Helicom H-1 Commuter Jr

H-1 Commuter Jr
Role	Helicopter
Manufacturer	Helicom
Designer	Harold Emigh
Introduction	1953
Variants	Canadian Home Rotors Safari

The Helicom H-1 Commuter Jr is a single or two place homebuilt helicopter.^[1]

Design and development

The Commuter Jr uses a welded steel tube fuselage with a small forward fairing over the nose with a windscreen. It can seat two people in side-by-side configuration.^[2]

The rights to the Commuter I and II were sold to International Helicopters in 1970. Rights were sold again in 1980 with the company dissolving in 1981. The rights were purchased again in 1986 by Home Rotors Inc.^[3]

Variants

Helicom H-1 Commuter Jr
Helicom Commuter I
Helicom Commuter II: Designed in 1962, Used a 150 hp (112 kW) engine.
Helicom Duster: 100 hp Continental-powered version with 23-foot rotors, rigged for cropdusting.^[4]
International Helicopters H-1 Commuter IA: Fiberglass cabin
International Helicopters H-1 Commuter IIB: Fiberglass cabin
Canadian Home Rotors Safari: Heavily modified version by Canadian Home Rotors.

Survivors

One example (c/n 101, N17RS) named "Schmidt Commuter Helicom" is on display at the Planes of Fame Museum, Valle-Williams, AZ^[5]

Helicom Commuter H-1B , Restored by Timothy F. Heilig in 2012  N814S was flown at EAA Sun-N-Fun in 2012 along side of the New safari model 400 helicopter.

Specifications (H-1 Commuter Jr)

Data from Air Trails

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 18 ft 4 in (5.59 m)
Height: 8 ft (2.4 m)
Empty weight: 650 lb (295 kg)
Gross weight: 950 lb (431 kg)
Fuel capacity: 12 gal
Powerplant: 1 × Franklin Sport 4B-1 Horizontally opposed piston, 85 hp (63 kW)
Main rotor diameter: 21 ft 0 in (6.40 m)
Main rotor area: 345 sq ft (32.1 m²)

Performance

Maximum speed: 87 kn (100 mph, 160 km/h)
Cruise speed: 78 kn (90 mph, 140 km/h)
Range: 152 nmi (175 mi, 282 km)
Service ceiling: 6,000 ft (1,800 m)
Rate of climb: 1,600 ft/min (8.1 m/s)

References

^ Air Trails: 80. Winter 1971. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^ Sport Aviation: 23. June 1972. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^ "Web Footed Whirlybirds". Sport Aviation. March 2004.
^ Air Progress Sport Aircraft: 78. Winter 1969. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^ "G. Verver".

[1] Air Trails: 80. Winter 1971. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

[2] Sport Aviation: 23. June 1972. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

[3] "Web Footed Whirlybirds". Sport Aviation. March 2004.

[4] Air Progress Sport Aircraft: 78. Winter 1969. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

[5] "G. Verver".

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