H3 Sprinter | |
---|---|
VFW-Fokker H3 on display at the Hubschraubermuseum Bückeburg | |
Role | Experimental rotorcraft |
Manufacturer | VFW-Fokker |
First flight | 15 March 1971 |
Produced | 2 |
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.
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.
Data fromJane's Pocket Book of Research and Experimental Aircraft, 1976. [3]
General characteristics
Performance
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