The Helio Courier is a cantilever high-wing light STOL utility aircraft designed in 1949.
55-621: Around 500 of these aircraft were manufactured in Pittsburg, Kansas , from 1954 until 1974 by the Helio Aircraft Company . The design featured four leading edge slats that deployed automatically, and large trailing edge flaps . The engine was the 295 hp Lycoming GO-480 , which had a gearbox that lowered the output RPM and allowed for the use of a large three-bladed propeller to further improve takeoff performance. Couriers were famous for their takeoffs, which often took only
110-469: A humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cfa ) bordering on a hot-summer humid continental climate ( Dfa ). Summers are hot and humid, with as many as 73 mornings per year staying above 68 °F or 20 °C and eight mornings remaining above 77 °F or 25 °C – indeed in July 2012 the temperature did not fall below 69 °F or 20.6 °C. The hottest morning, however, was on August 10, 2006 when
165-497: A journalist at KOAM-TV , covered the local story of a fried chicken war between Chicken Annie's and Chicken Mary's on the Travel Channel . The competition began in 1941 when Chicken Mary's opened across the street from Chicken Annie's (founded 1934). The friendly rivalry continues, with members of each restaurant's founding family, who married, running a third restaurant. Tricycle landing gear Tricycle gear
220-731: A center of broadcast media for southeastern Kansas. Two AM and five FM radio stations are licensed to and/or broadcast from the city, and it is the second principal city of the Joplin -Pittsburg television market . The market's CBS and Fox network affiliates both broadcast from the city along with an independent station . Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Pittsburg include actor Roy Glenn , chemical entrepreneur Kenneth A. Spencer , and broadcast journalism pioneer Paul White . In late 2012, NBC news anchor Brian Williams , who started his career in Pittsburg as
275-538: A day has been 13 inches (0.33 m) on December 13, 2000, and the most snow on the ground 14 inches (0.36 m) on February 4 and 5, 2011 and March 17, 1970. Spring weather is changeable and often suspect to severe storms: Pittsburg lies in the heart of “ Tornado Alley ”. The changeable weather from hot to cold can be accompanied by frequent heavy precipitation: Pittsburg can expect 20.24 inches or 514.1 millimetres of precipitation between March and June, approximately what Dodge City or Liberal further west receive in
330-477: A drop plane for the Liberty Parachute Team. In 1957, a "Strato Courier" set an altitude record over Mexico City, Mexico at 31,200 ft powered by a geared Lycoming GSO-480-A1A5 (340 hp), only one was built. The Super Courier , a more powerful derivative, was used by the U.S. Air Force from 1958 onward, by the U.S. Army Special Forces in the 1960s and 1970s and by Air America during
385-402: A few plane lengths and then climbed at very high angles. During airshow demonstrations, it was common for the aircraft to actually take off across a 100 - 200 foot wide runway. During the early 1980s, new owners (Helio Aircraft Ltd.) made an attempt to build new aircraft with direct-drive Lycoming engines, to replace troublesome and expensive geared engines. In a further effort to reduce weight,
440-640: A longer-travel main landing gear of a taller design, not unlike that of the 1930s-origin Fieseler Fi 156 Storch German military short take-off and landing ( STOL ) pioneer aircraft. The powerplant for the demonstrator was switched to the Continental C85 boxer-four cylinder air-cooled engine, upgraded with fuel-injection, and uniquely equipped with a multi-belt speed reduction unit to drive its Aeroproducts nine-foot (2.75 meter) diameter, variable-pitch two-blade propeller, which contributed greatly to
495-508: A male householder with no wife present, and 49.8% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.97. The median age in the city was 26.2 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 27% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.3% were from 25 to 44; 17.3% were from 45 to 64; and 11.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of
550-588: A minimum-control speed of around 28 mph, the Courier is perfectly suited for confined off-airport operations. The first one was certified in July 1954 and powered by the 260 hp Lycoming GO-435-C2B2 . The first production Courier (Serial Number 001, dubbed "Ol' Number 1") C-G001 was previously owned and operated by JAARS as N242B until 2010. Jaars Helio Courier has been a frequent airshow performer at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for decades, displaying its slow flight capability in front of thousands and serving as
