Doblhoff WNF 342
Wiener Neustadt Flugzeugwerke (WNF) · Austria · first flew 1943 · helicopter
The WNF 342 was the world's first helicopter to fly successfully using tip-jet propulsion, in which a fuel-air mixture was expelled at the rotor blade tips to spin the rotor without a mechanical transmission.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- world's first successful tip-jet helicopter
- tiny two-seat open-frame airframe
- rotor driven by compressed gas/fuel mixture at blade tips
The WNF 342 is recognisable by its extremely sparse open-framework fuselage, single large rotor, and the absence of a tail rotor — yaw was managed by deflecting the tip-jet exhaust. The airframe is so minimal it resembles a flying test rig more than a conventional aircraft.
Specifications
- The Doblhoff WNF 342 has a length of 6.7 m (22 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8 m (26 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 48 km/h (30 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Friedrich von Doblhoff led the design team at Wiener Neustadt Flugzeugwerke from 1942. The WNF 342 first hovered in 1943 and by 1945 had reached the fourth prototype (342 V4), which added a small propeller for forward flight while the rotor autorotated. All four prototypes were captured by Allied forces at the war's end.
Variants
Four prototypes were built (V1 through V4) with progressive refinement. The V4 was the most capable, adding a pusher propeller to separate hover and forward-flight functions.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service; all prototypes were seized by American forces in 1945 and studied extensively. The tip-jet concept influenced postwar helicopter development in the US and UK.
Related aircraft
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