Gazda Helicospeeder
# Gazda Helicospeeder

The Gazda Helicospeeder was an American-built single-seat single-rotor helicopter of the 1940s.

## Development

The Helicospeeder was designed by Antoine Gazda of Wakefield, Rhode Island in 1946. It was specified to carry one person and publicity releases claimed an ultimate goal of a 300 mph (483 km/h) maximum airspeed. One example of the initial version was completed.

The Model 100 Helicospeeder was developed in 1947, again with a single seat. It was of all-aluminium construction and was powered by a Continental A-75 engine. One example was completed.

## Operational history

The designer/constructor carried out test flights and a more modest actual speed of 100 mph (161 km/h) was reached. Production examples were expected to sell for 5000 US Dollars, but no firm sales were made.

## Variants

Antoine Gazda planned to build the Model 101, which was intended to accommodate two persons, but no record of its completion has been found.

## Aircraft on display

The Model 100 Helicospeeder is preserved at the Owls Head Transportation Museum, adjacent to the Knox County Regional Airport, two miles south of Rockland, Maine.

## Specifications (Model 100)

Data from Aerofiles

General characteristics

* Crew: 1
* Powerplant: 1 × Continental A-75 piston, 75 hp (56 kW)
* Main rotor diameter: 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn)