605-418: A multitude of parks inside its city limits Pittsburg is a charter city of the first class with a commission/manager form of government. The City Manager oversees all City operations and is responsible for all City departments and employees. City Hall is located at 201 West 4th Street. Offices are open from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, but are closed on most holidays. The responsibilities of
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#1732802483421660-667: A new composite landing gear was featured. The new models also featured modest winglets. Two models were produced, the H-800 and H-700. A total of 18 aircraft were built. The rights to the Helio Stallion and Helio Courier were acquired by Helio Aircraft of Prescott, Arizona. Professor Otto C. Koppen designed aircraft for the Stout Metal Airplane Division of the Ford Motor Company , including
715-560: A strong manual and industrial arts program and has trained many of the area's public and private school teachers. In 1879, two miners from Joplin began the first commercial attempts at mining in close proximity of Broadway Street. A relic of the city's coal mining days was the Pittsburg & Midway Coal Company , founded in 1885, and one of the oldest continuously running coal companies in the United States (even though its headquarters moved several years ago to Denver, Colorado after
770-499: A whole year. Temperatures warm up during the spring: the first temperature of 80 °F (26.7 °C) can be expected on March 27, but the first of 90 °F (32.2 °C) does not normally occur until May 28. The 2020 United States census counted 20,646 people, 8,268 households, and 4,123 families in Pittsburg. The population density was 1,578.9 per square mile (609.6/km ). There were 9,650 housing units at an average density of 738.0 per square mile (284.9/km ). The racial makeup
825-583: Is a city in Crawford County , Kansas , United States, located in southeast Kansas near the Missouri state border. It is the most populous city in Crawford County and southeast Kansas. As of the 2020 census , the population of the city was 20,646. It is the home of Pittsburg State University . On October 23, 1864, a wagon train of refugees had come from Fort Smith, Arkansas , and
880-503: Is a type of aircraft undercarriage, or landing gear , that is arranged in a tricycle fashion. The tricycle arrangement has one or more nose wheels in a single front undercarriage and two or more main wheels slightly aft of the center of gravity . Tricycle gear aircraft are the easiest for takeoff, landing and taxiing, and consequently the configuration is now the most widely used on aircraft. Several early aircraft had primitive tricycle gear, notably very early Antoinette planes and
935-435: Is arguably more suited to rougher landing strips. The tailwheel makes the plane sit naturally in a nose-up attitude when on the ground, which is useful for operations on unpaved gravel surfaces where debris could damage the propeller. The tailwheel also transmits loads to the airframe in a way much less likely to cause airframe damage when operating on rough fields. The small tailwheel is much lighter and much less vulnerable than
990-462: Is available, allowing the main tires to caster left or right 20 degrees, increasing the crosswind component to 25 miles per hour (40 km/h). The Helio has its main gear placement far forward of the cabin, enabling hard braking on unprepared landing areas. A tricycle-gear model was produced, but is unsuitable for unprepared rough terrain. Helios are also capable of being equipped with floats; both straight and amphibious floats being offered. With
1045-410: Is essentially the reverse of conventional landing gear or taildragger . On the ground, tricycle aircraft have a visibility advantage for the pilot as the nose of the aircraft is level, whereas the high nose of the taildragger can block the view ahead. Tricycle gear aircraft are much less liable to 'nose over' as can happen if a taildragger hits a bump or has the brakes heavily applied. In a nose-over,
1100-439: Is far from the influence of hot chinook winds . Arctic outbreaks bring temperatures to or below 0 °F or −17.8 °C on average once per winter, while maxima over 70 °F or 21.1 °C can be expected four times between December and February. Winter weather is less dry than in most of Kansas since moist Gulf air often penetrates without reaching most of the state: December 2015 saw 7.91 inches (200.9 mm) of rain, and
1155-465: Is lost at very low airspeed, allows for a tight turning radius. The Helio Courier could maintain control at speeds as low as 27 miles per hour (43 km/h). The design of the Helio features a large vertical tail surface and rudder for control at very low flight speeds. However, on conventional geared aircraft (taildraggers), the airplane tends to be sensitive to crosswinds, thus a crosswind gear option
