HERC Jov-3 helicopter - development history, photos, technical data

HERC Jov-3
1948

Tandem rotor machine powered by a 100hp Franklin engine. It had a neat fuselage of steel tube covered with aluminium and fabric, with a tricycle undercarriage and a forward cockpit for two occupants seated in tandem. The rear pylon allowed the rear rotor to turn on a higher plane than the forward rotor so that the arcs could overlap safely.

R.Simpson "Airlife's Helicopter and Rotorcraft", 1998

Comments

JK, e-mail, 26.10.2017

I have been envisioning an upgraded version using two blade rotors sychromeshing (so you don't have to worry about overlap) and powered by the now well-known Solar t-62 gas turboshaft engine. A one man version would actually be able to meet the weight restrictions for recreational non-licence.

Gregory W. Piasecki, e-mail, 04.08.2020

JK,
I like your thinking. Any progress with this new configuration? Do you know who owns the type certificate for the configuration?
Greg

smee, 05.07.2017 reply
Technical Data:
Rotor Diameter: 5.46m
Length: 8.03m
Height: 2.82m
Empty Weight: 354Kg
Max. Takeoff Weight: 544Kg
Rotor Speed: 500 1 /min
Max. Speed: 160Km /h
Cruise Speed: 127Km /h
Range: 220Km
Service ceiling: 4,207m
Price (1946) 12,000$

Source:
Rotor 07 /2017 (German RC Helicopter Magazine)
Hubnschraubermuseum B�ckeburg
Norm Smith, e-mail, 17.03.2010 reply
I flew the MC-4 1958 for Gish Jovanovich at Santa Monica CA. I don't have possession of any technical info, but if you have any questions I would be happy to try to answer them.

Lake Havasu City Museum, e-mail, 14.04.2024

Norm Smith

Hi Norm,

Michael here with the Lake Havasu Museum of History here. As you may know Lake Havasu City if the town that Robert McCulloch built. He also formed McCulloch Aircraft Corporation and bought HERC w.Drago's designs. I'm building a new exhibit at the museum called McCulloch In The Air and the MC-4 was a big part of that story.

I would like to talk with you about your experiences and such.

You can reach me by email at collections#havasumuseum.com and you can reach me directly (call /text)) at 408-836-0422.

Michael Auria
Lake Havasu Museum of History
Collections Digitizer
collections@havasumuseum.com
408-836-0422

Dean, e-mail, 08.02.2010 reply
Any luck obtaining any technical info on this machine? I am also trying to gather info for the same reason, but am having little luck, any ideas? let me know, TXS Dean
mike, e-mail, 01.04.2007 reply
Can anyone help me out with specs - drawings - photos - contacts for other enthusiasts, etc for the Jov 3 and /or Sedan 4 tandem rotor helicopter? Planning to build a replica, thanks for any help or suggestions at all. E-mail is miona@xtra.co.nz
Thanks, and stay light on the skids. Mike.

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