Flettner Gigant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gigant | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Helicopter |
| National origin | Germany |
| Designer | |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| First flight | 1932 (tethered) |
The Flettner Gigant was an experimental helicopter built in Germany during the early 1930s.[1]
Anton Flettner was an early rotary-wing pioneer in Germany, he developed a torqueless rotor by powering it with small engines fixed directly to the blades driving propellers. This arrangement drove the rotor without transmitting torque (other than bearing friction) to the fuselage.[1]
A successful tethered flight was carried out in 1932, but the aircraft was destroyed soon afterwards when it overturned in a gale.[1]
