AS550 Fennec Heli project

These pictures are the real thing. It is the Fennec AS550 gunship helicopter.

Crew

1 pilot

Passenger Capacity

5 equipped troops

Dimensions:

Rotor Diameter

10.69m

Tail Rotor Diameter

1.86m

Overall Length With Rotors Turning

12.94m

Fuselage Length

12.94m

Width With Blades Folded

2.53m

Height to Top of Rotor Head

3.34m

Cabin Dimensions:

Length

2.42m

Width

1.65m

Height

1.35m

Volume

6.6m³

Weights:

Empty Weight

1,220kg

Maximum Operational Weight With External Load

2,800kg

Performance:

Never Exceed Speed

287km/h

Maximum Range With Standard Tanks

666km

Service Ceiling

5,280m

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How did I get into an obscure heli model that I have never heard of before?
Well, a Hong Kong helicopter parts company shipped the wrong fuselage to a friend of mine, and he brought it over for me to play with one day. He also brought over the Trex-600 kit, and I decided to give the AS550 a shot.

Scale Model Technical data:

●Length:1200mm(47.25 in)
●Height:388/405mm(15.25 in/16 in)
●Main Blade Length:600mm
●Main Rotor Diameter:1350mm(53.15 in)
●Tail Rotor:240mm(9.45 in)
●Motor Drive Gear:10T(11T optional)
●Main Drive Gear:170T
●Autorotation Tail Drive Gear:180T
●Tail Drive Gear:40T
●Drive Gear Ratio:1:17.0:4.5/1:15.45:4.5
●Weight(w/o main blade):1340g
●Flying Weight:Approx 3000g(6.6 lbs) + fuselage

Based on the main driver gear ratio and motor drive gear ratio, I calculated the max RPM to be 1692.423.



Here are some homemade parts I made from the lathe I described earlier:


Custom rotor head. If you need one made, let me know, I can make one for you.


With 600mm blades

Modify swash blade


Torque tube tail

(I will do a more detailed and organized report later for this project...)


Ready for the first test flight.


The 50-size mechanic works well.
Ready to assemble into the fuselage:









In the fuselage and ready to do more test flights:


First test flight with the AS550 fuselage.

My backyard isn't big enough for this RC Heli. I will go to the park someday to try again. I found that the AS550 model is easier to control then the Apache. It is a bit heavier then the Apache but is more powerful. Having three 600mm blades may be overkill for the mechanical design than two blades. I can lift off very stable with lower RPMs, though. When I have some money, I may want to try the 550mm blades or even with 500mm blades.

Speaking of money. If I can sale any parts that I made or the whole model to get some cash for the next model project would be nice. So, if you are interesting to buy it from me, please send me a note thomvan@rocketmail.com.

Thanks to my wife and my sons for those videos while I am on the control sticks.