After the failure of his first design, the Brantly B-1, Newby O. Brantly decided to design a simpler and less complicated helicopter for the private buyer.[citation needed] The B-2 had a single main rotor and an anti-torque tail rotor and first flew on 21 February 1953. This was followed by an improved second prototype that first flew on 14 August 1956.
The B-2A was introduced with a modified cabin, and the B-2B had a larger 180 hp fuel-injected engine. The B-2B has a three-bladed articulated main rotor and an all-metal fuselage, it can be operated with skid, wheel or float landing gear. The piston engine is fitted vertically in the fuselage behind the cabin.
The basic design has remained in production for over 50 years.[1] The United States Army ordered five B-2s (designated the YHO-3) to be evaluated in the Light Observation Helicopter competition in 1958, although it lost the bid, the Army operated the H-5T unmanned variant as target from 1986.[2] Introduced in the early 1970s, an improved larger version with five seats was designated the Brantly 305.[3]
Variants
[edit]The unbuilt Brantly B2J10 10-seat transport helicopter. Was to be powered by two Allison 250-C18 or two Boeing 550-1-12C engines.
H-2: Designation of the B-2B built by Brantly-Hynes between 1976 and 1979.
Brantly B-2J10: Projected tandem-rotor version with longer and wider fuselage for carrying passengers and/or cargo. Unbuilt.
V750 UAV: An UAV version developed by Qingdao Haili Helicopters Co. Ltd., a joint venture between Brantly International Inc, Qingdao Wenquan International Aviation Investment Co., Ltd, and Qingdao Brantly Investment Consultation Co., Ltd.[4] Maiden flight was completed on May 7, 2011, and received an order from an unnamed customer[5]
A B2B belonging to the Flying Gyrocopter and Old Aircraft museum at Midden-Zeeland, Netherlands was reportedly about to fly again November 2009.[7]
A Greek road-assistance company named Express Service based in Thessaloniki operated a B2B Brantly-Hynes helicopter for several years. That helicopter started flying in 1978 and had the Greek registration number SX-AHH. First captain was the pilot Kaltekis Spyridon.
B2 sn#18 is in Chino awaiting restoration after the 2005/2010 floods at Corona airport,a month underwater did little corrosive damage... , a B2B acquired for spares to complete restoration (dual serial numbers found "spliced together bird")