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#17328024834211210-757: Is situated in a once productive coal field. It now relies heavily on education and government-related employment. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 12.90 square miles (33.41 km ), of which, 12.80 square miles (33.15 km ) is land and 0.10 square miles (0.26 km ) is water. Pittsburg sits in the Ozark Highlands region, a mix of prairie and forests. It lies 90 miles (140 km) west of Springfield, Missouri , 124 miles (200 km) south of Kansas City, Missouri , and 137 miles (220 km) northeast of Tulsa, Oklahoma . Pittsburg has
1265-531: The Curtiss Pushers of the pre-World War I Pioneer Era of aviation. Waldo Waterman 's 1929 tailless Whatsit was one of the first to have a steerable nose wheel. In 1956, Cessna introduced sprung-steel tricycle landing gear on the Cessna 172 . Their marketing department described this as "Land-O-Matic" to imply that these aircraft were much easier to land than tailwheel aircraft. Tricycle gear
1320-611: The Ford Flivver , an aircraft that was supposed to be mass-produced by Ford. Koppen went on to design the Helio Courier. The demonstrator for the Courier's concept, "Helioplane #1", was converted by the then-local Wiggins Airways firm from a Piper PA-17 Vagabond Trainer , one of the so-named "short-wing Pipers" in production following World War II. Only the cabin area of the PA-17's original airframe remained unmodified, with
1375-476: The United States Board on Geographic Names , in the interest of standardization, recommended that the 'h' be dropped from place names ending in "burgh". Pittsburg is the home to Pittsburg State University , founded in 1903 as a normal training institution . Through the years the college became more diversified in its aims and goals, so that it became a multi-purpose institution. It has always had
1430-595: The Vietnam War as the U-10 . In U.S. Army and Air Force service, the U-10 Super Courier was used for liaison work, light cargo and supply drops , psychological warfare , forward air control (Air Force), insertion and extraction by land and sea (Army), and reconnaissance . Various versions were produced up through the 1980s, including turbine -powered variants. The Super Courier saw military service in
1485-868: The Yakovlev Yak-15 , the Supermarine Attacker , and prototypes such as the Heinkel He 178 that pioneered jet flight , the first four prototypes (V1 through V4) of the Messerschmitt Me 262 , and the Nene powered version of the Vickers VC.1 Viking . Outside of the United States ;– where the tricycle undercarriage had solidly begun to take root with its aircraft firms before that nation's World War II involvement at
1540-453: The attitude required to land on the main gear is the same as that required in the flare , and they are less vulnerable to crosswinds . As a result, the majority of modern aircraft are fitted with tricycle gear. Almost all jet-powered aircraft have been fitted with tricycle landing gear to prevent the blast of hot, high-speed gases from causing damage to the ground surface, in particular runways and taxiways . The few exceptions have included
1595-415: The 8,268 households, 27.1% had children under the age of 18; 31.1% were married couples living together; 32.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 36.4% of households consisted of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.3 and the average family size was 3.0. The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher
1650-537: The City Commission are to pass ordinances and resolutions, establish policies for the city, approve the annual budget, appoint members of citizen advisory boards and committees, and appoint the City Manager. Elections for the City Commission are held every other year. In each election, three seats are vacant on the City Commission. The two candidates acquiring the most votes receive four-year terms, while
1705-718: The Helio Couriers for aerial observation. Both Winged Vision Inc. of Gaithersburg, Maryland and the Pima County, Arizona , Sheriff's Department each operate two of the rare tri-gear model and mount gyro-stabilized cameras under the wing for aerial observation. Pima County mounts a FLIR camera for law enforcement, and Winged Vision mounts a high definition television camera for coverage of major sports events. General characteristics Performance Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Pittsburg, Kansas Pittsburg
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1760-461: The Kansas mines closed). In September 2007, Chevron which owned the company, merged it with its Molycorp Inc. coal mining division to form Chevron Mining, thus ending the Pittsburg corporate name. Midway referred to a coal camp in eastern Crawford County, Kansas that was "midway" between Baxter Springs, Kansas and Fort Scott, Kansas . Kenneth A. Spencer , whose father was among the founders of
1815-614: The United States as the U-10 (ex L-28). Over 120 were built: The L-28A (2, later redesignated U-10A), U-10A (26), U-10B extended range and paratrooper doors (57), and the U-10D with a higher gross weight(36). There was no U-10C . Helios remain very popular among bush pilots in Canada (32 current) and Alaska and missionaries who fly into rough, relatively unprepared jungle airstrips because of its superior STOL abilities. Some operators use
