One of the major forces of the evolution of autogyros into modern helicopters was Germany's Anton Flettner, whose first rotary wing aircraft flew in 1932. Through various stages, Flettner developed a machine which, in 1939, caught the interest of the German Navy, who planned to use it for antisubmarine patrol. Accordingly, 30 prototypes of the new two-seat Fl 282 Kolibri were ordered immediately, plus 15 assessment craft.

The RLM therefore agreed to wait for the Fl 282, to hasten whose development it ordered thirty prototypes and fifteen pre-production aircraft in spring 1940.The maiden flight was made in 1941. The first three prototypes were completed as single-seaters and had fully enclosed cabins made up of a series of optically flat Plexiglas panels, faired-in rotor pylons and well-contoured fuselages. The Fl 282V3 was fitted with end plate auxiliary fins and a long under-fin beneath the rear fuselage. Later machines had more utilitarian bodies and some had semi-enclosed cockpits; others had a completely open pilot's seat.

Flettner demonstrated that the little craft could land on a ship, even in heavy seas. The German Navy (Kriegsmarine) was impressed with the Kolibri and wanted to evaluate its use for submarine spotting. Naval leaders ordered several dozen of the craft with the clear intention of mass-producing them.

The first Fl 282 flew towards the end of 1941. The Fl-282 was more highly developed and flew more hours than any other German helicopter, and very extensive tests and measurements were made of all flight aspects. Most of this test work was done by Flettner's chief pilot, Hans E. Fuisting, who also undertook blind flying and trained many of the 50 pilots who learned to fly the Fl-282.

The Fl 282 served in the Baltic, North Aegean, and Mediterranean Seas. Plans to build thousands of Kolibris were abandoned after the Flettner factories were bombed by the Allies. Only three of these helicopters survived the war; the rest were destroyed to prevent capture. Two of the survivors went to the United States and Britain, the third to the Soviet Union.

Extremely maneuverable and very stable, even in gusty conditions, the machine could be flown hands-off in forward flight above 37 mph for indefinite periods. By 1942, the Kolibri was operational on warships with suitable platforms, escorting convoys in the Baltic, Mediterranean and Aegean Seas, and was thus effectively the first military helicopter in the world.

The helicopter was found to be especially valuable at dawn and dusk when pilots of fixed wing aircraft did not have good visual contact in the poor light. During the day observation was especially favorable in the Mediterranean where the clear water allowed the helicopter crews to 'see' submarines as deep as 130 feet.

The Fl 282 was designed so the rotor blades and landing gear could be removed and the helicopter stored in a compact area such as the pressure tank of a U-boat. There is no evidence that it was ever used this way. The helicopter pilot could match the speed and course of the submarine and radio the position to the convoy. He could also mark the sub's position with a smoke bomb. But the helicopter was too small to carry weapons, although some tests were conducted with small anti-submarine bombs. There is no accurate information on the helicopter's actual use during the war.

However, critics argued that fighter planes would easily attack the slow-flying craft. In 1941, the Navy conducted an evaluation using two fighter planes to stage a mock attack on a Fl 282. The fighters could not hold the agile helicopter in their gun sights for very long.

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The Fl-282B had a maximum speed of 93 mph at sea level. The Fl-282B was used for such military tasks as directing artillery fire and guiding tanks over rough terrain. Beginning in 1944, the army began to implement a program to provide a helicopter to each independent artillery brigade. However, as the Allies advanced into Normandy in 1944, the Fl 282s were destroyed to prevent capture, but three were taken home as war booty by Russia and the United States.

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The Flettner 282 Kolibri was intended as an observation helicopter for use on ships. To speed up development, 30 prototypes and 15 production models had been ordered almost immediately. This dates back 1940.

The Flettner series were the first helicopters (1938) to use a system of two separate rotors counter rotating into each other. Year of design being 1938. However, there was a great difference in engine placement. The Fl 282 had a central mounted engine, a Bramo Sh 14A, with the cockpit in front of it. There were three types of cockpits: an open one, a half open one and a fully closed one (mixed usage and designated B-1 version). The observer was sitting behind the rotor, facing aft. Not every Kolibri was built as a dual seater.

In 1942, the German Kriegsmarine started testing the Kolibri on ships. Special platforms were built on the aft sections of either minelayers or cruisers. The Kolibries had to operate from these platforms measuring 5 by 5 meters, while the ship was moving. Soon it was concluded that the Kolibri was an agile craft, also pretty stable under bad weather circumstances and very reliable. 20 of the then built 24 prototypes were used by the Kriegsmarine in the Mediterranean and adjacent seas, mainly to protect convoys. The examples that had been ordered were never built, following bombardments of the BMW and Flettner factories. Only three prototypes remained at VE-day.

Here are some pix of the Flettner 282 Hummingbird I just finished. Just thought I would share; and say thanks. Tim Allen

 

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Specifications

Payload: 840 lb Length: 21 ft 6.25 in Rotor diameter: 39 ft 2 in Height: 7 ft 2.5 in Disc area: 2,418.6 ft² Empty weight: 1,676 lb Useful load: 529 lb Max takeoff weight: 2,205 lb Powerplant: 1× Bramo Sh 14A 7-Cylinder radial piston engine, 160 hp Performance Maximum speed: 93 mph Range: 106 miles Service ceiling: 10,825 ft Rate of climb: 26 ft/s

 

The Flettner Fl-282 was a tricky machine to fly..