Merckle SM 67
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| SM 67 | |
|---|---|
 Second SM 67 prototype on display | |
| General information | |
| Type | Light utility helicopter |
| National origin | West Germany |
| Manufacturer | Süddeutsche Flugzeugwerke K. E. Merckle |
| Status | prototype only |
| Primary user | Bundeswehr (intended) |
| Number built | 3 |
| History | |
| First flight | 7 July 1959 |
The Merckle SM 67 was an experimental helicopter built in West Germany in the late 1950s.
The SM 67 was the first turbine-powered helicopter in Germany. The German Federal Ministry of Defense commissioned the development in 1957. The design of the SM 67 was similar to that of the Alouette II, including a metal frame of the rear fuselage. The first prototype flew on July 7, 1959, and flight tests revealed remarkably low vibration level as well as good controllability and stability. Therefore, two more prototypes were built, in which the experience gained with the first prototype was taken into account. However, the first prototype was destroyed during tests, and the Bundeswehr opted for the SE-3130 Alouette II rather than the SM 67 due to the earlier availability of the former.[1][2]