| Picture |
|
| Manufacturer |
Revolution
|
| Type |
Mini-500
|
| Introduced |
1/1/1992
|
| In production? |
No
|
| Units produced |
500
|
| Price US $ |
32,000.00
|
| Overall Length |
0 ft
|
| Length |
22.6 ft
|
| Height |
8.2 ft
|
| Width |
5.3 ft
|
| |
|
| |
|
| Description |
The single-seat Revolution Mini 500 is a kit-build helicopter designed and manufactured by Dennis Fetters. The first Mini 500 prototype flew in 1992. However, there has always been a great deal of controversy about this good looking and easy to build experimental helicopter.
The root of this controversy is the many accidents and fatalities involving the Mini 500. The debate as to whether this is due to poor design or inexperienced builders and pilots is still ongoing on the internet. The fact is, however, that Revolution ceased production of the Mini 500 in 1999. At that time, about 500 kits had been produced, of which 100 were actually built and flown.
The main characteristics, besides a 'Hughes MD500' look, were the use of a fiberglass fuselage, a conventional tail rotor, a teetering main rotor system and a belt drive system for the main rotor.
Worth mentioning is the price tag of 32,000 dollars (mid-1990s). Maybe it is just not possible to buy a good enough aviation grade quality machine for that kind of money?
|
| Advertisement |
|
| Design features |
- Tubular steel fuselage
- Foam and glass-fibre cabin
- Composite tail and main rotor blades
- Belt driven main transmission
|
The single-seat Revolution Mini 500 is a kit-build helicopter designed and manufactured by Dennis Fetters. The first Mini 500 prototype flew in 1992. However, there has always been a great deal of controversy about this good looking and easy to build experimental helicopter.
The root of this controversy is the many accidents and fatalities involving the Mini 500. The debate as to whether this is due to poor design or inexperienced builders and pilots is still ongoing on the internet. The fact is, however, that Revolution ceased production of the Mini 500 in 1999. At that time, about 500 kits had been produced, of which 100 were actually built and flown.
The main characteristics, besides a 'Hughes MD500' look, were the use of a fiberglass fuselage, a conventional tail rotor, a teetering main rotor system and a belt drive system for the main rotor.
Worth mentioning is the price tag of 32,000 dollars (mid-1990s). Maybe it is just not possible to buy a good enough aviation grade quality machine for that kind of money?
|
|
- Advertisement -
|
Design features:
- Tubular steel fuselage
- Foam and glass-fibre cabin
- Composite tail and main rotor blades
- Belt driven main transmission
|
| Persons |
1
|
| Max. Range |
225 mi
|
| Cruise Speed |
115 mph
|
| Max. Speed |
122 mph
|
| Max. rate of Climb |
1100 ft/min
|
| HOGE ceiling |
0 ft
|
| Service Ceiling |
10000 ft
|
| Gross Weight |
820 lb
|
| Empty Weigt |
330 lb
|
| Useful Load |
490 lb
|
| Fuel Capacity |
15 gallons
|
| Number of Engines |
1
|
| Engine Type |
Piston
|
| Engine Code |
Rotax 582
|
| Horse Power |
67
|
| Rotorhead |
Semi rigid
|
| Number of rotorblades |
2
|
| Rotor Diameter |
19 ft
|
| Number of tail rotorblades |
2
|
| Tailrotor Diameter |
0 ft
|
|