Fa 223 Drache

• Transport helicopter • Twin-rotor layout • Post-war service

In the years immediately preceding World War II Germany had become one of the world’s leading helicopter nations. In 1932 Prof. Heinrich Karl Focke began a series of experiments commencing with licence-built autogyros and culminating in the Fa 266 Hornisse. This outrigger-mounted twin-rotor design was the world’s first genuino transport helicopter, and when war arrived it was developed for military use as the Focko-Achgelis Fa 223 Drache.

Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 Drache

Fa 223 Drache

Подпись: ◄ Mountain operations The Drache proved suitable for use in a variety of environments and was often employed by high- ranking German military officers to attend important meetings at Hitler's secluded mountain-top command post in Bavana.

Rotor position ►

To provide a stable lifting platform the rotors were positioned on outriggers on cither side of the fuselage. This allowed larger blades to be used.

Indoor flight ►

Prior to the outbreak of World War II the helicopter was seen as a tool for propaganda use, with flight demonstrations oven taking place at indoor conferences.

A Post-war service

After World War II, two Fa 223s were constructed in Czechoslovakia from German-manufactured aircraft components. Thoy saw limited service.

Early birds ►

Numerous configurations were tested before a practical design was adopted for operational use with tho Luftwaffe dunng the war.

FACTS AND

> Tho first night of tho Fa 223 Dracho

occurred in August 1940. Tho project was under military control.

>■ After the first successful flight, 39 pre-
production oxamplos wore ordered.

FIGURES

► Ono variant was to be fitted with machine guns and two 250-kg (550-lb.) bombs for armed reconnaissance missions.

► An Fo 223 bocamo tho first hnlicoptor to cross tho English Channel.

► Tho roles envisaged for tho Dracho were roscuo and anti-submarine patrols.

After the war both Franco and Czechoslovakia developed the design.

Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 Drache

 

profile

 

Fa 223 Drache

Fa 223 Drache

Type: I’itnsport/rescoo/rocormatssanco helicopter

Powe/plant: one 746-kw (1.000-ftp» BMW 301 R rwie-cytnder radial engji*

 

Loft: Unconventional in layout, tho Fa 223 Drache proved itself a highly capable helicopter during the war.

 

Maximum speed: 175 kmli <109 m p. h)

 

by 1911 Пн? Fa 223 did. however, demonstrate many oi the roles that tlx – helicopter Іш made its «mm in the postwar years. Successful rescue missions using a windi were carried ihii and deployments tit troops to сої (lined areas wen – also achieved by Luft-Tr. insjv>nslalTel *0. Only three machines were seniei-ahle Ivy tlx- end of tlx – wai. iikI one ol tlx-se Ixvame the first Ііеіісчцмс-г to rmss the Fnglish Channel

 

Cruising speed: :20 km/h (74 m p h)

 

Range: 700 km (434 mi ), wrth luxilmry tuot tank

 

Service ceiling: 2010 m <6.600 ft,»

 

Weights: empty 3175 kg (6.965 lb); maximum hike oft 4310 kg 19.490 lb)

 

Armament: one 7 92-mm MG 15 machine-gun and two 250-kg (550-lb.) bombs

 

Dimensions:

span tang tli height

rotor disc area

 

Above: The prototype Drache was initially flown tethered to the ground to allow the pilot to explore its handling safely.

 

24.5 m (80 ft. 4 in.) 12.25 m <40 ft 2 In.) 4.35 m (14 ft. 3 mg 22619 m’ (2.434 sq. ft.)

 

ACTION DATA

 

After numerous truss thn taf ccf*rjuta:on that oftorod tho bant twitting quaktios during the hovtnng photo was a high – . lot design The.-iKmxxi thn Oracho to тако pmetso lanotngi at mountan hot pods imc wfson МУ loadod wrth troop*.

 

MAXIMUM SPEED

 

ОмрХі ‘I» ivMSviily largo wo. th* Fa Щ ivjo good portormanc* and was toalar men iho Amoncan Skoniky Ho>«rtty and lh* Ugh»- we^tit observation Ft 282 Ко*bn Such hne performance ai*o meant Hull ti’o r n 223 cmid cpwalo л mtrry ditticun locaicm

175 kn.1i |IM т а к |

 

f*06.poneo on outilggera the twin rators were poweied try я wvjte nmo cy+ndor галаі engcie. Providing enough power tar the ho*cop! or was a particular problem that Iho makws hod to cwarcomo n о’da to achieve rwrory packing.

 

A heawv -»ueocJ cockpit лГспкжі tho |i4ot I »»*•>: vwhaty, partcuUirv wr-on ccmng л to tarxl агчл a downword vww was mqurro PAji, found Іію Omcrto пХлІглУу way to master era tho, u. /JaiiLTcar. itrxi by two German plotr. fiyrifl ono across tho Ovr-otf to Bntan fet noU! «і ні їїm сопскйюп of YAJrttJ War»

 

FI287V71 tOUBn

 

ISO k*k (13 n a. h.t

 

Fa 223 Drache

Ч’7^Г’Ґ

•v V*

746 kW (1.030 hp.)

<»"r>

•; о •’—

W

111 kW (110 hg-l

 

Fa 223 Drache

SuCOMnAtri tyra» won» ГпЧя» to tie Fa 223 Dnrho to Mow tho r**:optrs to :.vxi on i/uxoparcd arfaikli. The» wem artaptod firm othtx Gorman transport ivraaft Stoonng on tho i/turv) was orxcrrpWvvi through tho large norm w**el

 

Roto# onvtsagod tor ttvo Drnchci were batMMd transport, obsorvaton and rescue work For mo last of these an extra tud tank and rescue winch wore provided

 

ЇЙ-48 MOVEftFU

 

134 kW (IN k».|

 

MAXIMUM TAKE-OFF WEIGHT

 

Fa 223 Drache
Fa 223 Drache

RFIETTner FI 282 KOUBRI: Used as an observation! T^fcPt it-.– FI 282 war. operated by tho Gorman navy allowing rjjrcar – i n – to v«w Allied shipping over tho horizon

 

■ HAFNER R-11: Utilising a standard army Wflyo |eep. die English company Hefner adapted the vehicle to be used as a battietietd air observation platform The protect met with limited success and was soon cancelled.

 

H SIKORSKY R-4: Rvi most successful heliOOptef ot World War It. the R-4 was used in the rescue and scout roles and saw extensive service m the Pacific tlveatre.

 

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