WOW702 Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri (Hummingbird)

Description

Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri (Hummingbird)

Now for something truly different. The Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri, was a single-seat intermeshing rotor helicopter, or synchropter, produced by Anton Flettner and claimed to be the world’s first series production helicopter.

The German Navy was impressed with the Kolibri and evaluated it for submarine spotting duties. With an initial order of 15, to be followed by 30 production models. Flight testing of the first two prototypes was carried out through 1941, including repeated take offs and landings from the German Cruiser Köln. Intended roles of Fl 282 included reconnaissance and spotting, ferrying items between ships and reconnaissance and ferrying duties ship to ship and ship to shore.  The aircraft had a very stable flying attitude (having a central centre of gravity), and the pilot had very good all round if somewhat cold vision!

Following completion the Fl 282 was thoroughly tested in the Baltic and the Mediterranean. Take-offs and landings were practiced from ships (mine layers and destroyers) under steam to which special 5 x 5 meter landing decks had been fitted.

Following the excellent test results the German Air Ministry issued a contract to BMW in 1944 to produce 1,000 machines, in part to fulfil Kreigsmarine requirements for a craft to carry out submarine spotting duties. But BMW’s Munich plant was destroyed by Allied bombing raids, and throughout the war, only 24 Fl 282 were ever built. Of these, by 1943 over 20 B-1 models were in service in the Baltic, Mediterranean and Aegean Seas with the Kriegsmarine operating from land bases and U-Boats.

We have 5 x 1/30 scale Kolibri available priced at $550 plus postage.

The K&C figures and TG accessories are shown for scale comparison purposes only and are not included.