PIASECKI 59K 'Sky Car' / 'AirGeep'

Military designation: VZ-8P

Engines: 2 x 180 horsepower Lycoming
then 2 x 425 horsepower Turbomeca Artouste IIB

First flight: 12 October 1958

The Model 59 'Sky Car' full-scale mock-up interested the Army, which placed an order for two prototypes. The first of these was designated Model 59K 'Sky Car', and rechristened as the 'AirGeep' just before delivery to the Army, which designated it as the VZ-8P. The Piasecki flying jeep effort was the most successful of the three 'flying jeep' designs ordered by the Army. The 'AirGeep' was 7.9 meters long and 2.7 meters wide (26 feet by 9 feet), with three-bladed rotors in ducts in the front and the back. The pilot and passenger sat between the ducts. In the VZ-8P, the 2.4 meter (8 foot) diameter rotors were driven by a pair of 180 horsepower Lycoming piston engines, with the power linkages designed so that one engine could drive both rotors if the other engine failed. The rotors spun in opposite directions to reduce torque effects. Control was provided by varying rotor pitch, as well as through vanes mounted in the downdraft. Forward motion was achieved by pitching the aircraft nose-down.

The 'AirGeep' was first flown on 12 October 1958. After this initial flight, it was sent back to the shop, where the piston engines were replaced by a single 425 horsepower Turbomeca Artouste IIB turbine engine. The upgraded 'AirGeep' flew in late June 1959. It weighed 1.1 tonnes (2,500 pounds) and could carry a payload of 550 kilograms (1,200 pounds), including the pilot. The AirGeep was put through trials for both the Army and the Navy over the next few years. The engine was upgraded again to an Airesearch 331-6 engine, which had a higher power-to-weight ratio. For Navy trials, which began in June 1961, the rotorcraft was fitted with floats, and redesignated the PA-59 SeaGeep. An improved VZ-8P was also ordered by the Army as the VZ-8P(B) 'AirGeep II'. Planned production versions, both military and civilian (under the name 'Sky Car') never materialized.

Population: 1 [58-5510]

Specs:
Length: 7.9 m (26 ft.)
Width: 2.7 m (9 ft. 4 in.)
Height: 6.75 ft.
Rotor prop diameter: 7.5 ft.
Normal gross weight: 2,350 lb.

Crew/passengers: 2

Main sources:
- Roadable Times
- Modelstories (exclusive photo gallery of VZ-8P)
- Modelstories (review of Anigrand's 1/72 model)
- Piasecki official website
- U.S. Army Transportation Museum website

Click on this picture to watch the corresponding video.