1942
This rotary wing glider consisted of the fuselage of a
DFS.230 glider, the wings of which have been replaced by an Fa 223 rotor. With a gross weight of
905kg, it was to be hauled at a speed of about 190km/h by a Ju-52, and would then be able
to land within not more than 18 metres. During World War II this glider was
never put to practical use. Rotor diameter - 12m.
P.Lambermont "Helicopters and Autogyros of the
World", 1958
During the first
half of the Second World War, the assault glider was of considerable importance
in the rapid landing of troops and supplies, but its use was dependent on the
availability of sufficient landing area. Where the landing area was restricted
by natural or artificial obstacles, the glider's landing run could be shortened
by nose braking rockets, although the landing approach remained unaltered. The
idea therefore arose of exploit-ing the almost vertical or very steep descent to
be obtained from rotary wings in autorotation, and in 1942 the fuselage of a DFS
230 glider had its fixed wings replaced by an Fa 223 three-blade rotor mounted
on a structural pylon. To take the increased landing load, a braced
undercarriage replaced the normal skid. This hybrid rotaglider, designated Focke
Achgelis Fa 225, was towed behind a Junkers-Ju 52/3m in tests, during 1943, and
could land within a distance of 18 m (59 ft). It was not, however, put to
operational use, probably because of changing operational requirements, and
possibly because its advantages were counterbalanced by the fact that the towing
speed was considerably lower than that of the standard DFS 230, and it would
have been more vulnerable to attack with its slower assault approach speed.
J.R.Smith, Antony L. Kay "German Aircraft of the
Second World War", 1972
Technical data for Fa 225
Rotor diameter: 12m, loaded weight: 2000kg, max
towed speed: 190km/h |
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