VFW-Fokker H3 Sprinter

H3 Sprinter
VFW-Fokker H3 on display at the Hubschraubermuseum Bückeburg
General information
Type	Experimental rotorcraft
Manufacturer	VFW-Fokker
History
Manufactured	2
First flight	15 March 1971

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.

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

• Crew: One
• Capacity: 2 passengers and 270 kg (595 lb)
• Length: 7.37 m (24 ft 2.25 in)
• Wingspan: 8.70 m (28 ft 6.52 in)
• Height: 2.50 m (8 ft 2.43 in)
• Max takeoff weight: 968 kg (2,134 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Allison 250-C18 turboshaft

Performance

• Cruise speed: 250 km/h (155 mph, 135 kn)
• Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,120 ft)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Bell 533

Related lists

• List of VTOL aircraft

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

• Taylor, John W.R. Jane's Pocket Book of Research and Experimental Aircraft, London, Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd, 1976. ISBN   0-356-08409-4.