The Chu Hummingbird was an experimental co-axial helicopter developed by Chinese aviation engineer Major General C. J. Chu (朱家仁) in

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

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 a country in East Asia. The island of Taiwan, formerly known to Westerners as Formosa, has an area of and makes up 99% of the land under ROC control. It lies about across the Taiwan Strait f ...

. Not much is known about either model, as they were abandoned in

after 1949 as Chu evacuated to

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

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. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

. A successor model, the CJC-3, was developed by Chu in

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 change ...

* 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:

* 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

Aviation in China 1940s Chinese experimental aircraft 1940s Chinese helicopters Single-engined piston helicopters Aircraft first flown in 1948 Coaxial rotor helicopters Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear {{aero-1940s-stub