AEG helicopter

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The AEG helicopter was a tethered helicopter platform project that was developed by AEG on behalf of the Wehrmacht during World War II .

history

In 1933, AEG developed an electrically powered helicopter platform for reconnaissance purposes based on a design by R. Schmidt, which was planned as a tethered observation platform for artillery observation and as a long-wave antenna carrier. The first version was intended to serve as a mobile transmitter and receiver unit in the long-wave frequency range for radio communications with submerged submarines and to be mobile. In addition, the non-free-flying helicopter should have an observation cabin for an observer.

The helicopter was equipped with a coaxial rotor , in which two main rotors rotating in opposite directions were arranged one above the other in an axis of rotation with different rotor diameters. The upper rotor with a diameter of around 7.2 m was the larger. It was driven by a 50 HP three-phase motor . The helicopter was transported on a lorry, which also carried the harness, the cable winch, the generators as well as the regulation for the voltage supply and control of the helicopter engine and the transmitting and receiving system. Power was supplied via three flexible cables that also served as tether ropes. These were attached to cantilever arms at an angle of 120 ° and rolled up on winches on the ground. The cable length was intended for an ascent height of 1000 meters. In the test model, the electric motor for the drive was arranged below the fastening levels of the cables and, at the same time, acted as a pendulum to help stabilize the flight position.

The flight tests were canceled in 1939 due to the lack of lifting power and the resulting flight instability of the helicopter. An AEG company in Crottendorf (Erzgebirge) was concerned with the development of gas turbines that were to be used in this project, as AEG also wanted to build free-flying helicopters, but the helicopter development was not taken up any further. The gas turbine project was abandoned.

In 1940 the Fesselflug project was taken up again at the urging of the Wehrmacht. The modified version now had rotor blades of the same length for both rotors. Different rotor diameters were also tried. The output of the electric motor was increased to 100 HP at 310 rotor revolutions per minute and finally to 200 HP at 450 min −1 . Thus the original lifting force could be improved from 450 kg to 1250 kg. This prototype reached a height of 800 meters with a rotor diameter of 10 m. The AEG helicopter was never used in practice. The exact time when this project was discontinued is not known.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Heinz J. Nowarra: The German Air Armament 1933–1945. Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Koblenz 1993, ISBN 3-7637-5464-4 (complete works), ISBN 3-7637-5465-2 (volume 1).
  2. ^ P. Lambermont Helicopters and Autogyros of the World. 1958.
  3. ^ Kyrill von Gersdorff, Kurt Knobling: Helicopter and Gyrocopter - Die deutsche Luftfahrt Vol. 3. Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Munich 1982, p. 69.
  4. ↑ Helmut Maier: Armaments research in National Socialism. Section Aircraft Construction AEG, pp. 134–135, preview in Google Book Search