Hafner A.R.III Gyroplane
A.R.III Construction Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1935 · light aircraft
The Hafner A.R.III Gyroplane was a British 1930s experimental autogyro designed by the Austrian Raoul Hafner.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Three-blade auto-rotating rotor above the fuselage on a strutted pylon |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Three-blade auto-rotating rotor above the fuselage on a strutted pylon
- Single Pobjoy Niagara radial engine mounted on the fuselage nose
- Large dorsal fin on the rear fuselage, with fixed tailwheel landing gear
Its spider-actuated cyclic and collective pitch control was an unusual feature, a variant of the swashplate control that became standard on helicopters.
Specifications
- The Hafner A.R.III Gyroplane has a length of 5.44 m (18 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10 m (33 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 193 km/h (120 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was built by the A.R.III Construction Company at Denham, Buckinghamshire, and first flew in autumn 1935 at Heston Aerodrome, piloted by V.H. Baker. It was registered G-ADMV.
Variants
The prototype was later modified as the Mark 2. The later A.R.IV and A.R.V rotorcraft were stopped in May 1940 when Hafner was interned.
Where you'll see it
Only one was built. On 6 February 1937 it flew at Hanworth Air Park in its modified Mark 2 form.
Related aircraft
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