WHAT THE ! - Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 Bachstelze (Wagtail) - Page 2

Venatore · 12-31-06, 12:47 AM

Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 Bachstelze (Wagtail)

The Fa-330 was one of several German "gyro-kites". It consisted of a seat and an un-powered overhead rotor. The pitch of the blades is such that as the wind strikes them they produce lift. The intent of the Fa-330 was to permit it's launching from the conning tower of a moving U-boat attached to a cable. The cable would be let out until the Fa-330 had reached sufficient altitude to scan the horizon for merchant ships.
If time permitted, the pilot would be winched back aboard. In an emergency he could disconnect the tow-line in mid-air and either ride the Fa-330 down (it would descend in a controlled manner like an autogiro or a modern helicopter in "auto-rotation") or come down in a parachute. Perhaps the U-boat would get a chance to re-surface later and pluck him from the sea.

http://robroy.dyndns.info/targetkites/Fa-330/intro.html

http://www.uboat.net/technical/bachstelze.htm

I wonder if this will ever make it into a future mod :hmm:

12-31-06, 12:47 AM	#1
Venatore Admiral Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Australia:- Sydney Posts: 2,049 Downloads: 68 Uploads: 0	WHAT THE ! - Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 Bachstelze (Wagtail) Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 Bachstelze (Wagtail) The Fa-330 was one of several German "gyro-kites". It consisted of a seat and an un-powered overhead rotor. The pitch of the blades is such that as the wind strikes them they produce lift. The intent of the Fa-330 was to permit it's launching from the conning tower of a moving U-boat attached to a cable. The cable would be let out until the Fa-330 had reached sufficient altitude to scan the horizon for merchant ships. If time permitted, the pilot would be winched back aboard. In an emergency he could disconnect the tow-line in mid-air and either ride the Fa-330 down (it would descend in a controlled manner like an autogiro or a modern helicopter in "auto-rotation") or come down in a parachute. Perhaps the U-boat would get a chance to re-surface later and pluck him from the sea. http://robroy.dyndns.info/targetkites/Fa-330/intro.html http://www.uboat.net/technical/bachstelze.htm I wonder if this will ever make it into a future mod :hmm: