Vortech Skylark

{{Short description|American homebuilt helicopter}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use American English|date=January 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Skylark | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Helicopter]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[United States]] | manufacturer = [[Vortech]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = Plans available (2015) | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 5 (2005) | 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 '''Vortech Skylark''' is an American [[helicopter]] produced by [[Vortech]] of [[Fallston, Maryland]]. The aircraft is supplied in the form of plans for [[Homebuilt aircraft|amateur construction]]. Vortech also supplies [[Helicopter rotor|rotor blades]] for the design.<ref name="KitplanesFeb2005">Downey, Julia: ''2005 Trikes 'Chutes and Rotorcraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 22, Number 2, February 2005, page 60. Belvoir Publications. {{ISSN|0891-1851}}</ref><ref name="WDLA04">Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', pages 215. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}</ref><ref name="Aerocrafter">Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition'', page 334. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}</ref>

==Design and development== The Skylark was designed to comply with the US ''Experimental - Amateur-built'' aircraft rules. It features a single main rotor, a single-seat open cockpit without a windshield, skid-type [[landing gear]] and a twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, [[Inline engine (aviation)|in-line]] [[two-stroke]], [[carburetor|carbureted]] {{convert|70|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Hirth 3503]] [[aircraft engine]]. The twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, in-line two-stroke, {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]] has also been used. A cockpit enclosure was optional.<ref name="KitplanesFeb2005"/><ref name="WDLA04"/><ref name="Aerocrafter"/>

The aircraft [[fuselage]] is made from welded [[4130 steel]] tubing, with an [[aluminium]] tail boom. Its {{convert|19|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} diameter two-bladed rotor employs a [[NACA airfoil|NACA 0012]] [[airfoil]]. The main transmission is of belt and chain type, whileteh tail rotor is driven by a long shaft. The control system consists of conventional helicopters controls. The aircraft has an empty weight of {{convert|350|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|700|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|350|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|8|u.s.gal}} the payload for pilot and baggage is {{convert|302|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="KitplanesFeb2005"/><ref name="WDLA04"/><ref name="Incomplete">{{Cite web|url = http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|title = The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage|access-date = 27 January 2014|last = Lednicer|first = David|year = 2010|archive-date = April 20, 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100420012244/http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|url-status = dead}}</ref>

The manufacturer estimates the construction time as 300 hours.<ref name="KitplanesFeb2005"/>

==Operational history== By 2005 the company reported that 5 were completed and flying.<ref name="KitplanesFeb2005"/>

By January 2015 no examples were [[Aircraft registration|registered]] in the United States with the [[Federal Aviation Administration]], although one had been registered at one time.<ref name="FAAReg">{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=SKYLARK&PageNo=1|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|access-date = 27 January 2015|last = [[Federal Aviation Administration]]|date = 26 January 2015|archive-date = January 28, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150128114020/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=SKYLARK&PageNo=1|url-status = dead}}</ref>

The [[airframe]] plans have been spreading via [[internet]] under name "Furia".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vortech CH-4 / SkyLark / Furia helicopter |url=http://www.helistart.com/helicopters/Vortech/CH-4_SkyLark_Furia |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=www.helistart.com}}</ref>

==Specifications (Skylark) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Kitplanes<ref name="KitplanesFeb2005"/> |prime units?=imp  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft=17.5 |length in= |length note= |width m= |width ft= |width in= |width note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |airfoil=[[NACA airfoil|NACA 0012]] |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=350 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=700 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity= or {{convert|8|u.s.gal}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Hirth 3503]] |eng1 type=two cylinder, liquid-cooled, [[two stroke]] [[aircraft engine]] |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=70

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph=95 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=70 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi=100 |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=1000 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |disk loading kg/m2= |disk loading lb/sqft=2.5 |disk loading note= |fuel consumption kg/km= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==See also== *[[List of rotorcraft]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links==  *{{Official website|http://www.vortechonline.com/skylark/}} {{Vortech aircraft}}

[[Category:Vortech aircraft|Skylark]] [[Category:1980s United States sport aircraft]] [[Category:1980s United States helicopters]] [[Category:Homebuilt aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined piston helicopters]]