VFW-Fokker H3 Sprinter

Last updated
H3 Sprinter
VFW H-3 Hubschraubermuseum Buckeburg.jpg
VFW-Fokker H3 on display at the Hubschraubermuseum Bückeburg
RoleExperimental rotorcraft
Manufacturer VFW-Fokker
First flight15 March 1971
Produced2

The VFW-Fokker H3 Sprinter was a single-engined experimental rotorcraft designed and built in West Germany. Two aircraft were produced by VFW-Fokker in the early 1970s, registered D-9543 and D-9544. Intended as the first of a family of tip-jet driven helicopters the two H3 prototypes flew briefly but the method of rotor propulsion was found to be unsuccessful for this size of aircraft. Due to a high rotor overspeed, they could perform jump take-offs to 280 feet (85 m) at a rate of 1,600 feet (490 m) per minute. [1] An improved H4 variant was designed but not built.

Contents

Aircraft on display

Both aircraft have survived. D-9543 is currently on display at the Hubschraubermuseum Bückeburg [2] with the other H3 thought to be in a private collection in Germany.

Specifications (H3)

Data fromJane's Pocket Book of Research and Experimental Aircraft, 1976. [3]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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References

Notes
  1. Robb, Raymond L. "Hybrid helicopters: Compounding the quest for speed Archived 2006-09-27 at the Wayback Machine ", page 34. Vertiflite. American Helicopter Society, Summer 2006.
  2. VFW H-3 Sprinter Retrieved: 21 April 2022
  3. Taylor 1976, p. 243.
Bibliography