VFW H-3
| VFW H-3 | |
|---|---|
 VFW H-3 Sprinter aircraft in the helicopter museum in Bückeburg |
|
| Type: | Experimental flight wrench |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
1969 |
| Number of pieces: |
3 |
The VFW H-3 Sprinter was a helicopter from the German manufacturer Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke at the end of the 1960s .
The specialty of the helicopter was the drive concept with a cold blade tip drive . To do this, the Allison 250 free- shaft turbine mechanically drove a centrifugal compressor, which fed compressed air to the air distributor around the rotor head axis via a light metal pipe and a short flexible connection hose. The rotating part of this air distributor was taken along by scissors in the rotor head. The swash plate of the conventional rotor control was guided by a sliding surface of the fixed air distribution pipe.
The compressed air was fed from the air distributor into the rotor blades using three flexible hoses. The air flowed to the tip of the blade and, after being deflected, was relaxed in a slot nozzle. The drive concept was tested in the test vehicle VFW H-2.
Two ducted propellers were provided for propulsion , which were to be driven by a variable differential gear and shafts. However, the propellers were not installed during the test. The machines were completed in 1968 and the maiden flight followed the following year.
The main rotor itself was only driven during the hover phases. Otherwise the helicopter worked as a gyroplane . He therefore did not need a tail rotor . Instead, a V-tail is installed.
Only three prototypes were made. One was destroyed during load tests , the other two ( aircraft registration numbers D-9543 and D-9544) are still preserved today; one copy is in the helicopter museum in Bückeburg , the other is privately owned and is located at Meinerzhagen airfield . It is planned to restore the privately owned helicopter to its ability to fly.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| length | 9.30 m |
| height | 2.50 m |
| Rotor diameter | 8.70 m |
| Gauge | 2.00 m |
| wheelbase | 2.28 m |
| Empty mass | 500 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 950 kg |
| Top speed | 250 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 3900 m |
| Range | 500 km |
| Engine | an Allison 250 C18 shaft turbine |
| power | 294 kW (400 WPS ) |
| Seats | 3 |
Web links
- Newspaper article from March 7, 1969, Die Zeit: Aircraft of the future
- VFW H-3 Sprinter aircraft in the helicopter museum in Bückeburg
- Description of the privately preserved VfW H-3 (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Flug Revue May 1969, p. 49ff.