The rise of the Axis and the Allies confirmed what many world powers feared during the twentieth century: the globe was headed for international conflict. After the first “war to end all wars” proved unsuccessful in eliminating conflict on a worldwide scale, a second World War dawned on the horizon. The distance between the first World War and the second brought with it the revolution of so many military and civilian technologies, among them the onset of a new aerial weapon: the helicopter.
Though definitively in its beginning stages, the helicopter nevertheless was successful in supplementing the military campaigns during crucial stages of World War II. Unlike today’s understanding of a helicopter‘s functionality, featuring mounted ammunition and heavy armor, the helicopters of World War II served to expedite aerial reconnaissance, surveillance and general operations. These choppers were not so much optimized for combat so much as they were a holistic range of procedures.
German Helicopter Employment
One such helicopter, Germany’s Focke-Achgelis Fa 223, would be considered unusual by contemporary design standards. This chopper was characterized by two independent rotors, one of each side, and could reach cruising speeds of 75 miles per hour. However, due to Allied bombings of the German production factory, only twenty of these models were constructed, severely hampering its expected output. Notably, this was the helicopter selected to airlift Italian politician Benito Mussolini, though when it malfunctioned a Fieseler Fi 156 airplane was instead put to use.
The Flettner Fl 282 was a single-seat helicopter, fitted with a Siemens-Halske Sh 14 radial engine, and also lacked a tail rotor. Considered to be the world’s first-ever series production helicopter, this vehicle improved upon the existing Flettner Fl 265 and was originally created for both reconnaissance and cargo transportation. As the war progressed, the Flettner Fl 282 was also outfitted with combat capabilities and a seat for an additional passenger. Again, Allied bombings cut short the production of 1,000 contracted units. This helicopter could reach speeds of 93 miles per hour, and a maximum takeoff weight of more than 2,200 pounds.
American-Made Helicopter Ingenuity
On the Allied side, the Americans were busy employing what many consider to be the figurative godfather of all modern helicopters. In the Sikorsky R-4 Hoverfly, the American powers had engineered a chopper that could effectively do it all. This Sikorsky model qualifies as the first mass-produced helicopter, and was used by the US Army Air Forces, United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. Constructed by Russian-American engineer Igor Sikorsky and capable of carrying two passengers, this chopper effectively revolutionized the rotorcraft for the Allied forces. It spawned eight individual variants, proof to the original aircraft’s dexterity. Famous for transporting blood plasma for New York victims after the destruction of the USS Turner, the Sikorsky R-4 Hoverfly also was heavily involved in combat operations, rescue missions, and more, and furthermore proved its worth across diversified landscapes. With a three-bladed rotor, a top speed of more than 70 miles per hour and a total range that eclipsed 120 miles, Americans leveraged this Sikorsky model to effectively turn the tides of the world’s most important conflict to date.
Contact Us for More Information
If helicopter prowess is something you would like to put to work for your respective interests, get in contact with one of our dedicated customer service agents today! We can answer any of your remaining questions, and you can book a package today!
Call 1-800-487-6817, to Put World-Class Helicopter Prowess to Work for You!
The post Helicopters Played Pivotal World War II Role appeared first on Flydar.com.
