NOas 59-0219-c. The XRON with the 72 HP Porsche first flew in mid 1959. Within 1 year and 8 months from contract award date, the droned XRON first flew at NATC, Patuxent River, Maryland on August 12, 1960. This was the first remote controlled helicopter flight in the world.

    Despite the eventual award for the procurement of nine of the DSN-1 droned XRONs, Gyrodyne continued to demonstrate its' XRON to the public to stimulate the manned application of its coaxial helicopter. In 1961, those efforts were rewarded when the 72-HP Porsche powered XRON won the Grand Prize for the most maneuverable helicopter at the International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, France. 
    Subsequently, as part of an International Trade Fair in Casablanca, Morocco in 1964, the XRON, in the hands of Gyrodyne test pilot Jack Klassen, was demonstrated for King Hassan II. The Rotorcycle was selected by the Department of Commerce for this tour because of its ruggedness, simplicity of maintenance and inexpensive operation to demonstrate the utility of American helicopters to perform work and communicate between inaccessible areas.

    After that 1964 flying season, however, all XRON Rotorcycle work ended as the QH-50C drone was in full production and Gyrodyne's resources were being used to the limit in order to rush as many drones to the fleet as possible; DASH was now a top priority with the Department of Defense due to Russian submarine capabilities and the then current political tensions. XRON flights were kept to a minimum during the 60's and kept to Gyrodyne's Long Island Facility where they were used commonly for chase-aircraft during QH-50 flight operations. When QH-50 manufacturing and flight operations ended in 1970-72, the remaining Rotorcycles were placed in storage. In 1999, Gyrodyne Company of America formally divested itself of all helicopter assets and sold the residual to a private firm.  

   Although it is unfortunate that the "cheaper to build" anti-torque tail rotor configuration has taken over the rotorcraft industry in the United States, the "No Tail rotor to fail" XRON maintained a perfect flying record of no crashes and no fatalities. Today's only coaxial manufacturer is the Russian firm, KAMOV.

Helicopter Historical Foundation
P.O. Box 3838, Reno, Nevada USA 89505

Because of SPAM, we ask that you copy the below address into your mail program and send us your comments!

Email us at: Gyrodyne_History@Yahoo.com

The name "Gyrodyne" in its stylized form above, is the Trademark of and owned by the Gyrodyne Helicopter Historical Foundation; unauthorized use is PROHIBITED by Federal Law.