The Focke-Wulf Fw 61 was the first fully controllable helicopter. It first flew in 1934.
Prof. Heinrich Focke and engineer Gerd Achgelis started the design for this helicopter in 1932. The airframe was based on that of a well-tried training aircraft. A single engine drove twin rotors, to the left and right of the fuselage. Only a prototype was produced (by Focke-Wulf). In 1936 it was demonstrated by Hanna Reitsch in Berlin, Germany. It achieved an altitude of nearly 8000 feet, a speed of 76 mph a flight duration of 80 minutes and a distance of over 50 miles.
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Last updated: 05-15-2005 06:02:59
