The Vertical Hummingbird is an American helicopter, produced by Vertical Aviation Technologies of Sanford, Florida that was introduced in 1991. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011–12, page 194. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011.
Design and development The Hummingbird is a development of the certified Sikorsky S-52 that first flew in 1947, adapted to kit form. The aircraft features a single main rotor, a four-seat enclosed cabin, quadracycle landing gear and an option for skids. The prototype was converted by Vertical Aviation Technologies from a Sikorsky S-52-3.
The Hummingbird fuselage is made from riveted aluminum sheet. The nose section is adapted from the Bell 206. Its diameter fully articulated three-bladed main rotor employs a NACA 0015 airfoil. The two-bladed tail rotor has a diameter of . The aircraft has an empty weight of and a gross weight of , giving a useful load of . With full fuel of the payload is .
Variants VAT S-52-3Prototype of the Hummingbird family, converted from an original Sikorsky S-52-3. Hummingbird 260L Version powered by a six cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition Lycoming IVO-435 engine Hummingbird 300LS Version powered by an eight cylinder, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, single-ignition General Motors LS7 V-8 automotive conversion engine, derated to Hummingbird 300L Version powered by a six cylinder, air-cooled, fuel injected Lycoming IO-540 derated to
Specifications (Hummingbird 300L)
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