Germany's Ridiculous VTOL Fighter Project: Focke-Achgelis Fa 269
In this video, we take a look at the Focke-Achgelis Fa 269, a German mid-World War II project that, if successful, would have been the first Vertical-Takeoff-And-Landing (VTOL) fighter in existence. We first talk about the several possible reasons this project came about, from wanting a defense fighter to wanting to combine early helicopters and fighter technology. We then talk about the two major manufacturers of helicopters in Germany at the time, in Flettner and Focke-Achgelis, a company started by Heinrich Focke of Focke-Wulf, and why Focke-Achgelis may have been selected for the job.
We then talk about the strange design of the Fa 269, in using two pusher propellers with a singular motor to provide both vertical and horizontal propulsion. We talk about the swift end of the project and how, even if successful, it likely never would have been more than a proof of concept due to the technology of the era. We talk about the quasi-revival of the project in the Dornier Do 29, and how that proved that the concept could work... at least in theory, anyway.
Пікірлер: 183
With all respect (and I truly mean that), how is the Heinie design any more ridiculous than our ungainly Osprey-a vehicle so unstable that it is regularly grounded for safety issues?
The fact that it's not a Blohm & Voss design is surprising.
Having the rotor blades so close to the ground like that must have been real popular with the ground crew.
Thrust vectoring was a brilliant idea and came out of France. The French dismissed the idea, and so the British developed it.
"Hopefully I pronounced that right" - I'm a native German speaker and even I am not 100% sure, how you'd pronounce that thing. You're good lol
This was NEVER going to work....
Germans made it and fly it when allies had nothing to show or fly !
Funny how something that seems like it should work , often doesn't....like my past 2 marriages....just saying
I do not think it was ridiculous and instead think it was an idea before it's time. Look how long of design and development and how much money the Osprey required. And that is with modern electronics and vastly more resources than a desperate Germany had.
If I had to give the German VTOL a nickname, knee capper comes to mind, steel-toed boots be damned they ain't going to help you here.
Post-WWII VTOL aircraft were a response to the fact that American forces relied HEAVILY on air power. Soviet forces were primarily ground, but they did have bombers and surface to surface missiles that could destroy runways/air fields. Germany had long stretches of the Autobahn that were designed to act as runways during wartime, but even these could be compromised and couldn't handle the heaviest transports and bombers. Thus, aircraft like the British Harrier were developed "Just in case".
I understood the CLAMP reference
Dad was intercepted by Ryan in San Diego when Lockheed transferred him from Marietta back to Burbank. Worked primarily on VTOL (X-13 Vertijet) plus the Firebee II and some Rogallo Wing designs. San Diego was a great place to grow up in the late 50's early 60's. The prototype X-13 was unfortunately burned up in the San Diego Aerospace Museum fire.
thumbs up for the CLAMP reference
Flettner also invented the Flettner Double Rotor,
By far, my favorite military aviation channel on KZread. Keep up the excellent work, man. I love it! 👍👍
Are we sure the Germans were not trying to design a lawn mower for airfields ,and not an actual Aircraft.
To everyone saying that the V22Osprey is a death trap etc, I'd like to give you this:
You deserve more subs, absolutely outstanding channel and every video is a banger
I think it could be both of the explanations simultaneously, the Kriegsmarine loved helicopter projects and jumped at anything they could possibly slap on a ship.