Flettner Fl 185
{{Short description|1936 experimental Nazi German gyrodyne}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name= Fl 185
|image= File:Flettner-185.jpg
|caption=
|type=Autogyro/helicopter
|manufacturer=Flettner
|designer=Anton Flettner
|first_flight=1936
|introduction=
|retired=
|status=
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|more_users=
|produced=
|number_built=1
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The Flettner Fl 185 was an experimental Nazi German gyrodyne developed by Anton Flettner. It was unique in its operation, which could fly both as a helicopter and as a gyroplane.
Design and development
This aircraft was developed in 1936 with support of the Kriegsmarine. It was powered by a {{convert|160|hp}} BMW-Bramo Sh 14 A radial piston engine with forced-air cooling, mounted at the nose. The engine drove a 12 m diameter main rotor and two auxiliary propellers mounted on outriggers attached to the fuselage.
At take-off or when hovering, the auxiliary propellers worked in opposition to each other and served to cancel the torque of the main rotor,{{cite book|last1=Ford|first1=Roger|title=Germany's Secret Weapons of World War II|date=2013|publisher=Amber Books|location=London, United Kingdom|isbn=9781909160569|pages=224}} a function handled by a single, variable-pitch tail rotor on contemporary helicopters. In forward flight, however, both propellers worked to provide forward thrust while the rotor autorotated, as in a twin-engined autogyro. The landing gear consisted of a nose-wheel, two smaller stabilising wheels under the outriggers and a tail skid. Only one prototype was constructed.
Specifications (Fl 185)
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See also
Notes
{{reflist}}
References
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite web|title=Flettner Fl 185|url=http://www.luftarchiv.de/index.htm?/hubschrauber/fl184.htm|access-date=20 December 2012}}
{{refend}}
Further reading
{{Commons category}}
- Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945 {{cite book|last=Nowarra|first=Heinz J.|title=Die deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945|year=1985|publisher=Bernard & Graefe|location=Koblenz|isbn=3-7637-5464-4}}
{{Flettner aircraft}}
{{Gyrodyne}}
{{RLM aircraft designations}}
{{Authority control}}