Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri
Flettner · Germany · first flew 1941 · helicopter
The Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri ('Hummingbird') was a German WWII naval observation helicopter notable for its intermeshing twin-rotor system that eliminated the need for a tail rotor. It became the world's first helicopter to enter limited series production.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.56 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- WWII German intermeshing twin-rotor helicopter
- No tail rotor — counter-rotating intermeshed blades
- World's first series-production helicopter
Distinctive intermeshing twin rotors with no tail rotor; the open lattice-work boom tail structure and small piston-engined fuselage are immediately recognisable.
Specifications
- The Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri has a length of 6.56 m (22 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12 m (39 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 150 km/h (93 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Anton Flettner and first flown in 1941, the Fl 282 was ordered in large numbers by the German Navy for shipboard observation duties. Allied bombing destroyed most completed aircraft and the production facilities, leaving only a handful surviving the war.
Variants
Early open-cockpit prototypes and later enclosed-cockpit versions; the basic intermeshing synchropter concept was later adopted by Kaman in the United States.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the German Kriegsmarine from warships in the Mediterranean and Baltic; very few survived the war.
Related aircraft
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