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The Helioplane Four or Courier prototype was derived from the Koppen-Bollinger two-seat lightplane (an extensively rebuilt Piper Vagabond, first flown in 1949) and production aircraft appeared in 1954. The improved five-seat H-391B Courier was followed by the H-392 Strato Courier, intended mainly for high-altitude photographic work, and the six-seat Courier Model H-250 of 1964. The latter was generally similar to the Super Courier, except for having a 186.3kW Lycoming O-540-A1A5 flat-six engine. The original H-395 and H-395A versions of the Super Courier six-seat light STOL personal, corporate and utility monoplane appeared from 1958. Three were supplied to the USAF for evaluation, under the designation L-28A. Further substantial orders were received subsequently, some aircraft being assigned to Tactical Air Command for counter-insurgency duties.
The final commercial versions of the Courier to be produced were the Super Courier Model H-295 with a non-retractable tailwheel landing gear and the Trigear Courier Model HT-295 with a non-retractable tricycle-type landing gear. The prototype H-295 flew for the first time on 24 February 1965. Production deliveries of the Trigear Courier began in 1974.
USAF Super Couriers were produced in three versions: the U-10A standard version with a Lycoming GO-480-G1D6 engine and 227 litres of fuel; the U-10B long-range version with twice the internal fuel capacity and paratroop doors as standard; and the U-10D inproved long-range version, with provision for an aerial camera and sound broadcasting equipment.
| CREW | 1 |
| PASSENGERS | 5 |
| ENGINE | 1 x Lyc. O-540-A1A5, 185kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 2000 kg | 4409 lb |
| Empty weight | 860 kg | 1896 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 11.9 m | 39 ft 1 in |
| Length | 9.6 m | 31 ft 6 in |
| Height | 2.7 m | 8 ft 10 in |
| Wing area | 21.5 m2 | 231.42 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 260 km/h | 162 mph |
| Cruise speed | 245 km/h | 152 mph |
| Ceiling | 4600 m | 15100 ft |
| Range w/max.fuel | 2000 km | 1243 miles |
| StuartClement, shclement(@)comcast.net, 02.11.2008 I followed the development and progress of the Helio Courier from the mid 1940s for many years through Lynn Bollinger of MIT who's main job was marketing it . He worked closely with Otto Koppen , it's designer. After it was sold to General Aircraft I lost track of it . I recall the "Stallion" turbine powered very well. I also recall with it's am amazingperfomance taking off and landing on New York City piers during the City's widely publicized helicopter and V/STOL week long experiment in the 1960s (?) . I lost track if it when Helio Corp. was absorbed (?) by General Aircraft Corp . I was responsible for the sale of two of them and influential with interesting the CIA in it's performance and arranging a demonstration for them not long after which they procured a number of them for use in Vietnam . I would appreciate learning what happened to the Courier after the General Aircraft period. Where is it at today? Always wanted to own one ! | | Frank Regan, fjregan(@)comcast.net, 28.05.2008 The Designer of the Helio was Otto Koppen who also had a hand in the design of the Fort Trimotor. He was active in the design while I was an undergraduate at MIT. He showed a movied of the Helop operating under various conditions. One "stunt" was to land the airplane across the runway, rather than along the runway. Unfortunately at the time the faculty at MIT was engrossed in the space age and seemed to dismiss Koppen as some kind of emgbarassing relic. Interestingly, Koppen was pilot and got his instrument rating at the age of 80. | | Stephen Ruby, onandstopped(@)gmail.com, 05.03.2008 Your gross weight are way out of whack, gross weight for the Helio Courier H-250 and Super Courier is 3400 LBS. Ther is a mod for 3800 LBS. for amphib floats. The H-395 has a published no-wind take-off distance of 217 FT. in no-wind situations at gross, keep it light and you are off in half that distance......
Stephen | | Greg Gill, mikew4de(@)AOL.COM, 23.01.2008 I believe they came out with a turbo prop model called the STALLION in the late 60's. I got a ride in one of the erlier Curiors and it took off and landed in about twice it's own length into a 20kt headwind PHENOMINAL!!! | | Luis M. Moreno, lummder(@)gmail.com, 19.06.2007 An extraordinary and safety aircraft.
For many years, I expect.
Luis |
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Do you have any comments about this aircraft ?
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