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Description
| Manufacturer: | Helio | |
| Base model: | U-5 | |
| Designation: | U-5 | |
| Version: | A | |
| Nickname: | Twin Courier | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1952-Present | |
| Basic role: | Utility | |
Specifications
| Not Yet Available |
Known serial numbers
Recent comments by our visitors
| d. Johnson , NE | Helio twin H/500 AU-5,A,B
Military contract AF-1 & AF-2 Helio U-5 Prototypes 1 and 2 are thought to have been built under a black ops (CIA) funded program for evaluation. Military contract 59-5955/5956 Helio U-5A 5955 (c/n 1) registered N92860 then India as VT-DVE 5956 (c/n 2) registeredN8745R Number "90336" then India as VT-DVC Military contract 63-8072/8074 Helio U-5B 8072 (c/n 4) registered N10034 then India as VT-DVM reappeared in 1975 as N48130 but hasn't survived until today. 8073 (c/n 6) registered N10036 then India as VT-DVL 8074 (c/n 7) registered N10037 then India as VT-DVD AF-1 (c/n 3) & AF-2 (c/n 5) are thought to have been placed in the construction line along with c/n 1 & 2 and upgraded to U-5B's. The 7 completed U-5B's and an aditional 10 complete un-asseynbled U-5B's as parts were delivered to the USAF which in turn released them to the CIA. Winter 2005 issue of Aviation World has 2 photos of a U-5A bearing the tail number 90336, it's believed to be a fake number , probably s/n 5955 N92680, or s/n 5956 N8745R while being evaluated by Army Special Forces at Hulbert Fld. FL. Curiously because the U-5 met FAA requirements marginally and it was certificated to meet immediate needs for service in Vietnam, (none were ever used in Vietnam), it was given an Airworthiness certificate with the understanding no civilian models would be built. That led to the beginning of the never completed twin engine H-580 with a retractable nose gear program. Although the FAA labeled it marginally airworthy, Larry montgomery said it was the best handeling twin ever produced and the pilots that flew it in Tibet loved it, they claimed it could fly all day on a single engine, without the problems generally associated with single engine operation. All were primarily used and all but one were lost in Tibet, while being used by the CIA in cooperation with India's Intelligence Agency's, "Air Research Center". C/n 4 reappeared breifly in 1975, probably while on it's way to Davis-Montham, it hasn't survived until the present time. H-580 twin Helio was a civilian version of the H-500 that was incomplete at the when the factory closed and never went further than some incomplete fuselages. Two fuselages at the Pittsburg, Kansas Factory, 6 crash cages at Alcor, Lisbon Portugal. more information go to FlyHelio.com 11/19/2011 @ 07:58 [ref: 50353] |
| Frank Marchant , MA | At the age of 19 after getting my A&P licenses I went to work for Helio Aircraft in Canton Massachusetts. I worked in sheetmetal farication on the fuselages of twin #5 and #7. I also did rigging for the rudder and stabilator. (Because I only weighed 128 pounds I had no trouble crawling down to the end of the fuselage to install pulley fasteners.)
I remember seeing the flight of the first Stallion...it was incredible. I believe the first turboprop engine for the Stallion came from Garrett engineering. I have a beat up photo of twin #3 that I carried in my wallet since 1964. It was shot in Canton. I'll upload it as soon as I can get it scanned. 02/13/2010 @ 05:26 [ref: 25720] |
| Jim kelly Tucson, AZ | From 1963 to 1969 I worked at Intermountain Aviation in Marana, Arizona. In 1965 or '66, we had a Twin Helio on our ramp. I actually flew in the plane with our chief pilot Connie Siegrist. For some reason, it just fell out of the sky at landing and we almost crashed the plane. I do not know how many were made, I thought five or six. We only had the plane about a week and it disappeared. 01/27/2008 @ 07:15 [ref: 19436] |
| Wayne Mutza Milwaukee, WI | For a book devoted to history of Civil Air Patrol aircraft, does anyone have images and information about CAP Helio Couriers?
Wayne Mutza 11/23/2006 @ 05:43 [ref: 14822] |
| chris byler , MO | Needing some more information on what I might have in my possession. I recently came to be in possession of a fuselodge of what i believe to be a Helio twin. Interesting thing is that this one is Number 002 of of the assembly line and was used for test purposes only. The badging on it states this : serial #: 002
a/c model: H-580 part no: 580-040-403 Any help with what I have obtained would be greatly appreciated. 10/09/2005 @ 19:53 [ref: 11437] |
| Steve Shaffer Greenville, SC | What you discribe as a Hydro-foil was required for better air flow and stabilization at low speeds for the Twin Helio Courier. This I learned from Dr. Otto Koppen. 08/13/2005 @ 04:02 [ref: 10987] |
| Stephen Ruby Oshkosh, WI | To all you Helio buffs out there: There are NO known H-500 Helio Twins anywhere even though it is rumored that someone supposedly owns one and is in the process of restoring it. We cannot confirm this..
These were originally built for the military (U-5A's, U-5B's) But the CIA had other plans and in 1960 they made their way into communist China never to be seen again.. Helio Aircraft Co. in 1965 was demonstrating a civilian version intended for commercial use these aircraft were outfitted with the Lycoming O-540-A2B (250h.p.) and also a turboed IO-540-A2B (290h.p.).. featuring the Riley rajay turbo-system. The engine placement was high on the 41ft. wingspan with the latter version incorporating a hydro-foil that I'm quessing improved airflow and increased lift between the 2 engines, especially during minimum-controlled flight.. The performance of these Helio's was remarkable because of their almost 200mph cruise speeds, at the bottom end of the envelope it was a different story however, the Helio twin all but eliminated any VMC so, you could essentially fly the airplane all day on one engine and never worry about losing positive-control even @ min.-control speed, a whopping 35mph indicated.. To get an idea what were talking about here: Imagine flying a twin with no stall speed whatsoever, losing an engine on take-off and being able to land back on the runway in less than 1,000ft. from break release. Helio's have legendary performance.... Stephen Ruby, International Helio Association 08/02/2005 @ 15:08 [ref: 10914] |
| Roy Salter Norfolk Sheringham, OTH | Have built and flown a 33% scale Helio Courier in the red on white polka-dot scheme. Am designing a 40% scale Twin Helio. Can any reader e-mail me any coloured photo,s of the Twin Eelio? 07/03/2005 @ 07:09 [ref: 10658] |
| R. Velde Arlington, VA | Please tell me who I can contact to determine if there are any Helios( U-5, U-10 or U-24s stored at the Davis-Monthan
boneyard. Thank you. Richard W. Velde 10/07/2001 @ 16:03 [ref: 3356] |
| R. Velde Arlington, VA | Please tell me who I can contact to determine if there are any Helios( U-5, U-10 or U-24s stored at the Davis-Monthan
boneyard. Thank you. Richard W. Velde 10/07/2001 @ 16:03 [ref: 3355] |
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