Doblhoff WNF V1-V4

Helicopter

The WNF 342 V4

Specifications for WNF 342 V1

Engine:1x Walter Milron II 60 hp piston engine with a single stage centrifugal supercharger/ 1x ramjets on each rotor tip (3)

Rotor Diameter: 9 m

Length: N/A

Height :N/A

Weight: Empty 227 kg / Loaded 450 kg

Crew:1

Armament: none

History:

Friedrich von Doblhoff came up with the idea of putting ramjets on the end of a helicopter rotor tip in 1939. This was achieved by a tube running through the rotor blade from the hub to the tip, compressed air and fuel were introduced into the tubes from the hub (the supercharger on the piston engine was used as a compressor)were it exited from a nozzle on the trailing edge, the fuel was ignited at this point causing the blade to move. Around the end of 1941 Doblhoff held a demonstration of his idea, so successful was this that he was authorized to develop a jet tipped helicopter.

The ramjets at the rotor tip

In the spring of 1943 the worlds first jet powered helicopter took to the air (WNF 342 V1), over the next two years Doblhoff improved his design through the V2,V3 and V4. At the end of WWII Doblhoff and his team managed to get them self's and the V4 to the west, where further work was done in the USA, France and Britain.

The Fairey Company of Britain, desiging and building the aircraft that fully realised Doblhoff's ideas in the "Rotodyne" which took to the air it's self on 6/11/1957

The "Rotodyne" in 1957