Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri

[Troy Tempest]

I read this on another board, and wondered if anyone had seen or has access to any photos of this?

"Flettner also demonstrated that the little craft could land on a ship, even in heavy seas. Naval leaders were impressed and, in 1940, ordered several dozen of the craft with the clear intention of mass-producing them. Allied bombing ended production efforts, but 24 of the aircraft still entered service, with a number of them being used for escort service, flying off the gun turrets of ships to spot submarines, and performing resupply missions even in poor weather conditions."

Thanks for any help re any naval Kolibri photos!

Troy

[Simon Orchard]

Look for a copy of 'Die Deutsche Kriegsmarine, 1935-1945: Band 3' by Breyer and koop. Page 102 shows a Kolibri flying above the stern of the light cruiser Köln.

[Andreas]

Scroll down for pictures: http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/AC/aircraf ... ettner.php
All the best
Andreas

[Troy Tempest]

Thanks for that title Simon, and thanks for the link Andreas, it was very revealing! I appreciate your help.

troy

[Edward L. Hsiao]

I guess we don't know what were the names of the German ships besides the cruiser Koln that operates the Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri. Did this German helicopter ever sunk a enemy submarine during WWII? As I recalled the minelayer Drache had operated the Kolibri helicopter.

Edward L. Hsiao

[thaddeus_c]

nice article on Flettner developments overall http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng ... olibri.php

always view the helicopter program(s) as something that would have been very effective, more so as spotter for their artillery though?