1870-617: The absence of the Mayor, the President of the Board fulfills the duties of the Mayor. The city is served by Pittsburg USD 250 public school district, which operates the following schools: The Pittsburg Morning Sun is the main newspaper in the city, published five days a week. In addition, Pittsburg State University publishes a weekly student newspaper, the Collegio . Pittsburg is
1925-503: The age of 18 and 8.8% of those ages 65 or over. The median value of owner-occupied housing units was $ 86,800. The percent of persons age 25 years or older with a high school diploma was 90.8%. As of the census of 2010, there were 20,233 people, 8,142 households, and 4,087 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,580.7 inhabitants per square mile (610.3/km ). There were 9,210 housing units at an average density of 719.5 per square mile (277.8/km ). The racial makeup of
1980-424: The aircraft's airspeed falls below a certain value — 55 to 60 miles per hour (89 to 97 km/h). The slats contribute to the Helio's outstanding short takeoff and landing capability, and allow for stall/spin-proof controllable flight. In conjunction with the leading-edge slats, 74% of the trailing edge incorporates high-lift slotted flaps , which together with interrupter blades atop each wing when roll control
2035-536: The aircraft's tail rises and the propeller strikes the ground, causing damage. The tricycle layout reduces the possibility of a ground loop , because the main gear lies behind the center of mass. However, tricycle aircraft can be susceptible to wheel-barrowing . The nosewheel equipped aircraft also is easier to handle on the ground in high winds due to its wing negative angle of attack . Student pilots are able to safely master nosewheel equipped aircraft more quickly. Tricycle gear aircraft are easier to land because
2090-634: The amazing STOL flight characteristics of the demonstrator aircraft. The demonstrator's first flight took place on April 8, 1949, flying from what was then called the Boston Metropolitan Airport . For the construction of the production Courier aircraft, its all aluminum-clad airframe features a welded 15G steel-tube center section fuselage, with shoulder harnesses that protect the occupants in an emergency. The wings are of conventional aluminum construction, but feature Handley Page leading-edge slats that deploy automatically when
2145-456: The candidate obtaining the third most votes secures a two-year term. The City Commission annually elects the Mayor and President of the Board. The Mayor, who has the same authority as the other commissioners, presides over the commission meetings, provides the official signature on documents, represents the City at official and ceremonial functions and presents the annual State of the City address. In
2200-516: The city as a third class city on June 21, 1880, with M. M. Snow as its first Mayor. In 1892 it was advanced to a city of the second class, in 1905 Pittsburg attained the rank of first class. The first dwelling was built by J. T. Roach in July 1876. The first post office in Pittsburg was established in August, 1876. The post office's name was shortened from "New Pittsburgh" to "Pittsburgh" in 1881 and to "Pittsburg" in 1894. The latter renaming came after
2255-477: The city was 49.9% male and 50.1% female. Little Balkans Days is a three-day festival celebrating the community's European ethnic heritage, held on the Labor Day weekend. It features games, entertainment, competitions, and arts and crafts. The Pittsburg Art Walk takes features vendors, artists, and musicians; it occurs multiple times per year on Broadway Street in Pittsburg's downtown district. Pittsburg hosts
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2310-448: The city was 87.1% White , 3.3% African American , 0.9% Native American , 2.0% Asian , 0.3% Pacific Islander , 3.0% from other races , and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.7% of the population. There were 8,142 households out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.3% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had
2365-425: The company was to play an important role in Kansas and Missouri philanthropy. Pittsburg was also the most heavily unionized city in Kansas at the beginning of the 20th century. In addition to some coal mining, the economic base of the city now rests on industry. The city has a rich cultural heritage from many Southern and Eastern European mine workers who settled in and around Pittsburg and Southeastern Kansas. It
