Back CarterCopters CC1
1998

Prototype CarterCopter Technology Demonstrator

The CarterCopters LLC company founded in 1994 by Jay Carter, who previously worked on design of the Bell XV-15 tiltrotor. CarterCopters has produced a flying prototype of what it anticipates will be a family of convcrtiplanes, although its ultimate purpose is to market the design, not establish a manufacturing programme itself.

CARTER CARTERCOPTER CC1

TYPE: Convertiplane.

PROGRAMME: Developed with US$670,000 funding from NASA, the CarterCopter has been conceived as the first in a series of convertiplanes. First flight (N121CC) September 1998; development delayed following damage to prototype during aborted rolling take-off 16 December 1999; flight testing resumed late October 2000 and was interrupted by minor accidents in April 2001. Attempts are planned on rotary-wing world records. On 22 March 2002, the CCTD reached m=0.87 (relationship between forward speed and blade speed); company hoped to attain m=1 by early 2003 but prototype again damaged in landing accident on 8 April 2003. Following repair, a further m=1 attempt was scheduled for November 2003 but later postponed until the second quarter of 2004.

General arrangement of the Carter CarterCopter

CURRENT VERSIONS:

  • CC1, Carter-Copter Technology Demonstrator: also referred to as CCTD: One prototype version for proof-of-concept; as described. CC Heliplane Transport
  • CC-UCAR: Smaller, unmanned version of CC1 submitted for US Navy consideration in early 2000.
  • CC Heliplane Trainer/Liaison/Utility (CCH-S): Passenger version for between five and nine occupants, with same fuselage width as CC1; intended to compete with medium-sized helicopters in the liaison and medical roles. Two TSX-1 turboshaft engines driving 2.44m diameter wing-mounted pusher propellers; range estimated as 8,851km with maximum fuel or 1,126km with payload of 1134kg.
  • CC-AEH: Heavily armed escort version of CCH-S.
  • CC-UBAV: Unmanned bomber version of CCH-S.
  • CC-KC: Aerial tanker version of CCH-S.
  • CC Heliplane Air-Express: Three-engined development planned for carrier on-board delivery role in competition with C-2 Greyhound and V-22 Osprey. Cruising speed 604km/h at 9,144m; range 10,621km with maximum fuel and 2,414km with 9,072kg payload.
  • Kitplane: Two-seat kitbuilt version being marketed.
  • NxCC: Next-generation model announced at Sun 'n' Fun 2003. Improvement include fuselage extension of more than 90cm, longer wingspan, wider booms and on additional vertical stabiliser. Max T-0 weight in STOL mode would be 2,721kg and in VTOL configuration, 2,265kg. Power is expected to be provided by a turboprop engine in the 1,491kW class.

CarterCopter CC1

CUSTOMERS: Prototype only by end 2001.

COSTS: Production versions expected to sell for US$250,000 to US$300,000 (1997; latest data).

DESIGN FEATURES: Twin-boom configuration with high-aspect ratio sweptback wings. Pylon-mounted two-blade rotor is powered for take-off and landing, free-rotating in forward flight, when all power is transmitted to a pusher propeller. Maximum prerotation and flight speed 425rpm; minimum in-flight rotor speed 80rpm.

FLYING CONTROLS: All-moving elevator; twin rudders.

STRUCTURE: Fuselage of seamless moulded composites. Wing sections outboard of tailbooms removable. Tailbooms extend below propeller tips to protect latter in wheels-up landing. Bearingless rotor system. Rotor blades of carbon composites with twistable carbon spar; 29.5kg weights in each blade tip.

LANDING GEAR: Retractable tricycle type. Mainwheels retract into tailbooms.

POWER PLANT: One Corvette LS1 piston engine, with two turbochargers in series, driving a two-blade carbon composites propeller with twistable carbon spar. Engine power 447kW for short duration; 224kW at high altitude. Total fuel capacity 606 litres, comprising 227 litres in fuselage tank; 189 litres in centre wing (underfuselage) tank; and two 95 litre tanks in wing outboard sections.

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot and passenger in front, plus three further passengers on rear bench seat.

SYSTEMS: Cabin pressurised; maximum differential 0.69 bar.

Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 2004-2005

CarterCopter CC1

Technical data for CarterCopter CC1

Rotor diameter: 13.26m, wing span: 9.75m, fuselage length: 6.81m, height to top of rotor head: 3.40m, propeller diameter: 2.44m, max. take-off weight (STOL): 2268kg, max. take-off weight (VTOL): 1905kg, empty weight: 1134kg, cruising speed at sea level: 354km/h, cruising speed at FL450 (1500m ?): 563km/h, range with max fuel 3860km

CarterCopter CC1

CarterCopter instrument panel

Comments
ibra, e-mail, 28.04.2015reply

how mach cost new

carlos iglesias, e-mail, 20.02.2011reply

hello,i love this aircraft.thaks

tammy moldenhauer, e-mail, 07.08.2012reply

interested in more info on your two person version. thanks.

Eduardo AparicioDaglio, e-mail, 14.06.2009reply

me gustaria saber cuanto cuesta y en cuantas horas lo podria volar, soy de el salvador c.a.

ROYCE CARDER, e-mail, 11.12.2007reply

When will a 4 place be available? How much money would it take to put your hiliplane into production, and how long will it take if you have the funds?

Do you have any comments ?

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