ITALY

Mantua  - Cobra

Made in Italy in the late 70's (possibly early 80's) by Mantua who were to be better known for scale ARF airplanes etc.

owned by Andre (RunRyder)

Very Schlüter Cobra like in looks, had fixed pitch main rotor and mechanics used motorcycle parts for the reduction gears plus speedo wire drive for the tail rotor; interesting concept and very strong.

The rotor head incorporated only 'Hiller' control being achieved by using a 'teeter' spindle with the main blades able to rotate independently but 'fixed' to the flybar for cyclic control.  The flybar was quite short and so control was quite 'tame' making circuit flying not so easy.

 

Garbo