The RotorWay Exec 162F is a two-seat, skid-equipped, two-bladed
helicopter, manufactured by RotorWay International of Chandler, Arizona,
USA, and supplied in kit form for amateur-construction. The RotorWay
Exec 162F kit is one of the most complete kits you can buy; everything
is included in the kit except for radio and paint. All small parts are
shrink wrapped on cards and included in the first part of the kit are
the build manuals, plans and 8 full length videos that take you through
the build. Many of the larger parts are built up at Rotorways
Arizona factory; this includes the tail boom, the main shaft and swash
plate assembly and the engine which has been test run. The 150 hp engine
its self has many safety features including dual ignition, dual fuel
injectors and a FADEC engine monitoring system. The main airframe is
made of 4130 Chrome Moly steel and no further welding is required
through out the entire kit. After arrival of the kit in eight large
crates, it takes roughly 800 to 900 hours to complete the helicopter.
The RotorWay Exec model was introduced first in 1980. In August 1994, the Exec 162F
was introduced and replaced the Exec 90 of the 1990s. The big difference of the Exec 162F
with respect to the Exec 90 is the FADEC (Fully Automated Digital Electronic Control) of the fuel injection system of the engine.
The Exec series was further developed into the RotorWay A600 Talon, which replaced the Exec
in production and production of the RotorWay Exec 162F came to an end in 2011. Rotorway kits, which lack only avionics and paint,
are marketed in USA and 50 other countries; 40% of production is shipped abroad. About 2,500 of the
various RotorWay models have flown, although only about 60 percent are in flying condition at any one time.
In 1958, B.J.Schramm set up the Schramm Aircraft Company to develop and
market his Schramm Javelin, a single-seat amateur-built helicopter,
which testing begun in 1961. Schramm subsequently redesigned the Javelin
as the Schramm Scorpion, whose prototype was first flown in 1966. To
market and produce kits for this revised version he formed Rotorway
Aircraft Inc. In 1967, RotorWay Aircraft Inc. started production of its
first kit helicopter model: the single-seat RotorWay Scorpion I, derived
from the Schramm Scorpion. The Scorpion I had very low life limits on
major components. This was the main weakness that needed to be addressed
with further research and development. An improved version of the
Scorpion, the Scorpion Too was introduced in 1971. The RotorWay Scorpion
Too had an expanded fuselage structure with a two-seat fibreglass cabin
enclosure and a 105kW Evinrude marine engine. In 1974, RotorWay Aircraft
embarked on a major redesign with the goal of reducing the amount of
maintenance time required for every hour of flight. First to be
addressed was the elimination of the inefficient 2-stroke engine. Unable
to find an engine manufacturer to make a 4-stroke engine suitable for a
helicopter, RotorWay developed and produced their own engine; an aspect
of the company that is unique to this day. Called the RW133, the new
4-stroke engine had the added power RotorWay wanted for its helicopters.
Scorpion helicopters fitted with the new engine were called the Scorpion
133. In the 1980’s a substantial redesign effort produced the
aerodynamically improved RotorWay Exec series. In the late 80's,
RotorWay created the Elite, a larger, attractive two-place helicopter.
After selling three Elite helicopters, the company finally succumbed to
financial challenges. RotorWay Company Inc. was purchased by a former
customer, John Netherwood, a businessman from England and re-established
as RotorWay International on 1 June 1990. The new company recognized the
design hurdles of the Elite and promptly set out to making the proven Exec
a better aircraft to build and fly. However slower and heavier than the Elite,
the Exec model proved to be a better aircraft to sell and in 1990 the RotorWay Exec 90 was launched.
In August 1994, Exec 162F was introduced and replaced the Exec 90.
In 1996, the assets of RotorWay International were acquired
by company's employees, who are current owners. In July 2007,
RotorWay announced the development of the A600 Talon. The A600 Talon features an updated FADEC system, an
all-glass cockpit, a cog-belt replacing the primary drive chain, and a
larger landing gear, among other features. However the experimental kit helicopter market and the non-type certified
markets have been very loyal markets for Rotorway, the RotorWay has established a factory in South Africa
that manufactures ready-made helicopters in addition to kits. RotorWay
has also begun the process of expanding into the certified helicopter
market, and plans on making major changes, including the creation of a
separate engine manufacturing company.
RotorWay Exec 162F s/n 6175 was built by Ralph Erikson in 2000. This RotorWay Exec 162 was registered N6393K,
with 26 September 2000 as airworthy date. When seen at Flugplatz Hamm-Lippewiesen, the helicopter was registered with
Plane Fun Inc., Snellville, Georgia, USA, as owner. On 18 May 2004, registration N6393K was cancelled as destroyed.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
