{{Short description|1980s British human-powered helicopter}} {{DISPLAYTITLE:Cranfield ''Vertigo''}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Use British English|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox aircraft | name = | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Human-powered helicopter | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United Kingdom | manufacturer = Andrew Cranfield | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 1 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''''Vertigo''''' was a human-powered helicopter designed and built in the 1980s by Andrew Cranfield, an engineer with Westland Helicopters.
==Development== In 1980, Cranfield was a graduate apprentice with Westland Helicopters, when he was prompted by the American Helicopter Society offering the Sikorsky Prize for human-powered helicopters, to develop a design for that competition.<ref name=HUSH/> The design Cranfield developed was a coaxial helicopter comprising two identical two-bladed rotors, each having a diameter of {{convert|79|ft|m|abbr=on}} and blades with a constant {{convert|5|ft|m|abbr=on}} chord. The lower rotor was set at 6° dihedral, and the higher rotor at 9° dihedral.<ref name=HUSH/><ref name=HPF/> In order to take advantage offered by ground effect, the rotors were set as low to the ground, and as closely together, as could be practically achieved, with the fuselage and pilot being located above the rotor assembly.<ref name=CRANFIELD/> The rotors were constructed of carbon fibre, styrofoam and Mylar. The blades were fixed, with the pitch and coning built into their design. Flight control was intended to be achieved by weight shift, with the pilot moving about to enable this. Power was transmitted by to the rotors by a set of bicycle pedals powering a set of bevel and pinion gears.<ref name=CRANFIELD/><ref name=MUSEUM/>
In 1987, in an article published in the journal ''Chartered Mechanical Engineer'', Cranfield described a series of trials with the ''Vertigo'', the last of which the pilot was able to achieve the 6 rpm necessary for the craft to fly.<ref name=CRANFIELD/> It was reported that "the blades started to show signs of generating significant lift; this was confirmed as the aircraft began to skip around the floor."<ref name=CRANFIELD/> Cranfield reported issues with the transmission, and with rotor performance being affected by their being closely coupled together as needing further attention.<ref name=HPF/><ref name=CRANFIELD/> In 1989, the remains of the ''Vertigo'' were donated to The Helicopter Museum, in Weston-super-Mare, England, where they are currently on display.<ref name=MUSEUM/>
==Specifications== {{Aircraft specs|ref=The Helicopter Museum<ref name=MUSEUM/> ''and'' Chartered Mechanical Engineer<ref name=CRANFIELD/> |prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=1 (pilot) |capacity= |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |width m= |width ft= |width in= |width note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=93.5 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general=
|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=human cyclist |eng1 type= |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp= |eng1 note= |power original=
|more power=
|rot number=2 |rot dia m= |rot dia ft=79 |rot dia in= |rot area sqm= |rot area sqft=750 |rot area note= }}
==See also== {{aircontent <!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. --> |see also= |related=<!-- related developments --> |similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft --> * University of Maryland Gamera I * University of Maryland Gamera II * California Polytechnic State University Da Vinci III * AeroVelo Atlas
|sequence=<!-- designation sequence, if appropriate --> |lists=<!-- related lists --> * List of Human-powered aircraft }}
==References== <references>
<ref name=CRANFIELD>{{cite journal |last1=Cranfield |first1=A. D. |title=Pedalling towards a vertical take-off |journal=Chartered Mechanical Engineer |date=September 1987 |volume=34 |pages=58–60 |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/36294293/pedalling-towards-a-vertical-take-off-human-powered-helicopters |access-date=24 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624234355/https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/36294293/pedalling-towards-a-vertical-take-off-human-powered-helicopters|archive-date=June 24, 2023}}</ref>
<ref name=HPF>{{cite web |title=Other 80's Planes - Vertigo |url=https://www.humanpoweredflight.co.uk/page/human-powered-flight-other-80s-planes |website=Human Powered Flight |access-date=June 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311034235/https://www.humanpoweredflight.co.uk/page/human-powered-flight-other-80s-planes|archive-date=March 11, 2023}}</ref>}
<ref name=HUSH>{{cite web |title=Interview with the man who built a human-powered helicopter (and worked with the legendary Edgley Optica)|url=https://hushkit.net/2022/03/08/interview-with-the-man-who-built-a-human-powered-helicopter-and-worked-with-the-legendary-edgley-optica/ |website=Hush-Kit - The alternative aviation magazine |access-date=24 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308185907/https://hushkit.net/2022/03/08/interview-with-the-man-who-built-a-human-powered-helicopter-and-worked-with-the-legendary-edgley-optica/ |archive-date=March 8, 2022 |date=March 8, 2022}}</ref>
<ref name=MUSEUM>{{cite web |title=Cranfield Vertigo |url=https://helimuseum.com/heli.php?ident=vertigo |website=The Helicopter Museum |access-date=24 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126233619/https://helimuseum.com/heli.php?ident=vertigo |archive-date=January 26, 2021}}</ref>
</references>
Category:Human-powered helicopters Category:Coaxial rotor helicopters Category:1980s British experimental aircraft Category:1980s British helicopters Category:Unflown aircraft