Flettner Fl 265

Last updated
Fl 265
Flettner Fl 265.jpg
Flettner Fl 265 in flight
RoleExperimental helicopter
Manufacturer Flettner
Designer Anton Flettner
First flight 1939
Primary user Luftwaffe
Number built6
Variants Flettner Fl 282

The Flettner Fl 265 was an experimental helicopter designed by Anton Flettner.

Contents

Design and development

This helicopter, developed in 1938 with the support of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine , made it possible, for the first time, to transition from powered rotary-wing flight to autorotation and back again, making it the safest helicopter of its time. In contrast to the Fl 185, the Fl 265, believed to be the pioneering example of a synchropter, had two intermeshing rotors 12 m in diameter, powered by a 160 hp (119 kW) BMW-Bramo Sh 14 A radial engine in the nose of the fuselage, fitted with a fan to assist cooling. Six helicopters were constructed, but series production was curtailed in favour of the Flettner Fl 282. [1]

In 1939 the helicopter was tested by test pilot Richard Perlia. A second test pilot alongside Perlia unfortunately had a fatal accident during a test flight. [2]

Operators

Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Germany

Specifications (Fl 265)

Data from [3]

General characteristics

Performance

Flettner Fl 265 in scale of 1 : 4,6 as shown at the Helicopter Museum of Buckeburg Flettner Fl 265 Modell im Hubschraubermuseum.jpg
Flettner Fl 265 in scale of 1 : 4,6 as shown at the Helicopter Museum of Bückeburg

See also

Notes

  1. Ford, Roger (2013). Germany's Secret Weapons of World War II. London, United Kingdom: Amber Books. p. 224. ISBN   9781909160569.
  2. Flettner Fl 265 (in German)
  3. Green, William (2010). Aircraft of the Third Reich. Vol. 1 (1st ed.). London: Aerospace Publishing Limited. pp. 328–329. ISBN   978-1-900732-06-2.

References