The Chu Hummingbird was an experimental co-axial helicopter developed by
Chinese aviation engineer
Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
C. J. Chu
Major General Chu Chia-Jen (; 1900 – July 11, 1985) was a Chinese aviation engineer in charge of manufacturing and development of military aircraft for the National Revolutionary Army in the 1930s to 1950s.
Biography
Chu was born in 1900 in ...
(朱家仁) in
China during the 1940s in two versions, designated the Model A and Model B.
Model A was a single seat double rotor test craft used for static (non-flying) test and made its debut in March 1948. This model was destroyed when the rotor broke off.
A replacement craft named Model B was introduced in 1948 and was able to fly, but the aircraft was abandoned when Chu left for
Formosa
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is an island country located in East Asia. The main island of Taiwan, formerly known in the Western political circles, press and literature as Formosa, makes up 99% of the land area of the territori ...
.
Not much is known about either model, as they were abandoned in
China after 1949 as Chu evacuated to
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northe ...
after the victory of the
People's Republic of China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, most populous country, with a Population of China, population exceeding 1.4 billion, sli ...
.
A successor model, the
CJC-3, was developed by Chu in
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northe ...
in the 1950s.
Specifications (Hummingbird Model A/B)
Jia or Model A
* Number of seats: 1
* Engine:
Kinner B-5
The Kinner B-5 was a popular five cylinder American radial engine for light general and sport aircraft of the 1930s.
Design and development
The B-5 was a development of the earlier K-5 with slightly greater power and dimensions. The main chang ...
* Rotor diameter: 4.8 m (approx.)
* Gross weight: 589.5 kg
* Maximum speed (level flight): 136 km/h (84 mph, 73 kn)
* Maximum climb rate: 910m
* Ceiling: Unknown
* Range: 219 km
Yi or Model B
* Number of seats: 1
* Engine:
Kinner B-5
The Kinner B-5 was a popular five cylinder American radial engine for light general and sport aircraft of the 1930s.
Design and development
The B-5 was a development of the earlier K-5 with slightly greater power and dimensions. The main chang ...
* Rotor diameter: 4.8 m (approx.)
* Gross weight: 589.5 kg
* Maximum speed (level flight): 136 km/h (84 mph, 73 kn)
* Maximum climb rate: 910m
* Ceiling: Unknown
* Range: 219 km
References
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