Wingspan 8.7 m Engine type Allison Model 250 | Length 7.37 m First flight March 15, 1971 | |
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The VFW-Fokker H3 Sprinter was a single-engined experimental rotorcraft designed and built in West Germany. Two aircraft were produced by VFW-Fokker in the early 1970s, registered D-9543 and D-9544. Intended as the first of a family of tip-jet driven helicopters the two H3 prototypes flew briefly but the method of rotor propulsion was found to be unsuccessful for this size of aircraft. Due to a high rotor overspeed, they could perform jump take-offs to 280 feet (85 m) at a rate of 1,600 feet (490 m) per minute. An improved H4 variant was designed but not built.
Contents
Aircraft on display
Both aircraft have survived, D-9543 is currently on display at the Hubschraubermuseum Bückeburg with the other H3 thought to be in a private collection in Germany.
Specifications (H3)
Data from Jane's Pocket Book of Research and Experimental Aircraft, 1976.
General characteristics
Performance