The VFW-Fokker H3 Sprinter was a single-engined experimental rotorcraft designed and built in West Germany. Two aircraft were produced by VFW-Fokker in the early 1970s, registered D-9543 and D-9544. Intended as the first of a family of tip-jet driven helicopters the two H3 prototypes flew briefly but the method of rotor propulsion was found to be unsuccessful for this size of aircraft. Due to a high rotor overspeed, they could perform jump take-offs to at a rate of per minute.Robb, Raymond L. "Hybrid helicopters: Compounding the quest for speed ", page 34. Vertiflite. American Helicopter Society, Summer 2006. An improved H4 variant was designed but not built.
Aircraft on display Both aircraft have survived. D-9543 is currently on display at the Hubschraubermuseum BückeburgVFW H-3 Sprinter Retrieved: 21 April 2022 with the other H3 thought to be in a private collection in Germany.
Specifications (H3)
See also
References
Notes
Bibliography
Taylor, John W.R. Jane's Pocket Book of Research and Experimental Aircraft, London, Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd, 1976. .