2420-536: The end of 1941 – the Heinkel firm in World War II Germany began building airframe designs meant to use tricycle undercarriage systems from their beginnings, as early as late 1939 with the Heinkel He 280 pioneering jet fighter demonstrator series, and the unexpectedly successful Heinkel He 219 twin-engined night fighter of 1942 origin. The taildragger configuration has its own advantages, and
2475-483: The fall of 1876 on a railroad line being built through the neighborhood. It was named after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , and maps of the time give the town's name as "New Pittsburgh". George Hobson and Franklin Playter are credited with being the city's founders, establishing a government after its beginnings as a coal mining camp in the 1870s. The city was incorporated in 1879. The “New” was dropped upon incorporation of
2530-516: The fall season, temperatures cool off fairly rapidly: the last 90 °F or 32.2 °C temperature can be expected on September 22, and by the end of October temperatures have usually fallen to a comfortable level. Heavy rainfall from frontal systems or remnant tropical storms are common during this period: the wettest day with 8.77 inches (222.8 mm) was on September 25, 1993, a year which saw 47.85 inches (1,215.4 mm) between April and September as against only 10.54 inches (267.7 mm) during
2585-470: The fuselage lengthened by four feet (1.2 meters), given a taller fin-rudder unit, clipped the Vagabond's stock 29 ft-3 inch (8.92 meter) wingspan down to only some 28.5 feet (8.7 meters), fitted the shortened wings with full-span leading-edge slats , long-span wing flaps that forced the ailerons to be much diminished in their span - only occupying the two outermost rib bays inboard of the wingtip ; and
2640-422: The median household income was $ 34,353 (with a margin of error of +/- $ 3,233) and the median family income was $ 45,946 (+/- $ 5,025). Males had a median income of $ 20,107 (+/- $ 2,989) versus $ 17,708 (+/- $ 3,426) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $ 19,176 (+/- $ 2,042). Approximately, 18.6% of families and 27.5% of the population were below the poverty line , including 30.9% of those under
2695-620: The north when a small group of wagons broke away in an unsuccessful rush to safety. The Confederate troops caught up with them and burned the wagons. The death toll was three Union soldiers and 13 civilian men who had been with the wagon train. It was likely that one of the Confederates had also been killed. A granite marker memorial for the "Cow Creek Skirmish" was placed near the Crawford County Historical Museum on October 30, 2011. Pittsburg sprang up in
2750-414: The same period in 1980. September 1993 was also the wettest month on record with 19.37 inches or 492.0 millimetres, while the wettest calendar year overall has been 1985 with 66.52 inches (1,689.6 mm) and the driest 1963 with only 21.50 inches (546.1 mm). As with all of Kansas, winter weather is extremely variable, although extreme maxima are not as hot as in the southwest of the state as Pittsburg
2805-487: The temperature did not fall below 83 °F (28.3 °C), and the hottest temperature has been 115 °F (46.1 °C) on July 13 and 14, 1954. Heavy thunderstorm rains often punctuate the heat with heavy rainfall: 7.93 inches or 201.4 millimetres fell on July 30, 2013. Periods of hot weather without much rain are not uncommon: only trace precipitation fell between July 28 and September 10, 2000, and only 0.22 inches (5.6 mm) between July 7 and August 20, 1984. During
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#17328024834212860-511: The very cold January 1979 saw sixteen days with at least 0.01 inches or 0.25 millimetres of measurable precipitation. Because the moister air masses are warm, heavy snowfall is uncommon in Pittsburg: the mean is 11.9 inches or 0.30 metres and only twelve months have seen more than 10 inches or 0.25 metres, with the most in a month being 24.5 inches (0.62 m) in January 1979. The most snow in
2915-406: Was 77.27% (15,954) white or European American (74.95% non-Hispanic white ), 3.74% (773) black or African-American , 1.07% (221) Native American or Alaska Native , 1.78% (367) Asian , 0.76% (156) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian , 5.38% (1,110) from other races , and 10.0% (2,065) from two or more races . Hispanic or Latino of any race was 10.53% (2,174) of the population. Of
2970-419: Was escorted by troops from the 6th Kansas Cavalry under the command of Col. William Campbell. These were local men from Cherokee, Crawford, and Bourbon counties. Their enlistment was over, and they were on their way to Fort Leavenworth to be dismissed from service. They ran into the 1st Indian Brigade led by Maj. Andrew Jackson Piercy near the current Pittsburg Waste Water Treatment Plant. They continued to
3025-420: Was estimated to be 17.3% of the population. 21.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 23.9% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 103.3 males. The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that
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