Flettner Fl 265
Flettner · Germany · first flew 1939 · helicopter
The Flettner Fl 265 was a German experimental helicopter featuring Anton Flettner's distinctive intermeshing synchropter rotor system, where two rotors mesh without colliding. It was an important step toward the successful Fl 282 Kolibri.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.16 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Intermeshing synchropter rotor system
- No tail rotor
- Pioneer naval helicopter design
A compact single-seat helicopter with two intermeshing rotors set at an angle to each other with no tail rotor, giving it a distinctly symmetrical top silhouette.
Specifications
- The Flettner Fl 265 has a length of 6.16 m (20 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12 m (39 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 140 km/h (87 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1939, the Fl 265 demonstrated the viability of the synchropter configuration for stable flight. The German Navy evaluated it extensively for shipboard use, conducting trials aboard cruisers in the Baltic Sea.
Variants
Only six prototypes were built; the design directly led to the Fl 282 Kolibri, which entered limited production and operational service.
Where you'll see it
Remained experimental throughout its life, evaluated by the German Kriegsmarine but never reaching full operational deployment before the Fl 282 superseded it.
Related aircraft
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