Helicopter Model - Bristol Type 171 Sycamore

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Summary:: History

The Bristol Sycamore was the first commercially successful British helicopter design and was also the first British helicopter to receive a certificate of airworthiness following its first flight on 24 July 1947. The Sycamore was produced in civil and military versions both powered by the Alvis Leonides radial engine driving three wooden rotor blades. The Royal Australian Air Force operated two Sycamore helicopters from the Woomera Rocket Range between 1951 and 1965. One of these machines (A91-1) survives at the Moorabbin Air Museum in Melbourne. The Royal Australian Navy operated 13 HR50/51 Sycamores in training, communication and search/rescue roles. In the later capacity they were used in flood rescue operations at Maitland and Narrabri, NSW in 1955. Between 1956 and 1960 Australian National Airways operated a Sycamore (VH-INO) named 'Yarrana' in a wide variety of roles. 'Yarrana' was the first helicopter to cross Bass Strait and made the world's longest helicopter flight to that time in 1957 flying from Sydney to Western Australia (2040 miles).

Model History

This 1:32 scale model was purchased by the Museum in 1955.

Discipline:

Technology

Tagged with:	helicopters, military aircraft, model helicopters, rotary wing aircraft, scale models
Themes this item is part of:	Engineering Collection, Transport Collection
Primary Classification:	AIR TRANSPORT
Secondary Classification:	Rotorcraft
Tertiary Classification:	model helicopters
Model Name/Number:	Type 171 Sycamore
Model Scale:	1:32
Modelmaker (Probable):	Westway Models, England, Great Britain, 1955