Doblhoff WNF 342

Doblhoff/WNF 342
Doblhoff WNF 342 V4 model in the Hubschraubermuseum Bückeburg (Bückeburg Helicopter Museum)
Role Tip jet research helicopter
National origin Austria
Manufacturer Wiener-Neustädter Flugzeugwerke
Designer Friedrich von Doblhoff
First flight 1943
Number built 3


The Doblhoff/WNF 342 was the first helicopter to take off and land using Tip jets to drive the rotor.

Development

The WNF 342 was designed for a German Navy requirement for an observation platform for use from small ships and submarines.[1]

The conventional piston engine drove both a small propeller (to provide airflow across a rudder) and an air compressor to provide air (subsequently mixed with fuel) through the rotor head and hollow rotor blades to a combustion chamber at the rotor tips.[2] As a research helicopter it was a simple design to allow modification.

Variants

V1/V2: The first helicopter was initially powered by a 60 horsepower (45 kW) engine (V1) and then a 90 horsepower (67 kW) engine (V2)—both by Walter Mikron. It first flew in 1943,[3] and was captured with V4 at Zell am See.

V3: The second WNF 342 had a larger rotor and was destroyed during testing.

Doblhoff WNF 342 V4 model

V4: The last unit produced was a two-seat variant with new collective and cyclic controls. After 25 flight hours it was captured by United States forces[4] and on July 19, 1945, shipped to the US under Operation Lusty on the HMS Reaper (D82).

Specifications (V4)

Data from Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft[3]

General characteristics

Performance

See also


Related lists

References

  1. "Doblhoff". Hubschrauber Museum. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  2. Ford, Roger (2013). Germany's Secret Weapons of World War II. London, United Kingdom: Amber Books. p. 224. ISBN 9781909160569.
  3. 1 2 Orbis 1985, pp. 1454–1455
  4. Apostolo, Giorgio. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters, pp. 18, 126. Bonanza Books, New York, 1984. ISBN 0-517-43935-2.

External links

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