Firestone GA-45D

Firestone GA-45C

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04/30/2008. Remarks by Walter van Tilborg: "G & A (Glider & Aircraft) Division of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company started work on the light tandem two-seat GA-45 design in 1943. A first prototype was designated GA-45C and first flew during 1946. It had been developed from the unbuilt GA-45/XR-9A and G-45B (one 125 hp Lycoming XO-290-5 engine) and was powered by one 135 hp Lycoming O-290-7. The GA-45C was evaluated by the US Army under the designation XR-9B (later XH-9B) and had a 28 ft (8.53 m) diameter main rotor.

In 1946 the G & A Division became Firestone Aircraft, and a second aircraft was built as GA-45D, intended for the commercial market. It differed in having side-by-side seating with a roomier cabin and a slightly modified rear fuselage, a 175 hp Franklin 6V4 engine and 30 ft (9.14 m) main rotor. All development of the GA-45 was halted in 1947 and only the two prototypes were built.

Confusingly the civil GA-45D is preserved at the Army Aviation Museum, Fort Rucker, Alabama, painted in olive drab and marked "6001" to represent the military tandem-seat GA-45C XR-9B."


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04/30/2008. Remarks by Walter van Tilborg: "G & A (Glider & Aircraft) Division of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company started work on the light tandem two-seat GA-45 design in 1943. A first prototype was designated GA-45C and first flew during 1946. It had been developed from the unbuilt GA-45/XR-9A and G-45B (one 125 hp Lycoming XO-290-5 engine) and was powered by one 135 hp Lycoming O-290-7. The GA-45C was evaluated by the US Army under the designation XR-9B (later XH-9B) and had a 28 ft (8.53 m) diameter main rotor. In 1946 the G & A Division became Firestone Aircraft, and a second aircraft was built as GA-45D, intended for the commercial market. It differed in having side-by-side seating with a roomier cabin and a slightly modified rear fuselage, a 175 hp Franklin 6V4 engine and 30 ft (9.14 m) main rotor. All development of the GA-45 was halted in 1947 and only the two prototypes were built. Confusingly the civil GA-45D is preserved at the Army Aviation Museum, Fort Rucker, Alabama, painted in olive drab and marked "6001" to represent the military tandem-seat GA-45C XR-9B."