SNCASO SO-1221 Djinn
The two-seat Djinn observation and liaison helicopter made its first flight on December 16, 1953. it will be the first French jet helicopter built in series. The propulsion system involved a Turbomeca Palouste gas turbine engine that drove a pump to produce compressed air, which was in turn fed into the aircraft's hollow rotor blades to exit at their tips, causing the blades to rotate. This system had the benefit of eliminating the need for an anti-torque tail rotor and thus the totality of the power is therefore used for lift. Unlike some of the experimental tip-jet designs of the era there was no combustion activity present at the exhaust nozzles installed at the ends of the rotor blades. Consequently, the nozzles produced little noise in operation. A total of 178 machines have been produced. Mainly used by the French Army Aviation (ALAT) and, incidentally, by Germany, Switzerland and the United States. In addition to the French military, other countries placed orders for the type amongst which Germany, Switzerland and the United States. A Belgian delegation will evaluate the Djinn at Dax but placed an order for the more conventional Aérospatiale Alouette II of the same manufacturer. The latter marked the end of the Djinn.
The Djinn broke two world altitude records for helicopters of all categories: 4789m on December 29, 1953 and 8492m on March 22, 1957. Some Djinns were used by civil operators for training or agricultural purposes, fitted with chemical tanks and spray bars. In Belgium the only example of Djinn in service will be registered OO-NVM between November 1964 and June 1966 and based in Grimbergen. Beet fields spraying tests were also carried out in Ledegem in May 1959 under the aegis of the Agronomic Institute of Gembloux.
BAPA's Djinn
Djinn c/n 71 left the factory of Rochefort on 15/10/1959. Received by the ALAT, that attributed it the serial FR-121, it had various assignments, including in North Africa, before finally being reformed in 1972. Stored by a Djinn specialist in Nouzonville before being acquired by a member of the BAPA.
Status
Complete aircraft requiring only limited cockpit refurbishment and the installation of new plexiglass.
Currently on display at WOW
The Djinn broke two world altitude records for helicopters of all categories: 4789m on December 29, 1953 and 8492m on March 22, 1957. Some Djinns were used by civil operators for training or agricultural purposes, fitted with chemical tanks and spray bars. In Belgium the only example of Djinn in service will be registered OO-NVM between November 1964 and June 1966 and based in Grimbergen. Beet fields spraying tests were also carried out in Ledegem in May 1959 under the aegis of the Agronomic Institute of Gembloux.
BAPA's Djinn
Djinn c/n 71 left the factory of Rochefort on 15/10/1959. Received by the ALAT, that attributed it the serial FR-121, it had various assignments, including in North Africa, before finally being reformed in 1972. Stored by a Djinn specialist in Nouzonville before being acquired by a member of the BAPA.
Status
Complete aircraft requiring only limited cockpit refurbishment and the installation of new plexiglass.
Currently on display at WOW
Above: a Djinn on its trailer
Here under: Only one Djinn has been recorded in the belgian civil reggister, the OO-NVM see here under at Grimbergen.
Djinn c/n 71 now part of the BAPA collection.
Here under: Only one Djinn has been recorded in the belgian civil reggister, the OO-NVM see here under at Grimbergen.
Djinn c/n 71 now part of the BAPA collection.
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BD-5B characteristics : |
Performances with a Hirth 68hp : |
| Length : 4,11m | Cruising speed : 290km/h |
| Wingspan : 6,55m | Maximum Speed : 320km/h |
| Empty weight : 178kg | Ceiling : 3660m |
| Height : 1,6m |