The Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 Drache (Dragon) was a transport and rescue helicopter employed by the Luftwaffe during World War II. The prototype V1 first flew on August 3, 1940, being originally developed for the Deutche Luft Hansa, the German civil airline. After its trials performance, the Air Ministry of the Third Reich became interested in the aircraft and ordered 39 helicopters for evaluation in a variety of roles.
Despite the keen interest shown by the German government, only a total of 20 Fa 223 Drache helicopters were ever completed, with only a small number being actually flown in operational duties. The production was stopped because Allies had bombed the factory in Bremen. After the war, the US forces seized two of them in May 1945. In September, 1945, one of them, flown by its original German crew, became the first helicopter in history to cross the English Channel.
Below, the Drache flying transport sorties in 1943, in Germany.
Although it looked cumbersome in appearance, the Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 was a reliable and effective helicopter, with a useful internal and external load-carrying ability. The type never reached service in the anti-submarine role, but it was employed in transport, reconnaissance, and mountain rescue operations.
Technical Description
The Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 Drache was a single-engine, twin-rotor helicopter. It had a large fuselage, whose airframe was made of steel tubes covered by plywood and fabric. Each one of the rotors was mounted separately on a large gantry-like and awkward-looking outrigger, which stuck out laterally from each side of fuselage, revolving in counter rotation to avoid out of control spinning. The posterior portion of fuselage ended up in the tail section, with a fin with rudder and a horizontal stabilizer on top. The cockpit was located in the nose of helicopter and it was enclosed in a round Plexyglass structure. Landing gear was fixed.
Specifications
Type: transport and rescue helicopter
Length: 12.25 m (40 feet, 2 inches)
Rotor Diameter: 12 m (39 feet, 4 inches)
Overall Span: 24.50 m (80 feet, 5 inches)
Height: 4.35 m (14 feet, 3 inches)
Power Plant: one 1,000-HP, BMW 301 R, 9-cylinder, radial engine.
Maximum Speed: 175 km/h (109 mph)
Range: 700 km (435 miles)
Service Ceiling: 2,010 m (6,595 feet)
The Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 in operation (video)
Below, the Drache during trials in 1940.
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