Revolution Helicopter’s Mini 500 Kit Helicopter
FINALLY, A NEW HELICOPTER YOU CAN AFFORD!!!
The first new Mini-500 shown in the photograph nearing completion, was pulled off the production line and displayed at the 1991 EAA Fly-In in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
“We just made out 52nd sale and many of these customers should expect to receive their aircraft sometime by the end of this year,” said Dennis Fetter, chief designer and president at Revolution Helicopter Corp.
“The interest in the aircraft has been overwhelming!”, Fetters said. “Although RHC anticipates an extremely large domestic market, surprisingly, two thirds of its advance sales have been overseas”, said Fetters.
RHC makes the Mini-500 affordable and practical for almost anyone to own their own helicopter. Before, it was impractical because of the tremendous expense involved in operating and maintaining a helicopter.
“The total design spectrum of the Mini-500 is a one-man utility and sport aircraft providing true helicopter capabilities and performance”, Fetters said.
VIDEO: Original promotional Mini 500 video
The Mini-500 is inherently more stable than helicopters of its type primarily because of the new patent pending control system. The use of this machine is only limited by one’s imagination! Already inquiries and purchases have been made for recreation, commuting, agricultural, medical, traffic and border patrol, among others.
VIDEO: Factory Destructive Testing of the Mini-500 helicopter
Dennis Fetters is still contactable at http://www.fettersaerospace.com/ though the Mini 500 is no longer in production.
Want the short version of the Mini 500 history? …read the full story here Aero News Network.
| Mini 500 Helicopter Standard Equipment Includes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vacu-Formed Instrument Panel | Dual Rotor and Engine Tachometer | Carpeting and Trim |
| Magnetic Compass | Sensitive Altimeter | Vacu-Formed Interior Panels |
| Hourmeter | Control Friction Locks | Form-Fitted Fully Upholstered Seat |
| Slip and Bank Indicator | Electric Starter | Removable Cabin-Access Doors |
| Engine Coolant Temperature | Extra Space for Additional Equipment | Pre-Balanced Main Rotor Blades |
| Vertical Speed Indicator | Navigation and Landing Lights | Ground Handling Wheels |
| Air-speed Indicator | Throttle Correlation | Electric Clutch Engagement |
Mini 500 Helicopter Descriptive Data
| Mini 500 Helicopter Main Rotor | |
|---|---|
| Articulation | Semi-rigid teetering |
| Number of Blades | 2 |
| Diameter | 19 feet |
| Blade Chord | 8 inches (Constant) |
| Tip Speed @ 100% RPM | 547 FPS or 373 MPH |
| Blade RPM | 550 |
| Mini 500 Helicopter Tail Rotor | |
|---|---|
| Articulation | Free to teeter, rigid in-plane |
| Number of Blades | 2 |
| Diameter | 3 feet 10 inches |
| Blade Chord | 4 inches |
| Precone Angle | 2 degrees |
| Tip Speed @ 100% RPM | 536 FPS or 365 MPH |
| Blade RPM | 2671 |
| Mini 500 Helicopter Drive System | |
|---|---|
| Engine to Upper-Sheave | (Two) Two groove power band V-belts with 2.433:1 speed reducing ratio |
| Upper-Sheave to Drive line | Sprague type over running clutch |
| Drive line to Main Rotor | Spiral-bevel ring and pinion with 4.857:1 speed reducing ratio |
| Drive line to Tail Rotor | Spiral-bevel gears |
| Mini 500 Helicopter Powerplant | |
|---|---|
| Model | Rotax 582 |
| Type | Two cycle two cylinder, rotary valve engine, lubrication by oil pump, liquid cooled, with integrated water pump |
| Displacement | 580.7 cm3 (35.41 cu.in.) |
| Normal Rating | 67 BHP @ 6500 RPM |
Temperatures Operational Values
| Mini 500 Helicopter CHT: (Cylinder Head Temperature) | |
|---|---|
| Normal | 110-130°C (230-270°F) |
| Max | 150°C (300°F) |
| Difference Between 2 Cylinders | 10°C (36°F) |
| Mini 500 Helicopter EGT: (Exhaust Gas Temperature) | |
|---|---|
| Normal | 500-620°C (930-1150°F) |
| Max | 650°C (1200°F) |
| Difference Between 2 Cylinders | 25°C (45°F) |
| Crankcase Temperature Maximum | 80°C (175°F) |
| Cooling Liquid Temp Max | 80°C (175°F) |
| Mini 500 Helicopter Timing System | |
|---|---|
| Ignition Type | Breakerless DUCATI capacitor discharge dual ignition with magneto generator |
| Generator Output | 170W AC at 6000 l/min. and 13.5V RMS |
| Ignition Timing | 1.96mm = .077 in. (18") BTDC |
| CARBURETOR | 2 x BING 36, cable choke |
| FUEL | Regular automotive gasoline, octane number not below MON 83 or RON 90 (unleaded preferred) |
| LUBRICATION OF ENGINE | Super-two stroke oil, proposed ASTM/CEC standard TSC 3, mixing ratio 1:50 (2%) by oil pump |
| ENGINE T.B.O | 500 hour maximum |
Revolution Helicopter Mini-500
February 1994 Report.
Our hats are off to the fine folks at Revolution Helicopter, for having the foresight and ingenuity to survive the great midwestern floods of 1993. Production facilities have moved to higher ground and we are happy to be able to report that all is well in Revolution land.
The Mini-500 is a single-seat, metal-and-composite helicopter with some impressive statistics. And it looks real good, too. Optional equipment being planned for the future includes: floats, a cabin heater, and auxiliary fuel tanks, but as it stands now, all available equipment is standard.
Powered by a Rotax 582 producing 67 horsepower, the Mini-500 looks and acts like a real helicopter. The machine stands 8 feet 1 inch high with a length of 22 feet 6 inches, and weighs in at 330 pounds. The two-bladed rotor is 19 feet long. Control inputs are accomplished via traditional collective, cyclic, and anti-torque pedals.
Sounds like a real helicopter so far, doesn’t it? Top speed is listed as 95 mph, cruise will work out to 75. Fifteen gallons of fuel can be carried on board, giving the bird an ultimate range of 225 miles while burning unleaded auto fuel at the rate of five gallons per hour.
The climb rate isn’t bad, either: 1100 feet per minute with vertical takeoffs and landings. Maybe the two most exciting aspects of the Mini-500 are the facts that the kit comes complete, which means the kit cost and the cost to complete it are the same.
You can interpret this as: the engine is included in the kit. The estimated time to build this sucker is pretty impressive too-only 40 to 60 hours. Just think: one good week off from work and you could be flying your own personal helicopter.
The kit price is $24,500 (1994 prices)complete-as I said, that’s the only way it comes. Info packs are $15 and the video (also available in PAL) is $30. Technical assistance is available to builders that hit a snag through a hot-line service operated by dealers and the factory.
Please contact me about a rotorway exec 90
You need to contact the company direct – Rotorway Helicopters.
Is the mini 500 still in production and what would it cost if I wanted to get a kit
No, the Mini 500 is not still in production – though every now and then used or un-built Mini 500 helicopters come up for sale. There are also some companies that purchased the rights to manufacture the Mini 500 under different names, again, I’m not sure if they are still operation. Covid has damaged many businesses world wide including aviation.