VFW-Fokker H3 Sprinter
{{Short description|1970s German experimental helicopter}}
| {{Infobox Aircraft Begin
|name = H3 Sprinter |image = VFW H-3 Hubschraubermuseum Bückeburg.jpg |caption = VFW-Fokker H3 on display at the Hubschraubermuseum Bückeburg }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type |type = Experimental rotorcraft |manufacturer = VFW-Fokker |designer = |first flight = 15 March 1971 |introduced = |retired = |status = |primary user = |more users = |produced =2 |number built = |unit cost = |developed from = |variants with their own articles = }} |
The VFW-Fokker H3 Sprinter was a single-engined experimental rotorcraft designed and built in West Germany. Two aircraft were produced by VFW-Fokker in the early 1970s, registered D-9543 and D-9544. Intended as the first of a family of tip-jet driven helicopters the two H3 prototypes flew briefly but the method of rotor propulsion was found to be unsuccessful for this size of aircraft. Due to a high rotor overspeed, they could perform jump take-offs to {{convert|280|ft}} at a rate of {{convert|1600|ft}} per minute.Robb, Raymond L. "[http://www.vtol.org/pdf/summer06robb.pdf Hybrid helicopters: Compounding the quest for speed] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927042104/http://www.vtol.org/pdf/summer06robb.pdf |date=2006-09-27 }}", page 34. Vertiflite. American Helicopter Society, Summer 2006. An improved H4 variant was designed but not built.
Aircraft on display
Both aircraft have survived. D-9543 is currently on display at the Hubschraubermuseum Bückeburg[https://www.hubschraubermuseum.de/index.php/en/?view=article&id=204:vfw-h-3-sprinter-en&catid=19 VFW H-3 Sprinter] Retrieved: 21 April 2022 with the other H3 thought to be in a private collection in Germany.
Specifications (H3)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units? = met
|ref= Jane's Pocket Book of Research and Experimental Aircraft, 1976.Taylor 1976, p. 243.
|crew=One
|capacity = 2 passengers and 270 kg (595 lb)
|length m= 7.37
|length ft= 24
|length in= 2.25
|span m= 8.70
|span ft= 28
|span in= 6.52
|height m= 2.50
|height ft= 8
|height in= 2.43
|max takeoff weight kg= 968
|max takeoff weight lb= 2,134
|eng1 name= Allison 250-C18
|eng1 type= turboshaft
|eng1 number=1
|cruise speed kmh= 250
|cruise speed mph= 155
|ceiling m= 4,000
|ceiling ft= 13,120
|avionics=
}}
See also
References
{{Commons category|VFW H-3}}
;Notes
{{reflist}}
;Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
- Taylor, John W.R. Jane's Pocket Book of Research and Experimental Aircraft, London, Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd, 1976. {{ISBN|0-356-08409-4}}.
{{refend}}
{{VFW-Fokker aircraft}}
Category:Cancelled aircraft projects