Focke-Wulf Fw 61

Infobox Aircraft
name= Fw 61


caption=First prototype Fw 61
type= Helicopter
manufacturer= Focke-Achgelis
designer=
first flight= 26 June 1936
introduced= 1936
retired=
status=
primary user= Nazi Germany
more users=
produced=
number built= 2 cite web|url=http://www.vectorsite.net/avheli_1.html#m4|title=European Helicopter Pioneers|author=Goebel, Greg]
unit cost=
variants with their own articles=

The Focke-Wulf Fw 61 was the first fully controllable helicopter. It first flew in 1936. It is more popularly known as the Fa 61 as it was a research aircraft of the Focke Achgelis company.

Development

Through his work on the C.19 and C.30 autogyros built by Focke-Wulf under license from Cierva Autogiro, as well as the experience gained through development of the Fw 186, Prof. Heinrich Focke had come to the conclusion that the inadequacies and limited serviceability of autogyros could only be eliminated by a real helicopter. He and engineer Gerd Achgelis started the design for this helicopter in 1932. A free-flying model, built in 1934, propelled by a small two-stroke engine brought the promise of success. Today, the model can be seen in the German Museum in Munich.

On 9 February 1935, Focke received an order for the building of a prototype, which was designated the FW 61, however Focke referred to it as the F 61. Roluf Lucht of the technical office of the RLM extended the order for a second aircraft on 19 December 1935. The airframe was based on that of a well-tried training aircraft, the Focke-Wulf Fw 44 Stieglitz. A single, radial engine drove twin rotors, set on outriggers to the left and right of the fuselage - the counter-rotation of the two rotors solved the problem of torque-reaction as also shown by Louis Bréguet.

Only two aircraft were produced. The first prototype, the V 1 D-EBVU, had its first free flight on 26 June 1936 with Ewald Rohlfs at the controls. By spring 1937, the second prototype, V 2 D-EKRA, was completed and flown for its first flight. 10 May 1937 it accomplished its first autorotation landing with the engine turned off.

Operational history

In February 1938 it was demonstrated by Hanna Reitsch indoors at the Deutschlandhalle sports stadium in Berlin, Germany. It subsequently set several records for altitude, speed and flight duration culminating, in June 1938, with an altitude record of 3,427 m and a straight line flight record of 230 km.

pecifications (Fw 61)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=copter
jet or prop?=prop
crew= 1
capacity=
length main= 7.290 m
length alt= 23.92 ft
span main= 7.01 m
span alt= 2x 23 ft
height main= 2.64 m
height alt=8.66 ft
area main=
area alt=
airfoil=
empty weight main= 818.0 kg
empty weight alt= 1,803.7 lb
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 950 kg
max takeoff weight alt= 2,095 lb
more general=
engine (prop)=BMW Bramo 314 E
type of prop= 7-cylinder radial
number of props=1
power main= 160 hp
power alt= 120 kW
power original=
max speed main= 122 km/h, 76 mph
max speed alt= 66 kn
cruise speed main= 90 km/h, 56 mph
cruise speed alt= 49 kn
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 230 km
range alt= 124 NM
ceiling main= 3,427 m
ceiling alt= 11,243 ft
climb rate main= 3.50 m/s
climb rate alt= 11.5 ft/s
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Focke Achgelis Fa 223 Drache
* Focke Achgelis Fa 266 Hornisse
similar aircraft=
* Flettner Fl 265
* Flettner Fl 282
* Sikorsky R-4
lists=
see also=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Coates, Steve and Carbonel, Jean-Christophe. "Helicopters of the Third Reich". Crowborough, UK: Classic Publications Ltd., 2002. ISBN 1-903223-24-5.
* Nowarra, Heinz J. "German Helicopters, 1928-1945". Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 1990. ISBN 0-88740-289-5.
* Smith, J. Richard. "Focke-Wulf, an Aircraft Album". London: Ian Allan Ltd., 1973. ISBN 0-7110-0425-0.
* Smith, J. Richard and Kay, Anthony. "German Aircraft of the Second World War". London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1972 (3rd edition 1978). ISBN 0-370-00024-2.
* Witkowski, Ryszard. "Rotorcraft of the Third Reich". Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2007. ISBN 83-89450-43-2.

External links

* [http://www.vectorsite.net/avheli_1.html#m4 French & German Helicopter Pioneers (Fa 61)]
* [http://www.return2style.de/swingaring/amifw61.htm Focke Wulf Fw61]
* [http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Rotary/Focke/HE5.htm Heinrich Focke—Fa 61]
* [http://www.luftfahrtmuseum.com/htmi/itf/fw61.htm Virtual Aviation Museum Focke Wulf FW 61]
* [http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/LRG/fw61.html Warbirds Resource Group]