Is it true that Winnebago once made a helicopter-RV?
Dangit. I can’t find a cite.
But they did! I swear! Saw an advert for it once. It was based on an old Korean war vintage helicopter and came with everything including a roll-out awning on the side. I have googled in vain for this and cannot find it. Sorry about no cite, but it did exist. Also, I’m not sure it was Winnebago that made it.
Will continue googling…
I know a fair amount about weird airplanes in history and I have never heard of that. I seriously doubt it would work. RV’s are big and run-of-the-mill helicopters aren’t that great with big loads. The configuration would be extremely strange as well because you would need a big tail rotor and I don’t know what you would do big rotor when not in use. How would you transfer the power from the engine to a big rotor and what would the controls be like. RV and helicopter controls have almost nothing in common. Where did you hear about this?
There were some flying cars and things built in the 40’s - 50’s and they were cool but never found a niche plus they didn’t make either that great a car or airplane.
Here is the only mention I could find. No pictures.
Excerpt from article:
1976: Winnebago Industries introduces the Heli-Home, a helicopter camper
for off-road exploration that could sleep six; we note it’s no longer included in
their published brochures.
So apparently it was Winnebago. You were correct.
I can easily image they might have taken an old helicopter and decked it out as an RV for a sort of publicity stunt.
But did they make (in the sense of manufacture) one? Doubtful. Googling turns up nothing. Developing a helicopter is a huge and expensive task, far outside the engineering capabilities of an RV manufacturer.
There’s also the point that it would take a huge helicopter to make an adequate RV. Such a machine would be hideously expensive to buy (think tens of millions) and to operate.
According to this article, it was based on an Sikorsky S-58.
Trust me, this thing existed. I’m still hunting for a picture. At one time, I had a magazine with an article about it.
TIME magazine[
](http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,914929,00.html)CMC fnord!
And finally; A little info on the actual airframe that Winnebago converted to the heli-home. Apparently it didn’t make it commercially.
==quote==
*Hello all just wanted to let you know that we have purchased BuNo 14-8079 sn 58-1193 a USMC machine. We just finished doing a little TLC and we’ll be flying her back from Tampa, FL area to Pittsburgh in the next few weeks. We’ll be doing heavy lift as well as cargo and some passenger trips and rides with her.
The aircraft was once converted into the Winnebago “Heli Camper” as a prototype for sale to the public and was given a reduced gross weight of 12,500 lbs with a S-58H designation allowing “at the time” any helicoptyer pilot to fly it without a Type Rating in the aircraft. Since that time however all of us 58 drivers now have to have a FAA type rating to be legal. All versions including the 12,500 lbs or less aircraft variants.
The aircraft was owned by Airlift Helicopters and has a Red Bull Dog on the side of the aircraft. We’ll be keeping the “Red Dog” as its called now and adding Semper Fi under the Bull Dog. We’ll try to post some photos if you like.
The aircraft went through a Sikorsky approved weight reduction program that allowed the maintenance cowlings and the turtle back to be removed. In addition the S-58 tires and wheels were exchanged for S-55 tires and Wheels. Total wieght savings of approx 275 pounds. The interior is also bigger now that the radio room wall was removed giving the inside an enormous cavity.
The aircraft is painted Ford Torredor Red metallic with a clear coat imeron finish and looks real nice. The aircraft was formerly owned by Brad Ladue owner of 5 State Helicopters in Royce City TX. Brad is the best 58 driver and vertical reference pilot around. Brad tells me that most of the HVAC units in the downtown Dallas and surrounding areas were placed using this aircraft as well as other round motor 58’s / UH34’s over the past 20 years.*
==quote===
Sorry. STILL can’t find any pics.
This was from the USMC Combat Helicopter Association webpage.
http://www.popasmoke.com/notam2/showthread.php?t=5083
I seem to recall seeing a drawing of this on a cover of Popular Mechanics once.
I’m guessing you mean this.
Yup, that is the one.
Does this answer the OP?
Well they DID make a spaceship Winnebago! 
Paging Dark Helmet…