Manzolini Libellula Explained
The Manzolini Libellula was a 1950s Italian co-axial twin-rotor helicopter designed by Ettore Manzolini. "Libellula" is the Italian word for "Dragonfly".
Design and development
Ettore Manzolini established a company in Rome, Italy to develop a helicopter he had designed. The design was the Manzolini Libellula an unusual co-axial helicopter. The co-axial arrangement eliminating the need for an anti-torque rotor allowed the helicopter to have a twin fin arrangement. The Libellula (Registered I-MANZ) first flew on 7 January 1952. An improved version was the single-seat Libellula II which went on to gain Italian certification on 15 October 1962. A three-seater version (the Libellula III) was built and a four-seat Libellula IV was planned but Manzolini stopped development in the late 1960s.
Variants
- Libellula
Prototype, one built.
- Libellula II
Prototype single-seat version powered by a 75kW (101hp) Walter Minor 4-III engine, one built.
- Libellula III
Prototype two-seat version powered by a 104kW (140hp) Walter M 332 engine, one built but not flown.
- Libellula IV
Proposed four-seat version powered by a 236kW (317shp) Allison 250-CT18 turboshaft, not built.References
- Apostolo, Giorgio. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters. New York: Bonanza Books, 1984. Pg.123 .
- Book: Taylor, John W. R.. John W. R. Taylor. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66. 1965. Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd.. London.
- Book: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
External links
- https://web.archive.org/web/20091020005015/http://geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/5249/manzolini.htm
