One of the best-known commercial helicopter operators in France, Helicop-Air, has produced the prototype of a two-seat light autogyro-type aircraft known as the Girhel. This was exhibited for the first time at the 1959 Paris Salon de l’Aeronautique and is described in detail below.
HELICOP-AIR GIRHEL
The Girhel is a side-by-side two-seat light aircraft to which an autogyro rotor has been fitted to permit safe flight at very slow speeds and the ability to take off and land in restricted areas. It was designed with the assistance of Ing. Georges Lepere.
For take-off the rotor can be set turning by engaging a clutch in a drive-shaft from the engine. In flight the rotor autorotates and the engine drives a tractor airscrew in the conventional manner. Most of the "lift" is contributed by the fixed wings in cruising flight, so that the rotor is heavily loaded only during take-off and landing.
Two versions of the Girhel are offered:
Girhel L.50. With 90hp Continental C90 engine.
Girhel L.51. With 150hp Lycoming O-320 engine.
The following details apply in general to both models.
TYPE: Two-seat light autogyro.
WINGS: Mid-wing cantilever monoplane. Single metal spar. Wood covering. Large ailerons. End-plates at tips.
ROTOR: Three-blade rotor of wood construction. Variable pitch. Starting by means of a clutch and drive-shaft from engine.
FUSELAGE: All-metal structure.
TAIL UNIT: Cantilever monoplane type, with conventional elevators, two fins and central rudder. All-wood structure.
LANDING GEAR: Non-retractable tricycle type. Nose-wheel is steerable. Brakes on main wheels.
POWER PLANT (L50): One 90hp Continental C90 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine, driving Ratier two-blade fixed-pitch airscrew.
POWER PLANT (L51): One 150hp Lycoming O-320 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine, driving a variable-pitch airscrew.
ACCOMMODATION: Two seats side-by-side in enclosed cabin. Dual controls optional. Space for baggage aft of seats. Provision for carrying a litter or agricultural spray-gear.
Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1959-60