Revolutionary Concept: Largest Helicopter for Mid-Air Recovery of Rockets
Revolutionary Concept: Largest Helicopter for Mid-Air Recovery of Rockets
During the Apollo program, Hiller Aircraft proposed an innovative concept known as the Rotary Wing System for Booster Recovery. This visionary idea involved capturing the entire first stage of the Saturn V rocket using a massive helicopter. Founded in 1942 by Stanley Hiller as Hiller Industries, the Hiller Aircraft Company was established with a primary focus on the development of helicopters.
The proposed Rotary Wing System for Booster Recovery showcased Hiller Aircraft's commitment to pushing the boundaries of aerospace technology. While this particular concept didn't come to fruition, it exemplifies the spirit of ingenuity and exploration that characterized the space race era. The idea of using a helicopter to catch the first stage of a rocket was a bold and imaginative approach to solving the challenges of booster recovery during the Apollo missions.
The proposed Rotary Wing System for Booster Recovery by Hiller Aircraft featured remarkable specifications. The envisioned helicopter would boast an impressive rotor diameter exceeding 120 meters (400 feet). Its substantial weight parameters included an empty weight surpassing 200,000 kilograms (450,000 pounds), coupled with an exceptional useful load of nearly 250,000 kilograms (550,000 pounds). This translated into a staggering gross weight of 453,000 kilograms (1,000,000 pounds).
To enhance its operational capabilities, the helicopter would be equipped with both internal and external fuel tanks, allowing for extended loitering times in the recovery area. The remarkable endurance of up to six hours underscored the ambitious design's potential to effectively recover and transport the first stage of the Saturn V rocket during the Apollo program. Although this groundbreaking concept did not come to fruition, it remains a testament to the bold and innovative thinking that characterized the space exploration efforts of that era.
The envisioned scenario for the Rotary Wing System for Booster Recovery was an intricate ballet of precision and engineering. As the rocket launched, the massive helicopter would take off from a nearby airbase and navigate to the designated recovery zone where the booster (S-1C) was expected to land. With its substantial fuel capacity, the helicopter could loiter in the area for an impressive six hours, maintaining an altitude ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 feet (4,500–6,000 meters).
Approaching the descending rocket, the helicopter would position itself at around 10,000 feet, aligning with the glide path and matching the speed and trajectory of the booster. The specialized air tug would deploy a grappling hook, guided by a viewing platform on the side, to snag the upper parachute or pickup chute of the rocket. Given the rocket's descent along a glide path with more forward than downward velocity, the interception by the helicopter would be well-suited to capture it safely.
While the development and operation of such a helicopter would undoubtedly incur significant costs, the potential for the Rotary Wing System to pay for itself through successful booster recoveries underscored the economic rationale behind this ambitious proposal. The innovative thinking behind this concept reflects the bold spirit and problem-solving approach of the aerospace community during the Apollo program.